Where was Twin Peaks filmed? The top 5 filming locations from the iconic David Lynch series

More than 30 years after its debut on ABC, Twin Peaks still holds a powerful grip on the imaginations of fans. Some love the show for its quirky characters, while others are drawn to the cosmic mysteries of the Black Lodge. No matter what intrigues you about Twin Peaks, we can all agree that the gorgeous Pacific Northwest scenery is a character in and of itself. David Lynch’s cult classic series was mainly shot on location in Washington State (with some additional locations in Southern California for 2017’s Twin Peaks: The Return), and you can visit most of the locales today for a Twin Peaks weekend.

Much of Twin Peaks was filmed in the small towns of Snoqualmie and North Bend, Wash., a mere three miles from one another along Washington State Route 202. Both towns are around 30 miles outside of Seattle and are accessible by car. (If you’re flying in for this trip, you’ll definitely want to rent one.) The residents of Snoqualmie and North Bend welcome visitors on Twin Peaks pilgrimages, and there are several spots in both towns where you can celebrate the show with fellow fans. All you have to do is BYOL (bring your own log) and remember, the owls are not what they seem.

Here are the top five locations where Twin Peaks was filmed, plus an extra excursion to Los Angeles for spots from The Return.

The Great Northern Hotel (The Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie, Wash.)

The Salish Lodge & Spa (6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, Wash.) is the ideal home base for a Twin Peaks weekend. This luxury retreat is just over 33 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by car, meaning your tour can begin around an hour after landing. The parking lot is an attraction in its own right, marking the scene where Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) changes her shoes before heading off to school in the pilot episode. But the real stunner comes once you take a short walk over to the Snoqualmie Falls Observation Deck, where you can see the Salish — a.k.a. the Great Northern Hotel — perched atop the 270-foot waterfall, just like in the show’s iconic opening sequence. 

The Salish Lodge stood in for the Great Northern in exterior shots, while interiors were filmed at the Kiana Lodge (14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE, Poulsbo, Wash.), nearly two hours away on the other side of Seattle. The scene where Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is found “wrapped in plastic” on the beach was also shot at the Kiana Lodge. Overall, the Salish is more accessible for Twin Peaks tourists than the Kiana, mostly because it’s much closer to all the other locations on this list. (The Kiana doesn’t mind Twin Peaks tourists, but it does ask that you call first.) The Salish’s bar also has a cocktail named after Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), which you can sip while admiring the view — and dreaming of tomorrow’s first cup of coffee.

Double R Diner (Twede's Cafe, North Bend, Wash.)

A location so timeless that David Lynch included it in The Return, Twede's Cafe (137 W North Bend Way, North Bend, Wash.) is better known to Twin Peaks fans as the Double R Diner. Located right in the center of downtown North Bend, Twede’s has leaned into its status as a tourist pilgrimage site, selling Twin Peaks-themed merch on its website and shipping cherry pies and "damn fine coffee" beans nationwide. 

Twede’s has only had a handful of owners — and no significant renovations — in its 80-plus years in business since 1941. This timeless quality is a big reason why scenes for the Twin Peaks pilot were filmed at Twede’s, then known as the Mar-T Cafe. The production crew later built a replica of the diner’s interior on a soundstage, which was used for the remainder of the show’s original network run. However, Lynch did shoot all the Double R scenes in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Twin Peaks: The Return on location at Twede’s. 

Hand-drawn signs from the last round of filming still line the walls, and the diner uses white ceramic mugs with a red “RR” logo for added effect. If it weren’t for the hoodies and t-shirts for sale next to the cash register, you’d think you had stepped into the show. Twede’s is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering a full menu of burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast foods (plus coffee, pie, and milkshakes, of course).

Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department (DirtFish, Snoqualmie, Wash.)

The fictional HQ for Agent Dale Cooper’s murder investigation was originally the front office of the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill. (The facility, which is right down the hill and now abandoned, also appears in the show as the Packard Sawmill.) Both the mill and the office closed in 1989, but Lynch and his crew got there a couple of months before it shuttered to film B-roll for the intro, such as blades and saws whirring away. They later retrofitted the office building into the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department. 

Now, the location is occupied by DirtFish (7001 396th Dr SE, Snoqualmie, Wash.), a rally racing driving school that welcomes Twin Peaks fans. The exterior is now orange and blue instead of brown and olive green, but once you step inside the front office, the area where receptionist Lucy (Kimmy Robertson) works has been preserved almost exactly the way it was on the show. Bring a box of donuts and some coffee, and maybe the employees there will let you sit at Lucy’s desk for a photo. There’s also a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department truck in the parking lot for your Instagramming pleasure.

The Sign (41433-41699 SE Reinig Rd, Snoqualmie, Wash.)

In 2017, the town of Snoqualmie put up an actual wooden sign that reads “Welcome to Twin Peaks, Population 51,201” where that same greeting appeared in the opening credits of Lynch’s series. That didn’t last long, those sources differ on why. Some say it was promptly stolen by a fan, while other outlets report that the sign was removed because it confused motorists who don’t watch much TV. Now, 41433-41699 SE Reinig Rd in Snoqualmie, Wash., is once again just a bend in the road along a rural highway. 

It’s still a popular spot for Twin Peaks fans to stop and take selfies, however, and it’s labeled on Google Maps as “Welcome to Twin Peaks Sign Place,” so it’s easy to find your way there. Once you arrive, you can bring your own handmade “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign and re-create the scene yourself, just like several other visitors who have uploaded their pics to Google. Just make sure the mountain is straight ahead and the river is on your right to get the optimal vantage point. 

On your way back to Snoqualmie, stop off at Reinig Bridge, the place where Ronette Pulaski (Phoebe Augustine) emerges from the woods after surviving the attack that killed Laura Palmer. It’s currently a pedestrian bridge with a footpath and parking lot and has great views of the Snoqualmie River.

The Roadhouse (The Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn, Fall City, Wash.)

The lone pub in Twin Peaks where everyone gets together to gossip, side-eye each other, and carry on torrid affairs is technically called The Bang Bang Bar, but locals call it The Roadhouse. It’s ironic then that the filming location — a real roadside bar that’s been operating since 1916 — is The Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn (4200 Preston-Fall City Rd SE, Fall City, Wash.). Production added the infamous neon sign for the show, and the building has since been given a fresh coat of green paint. But otherwise, the outside of The Roadhouse looks much like it did on Twin Peaks, particularly from the front as you drive by. 

Interior scenes set at The Roadhouse were shot on a set, but the IRL restaurant has wood paneling and classic diner decor that fits the overall vibe of Twin Peaks. In addition to lodging, the establishment also has a gift shop selling “Bang! Bang!” t-shirts and other souvenirs. But considering that it’s only four miles from Snoqualmie Falls, you won't need to book a room if you’re already staying at the Salish. (Though it could be a good alternative if you’re coming to town for a Twin Peaks event and the Salish is booked out.) And if you go around back, you’ll find the Bookhouse — HQ for the Twin Peaks secret society known as the Bookhouse Boys — tucked away directly behind the restaurant.

Bonus: Dougie Jones SoCal side trip

Residents of (and visitors to) Los Angeles can also take a side trip to see some of the locations where Agent Dale Cooper, in the form of his amnesiac alter ego Dougie Jones, slowly regains his strength and memory after decades in the Black Lodge on Twin Peaks: The Return. 

When he’s forced to return to work, Dougie ponders the mysteries of the cowboy statue outside the office complex at Brand Boulevard and Monterey Road in Glendale, Calif. The sculpture outside the building is different, but for the most part, the plaza looks the same as it did on the show. Scenes shot outside Dougie’s home, and the house he squats in at the beginning of the series, were shot in the L.A. desert exurb of Palmdale, Calif. That location is for completists only — there’s not much to see out there (which is kind of the point). 

The Tower Theatre (802 South Broadway, Los Angeles, Calf.) retains many touches of its opulent Baroque Revival style, even if the main hall’s lower tier is currently occupied by an Apple Store. If you gaze out from the balcony, you may recognize elements of the moody, ornate venue where the Fireman manifests Laura Palmer’s face as a glowing ball of light in the most enigmatic Twin Peaks episode, 2017’s “The Return, Part 8.”

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