Cramming in as much as possible in our week-long trip to Seattle.
We took a day and drove out of Seattle on I-90 East thru the scenic mountains in search of TV filming sites. First on our list were Twin Peaks sites. Taking the Preston exit, we proceeded to Fall City. There at the intersection with 202 was The Colonial Inn (used as The Roadhouse). The Colonial was out of business, but looked as it did in the show. We also saw the small outbuilding behind the Colonial (The Bookhouse). We then turned right on 202 South East and proceeded to Snoqualmie Falls. At the base of the falls is the Salish Lodge. It appears on your right as you enter Snoqualmie City Limits. The Salish was used as the exterior for the Great Northern in Twin Peaks. Snoqualmie Falls itself was also featured prominently in the show. You should definitely get out and check out this magnificent waterfalls. It's the second most visited site in Washington!
We then continued east on 202, then made a quick left onto Mill Pond Rd. This took us to 3 important Twin Peaks sites. The (Ronnette Polaski) Railroad Trestle, Weyerhauser Mill (Packard Sawmill), and the Weyerhauser Mill Administration Building (Twin Peaks Sheriff's Office). You'll have no trouble finding the trustle as long as you keep turning left. Just past the trustle, turn left onto Renig Rd. Take the next left after that and you'll find the Administration Building. From the parking lot, there's a good view of the Mill. It's all quite desolate and quiet. We didn't manage to get inside the Administration Building as there was no one there. But you can peer thru the windows where you'll see Lucy's office and the hallways. These look virtually unchanged from the TV show! Head back the way you came, or in the direction toward 202 and you'll arrive in Snoqualmie.
In town you'll see the Railroad Depot and Northwest Railway Museum. All pretty cool just to browse thru. Across the road is The Gazebo (used in Twin Peaks). We then proceeded to the last Twin Peaks site. From Snoqualmie, take 202 East/South (North Bend Rd) to the town of North Bend. A little driving around took us past the Mt. Si Motel where some filming took place. We then finally arrived at the corner of North Bend Way & North Bend Blvd. where we found Twede's (formerly the Mar-T Cafe, the Double R Diner exterior used in Twin Peaks). They offer Twin Peaks Cherry Pie and a damn fine cup of coffee! We went inside and had coffee (which is just OK). That's it for the Twin Peaks part of our driving tour. Plese proceed to the Northern Exposure Roslyn TV Filming Sights to continue this day trip.
We took a day and drove out of Seattle on I-90 East thru the scenic mountains in search of TV filming sites. First on our list were Twin Peaks sites. Go to Twin Peaks TV Filming Sites and read that first. From North Bend, follow the 202 (North Bend Blvd) South to get back to I-90 and head East. This will take awhile. Get off at Exit 80, follow Route 903 East for 4 miles into Roslyn. Roslyn was of course used extensively as the town of Cicely Alaska in the TV show Northern Exposure. This place is like a standing movie set as you'll instantly recognize the place. Most of the series' locations can be found in the one-block business district. On one end you'll find the Roslyn Cafe Mural on a building, seen in the opening of the show with the moose. The Brick (Holling's Tavern) is on one corner. Central Sundries (Ruth-Anne's store) is across the street. Then down toward the mural, you'll find the Northwest Mining Company storefront (Dr. Fleischman's office), now called Cicely's Gift Shop. You can go inside and buy souvenirs.
Check out the "Dr. Joel Fleischman" hand painted plexiglass in the store window. This is the REAL prop still in place! They're real friendly in there! Buy some stuff! And finally, cross over 903 past The Brick, to the other side of the block, and on the left you'll see KBHR! That's right! The storefront mock radio station used in the show is still intact! Complete with all the records, turntable, microphone, everything! The records are getting a bit warped and sun faded. They actually shot many of the interiors in the buildings themselves, not just exteriors!. Quite uncommon. It's such a bizarre feeling being in this little town out in the middle of nowhere that seems so familiar. But you'll be real glad you made the effort to visit!