Exploring “Twin Peaks” in Everett

I step onto the hall stairs.

A distortion of perspective; a vanishing point telescoping toward the upstairs bedrooms. The ceiling fan spins above, rocking slightly in its circular energy. I feel it humming and clicking to itself. There’s that ominous sensation which only that specific ceiling fan can evoke.

If you’re a Twin Peaks fan you know what I’m talking about.

I’m touring Laura Palmer’s house in the Rucker Hill neighborhood. I am here in Everett in 2023, but I’m also in a VHS tape in 1990 surrounded by swelling synths in minor chords. For a few surreal Lynchian moments I’m inhabiting the beloved cult tv series.

Fiction and nonfiction blur as I walk up the stairs in Mary Reber’s house. Reber has been the occupant of the (in)famous Palmer House since 2014. The Everett home is a beacon to fans from across the world -- from Italy to Japan to Finland and beyond. Zealots even travel here to cosplay iconic Twin Peaks scenes from the Palmer House. That’s dedication!

The author as Sarah Palmer learning of her daughter's untimely death

Reber’s home is a two-story Dutch colonial revival house built in 1925. It was picked for the tv show, she reasons, because the location scout needed a house that would plausibly belong to a lawyer and a housewife. Leland and Sarah Palmer, that is.

Fans may also be interested to know that Donna Hayward’s house is also in Everett -- a few blocks away on Grand Avenue, next to Doyle Park. Curiously, there are actually two Palmer Houses and two Hayward houses. The other Palmer house is in Monroe, across from the Lewis Street Park. The other Hayward house was filmed in California, where part of the production for Twin Peaks took place.

The Everett Palmer House definitely resonates with a spooky vibe. To visit is to get goosebumps -- not only because it’s the location of one of tv’s most famous murders (yikes!) but also because Reber has a life-size mannequin of the interdimensional demon BOB in the closet of Laura’s bedroom. Double yikes. I literally jumped when I saw it. 😅

Bob lurks in Laura’s closet // Richard Porter

Reber still has the artificially nicotine-stained curtains from Season 3 (filmed here) and an old-timey record Edison player like the one that features so prominently in the climax of Season 2. Remember the relentless sound of the skipping record as BOB possesses Leland? Triple yikes.

Palmer House aside, Rucker Hill has its own... energy. Maybe it’s the old Rucker Mansion, which is rumored to have secret passages, not unlike the Great Northern Lodge in Twin Peaks. Or maybe it’s the nearby Rucker Tomb, which is said to be haunted. Perhaps it's the secret fallout shelters that are allegedly dug into the side of the hill.

Mary Reber and David Lynch during production of Twin Peaks // Richard Porter

Feeling such otherworldly energy is subjective. I encourage you to take a tour of the Palmer House yourself and see what, if anything, you pick up. What resonates with you? Maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of a giant white horse lit by a spotlight. Maybe not.

Mary Reber offers tours of the Palmer House for $50, cash or Venmo. Her fan stories and collection of signed memorabilia alone are worth the cost of admission. To visit, you must find her on social media (easy enough as she posts mostly Twin Peaks content) and book an appointment in advance. Please respect her private property and do not stop by unannounced.

Just remember, before you enter Laura Palmer’s House: the owls aren’t what they seem...

Looking to complete the Everett Twin Peaks experience? Treat yourself to a damn fine cup of coffee and made-from-scratch pie at The Sisters Restaurant. Then be sure to visit the Funko HQ store on the corner of California and Wetmore to hunt Twin Peaks-themed Funko Pops!