Forks Washington on the Olympic Peninsula

We couldn't help noticing this guest op-ed piece from the Seattle Times, titled "Don't let Twilight suck the life out of Forks."  It's written by Emerson Richards, a college student from Florida who has apparently visited Forks a couple of times in the past and now declares it to be her favorite town.  Her main point is that folks should visit Forks because of the natural beauty of our area--not because it's where the Twilight saga is set.  OK, fair enough, but isn't that a little like saying that folks should visit Florida for the natural beauty and endangered species found in the Everglades--not because it's where Disney World is located?  In any event, we're getting a few chuckles out of the reader comments at the end of the article, including a comment from "Mudflow" in Sappho (right down the road from Forks), who assures Ms. Richards that she--along with everybody else--is welcome here, suggesting "bring your fantasies and your cash and your raingear and let others bring theirs."

What do you think? Is Twilight sucking the life out of Forks?  Or adding to the fun?

This article from the UK Mail attributes a 1000% increase in tourism here in Forks to Robert Pattinson.  Thanks Rob!! We hadn't really thought of it that way before. . . .   The article does a nice job of covering some of the local attractions,  mentioning Ruby Beach and the Hoh Rainforest.  Cheers to the Mail for the great article and for helping us spread the word about Forks.  If you really want to see the dark, rainy, authentic Forks, now is the perfect time to visit!

Wow! You’d expect to find huge t-shirt factories lining the streets out here in the West End of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, given the number of Forks and LaPush t-shirts available online. We’re not really sure who’s making these shirts, but we suspect most aren’t actually from around here.

We appreciate all of the attention–and the more the merrier–but there are locally produced Forks, LaPush and Twilight-related products available, including the Forks Chamber of Commerce’s own line of shirts and stickers. Your purchases help support community-minded Chamber activities, including operating this web site and our web cams, staffing our Visitor Information Center in Forks and funding scholarships for graduates of Forks High School and Quileute Tribal School.

But, just for fun, here’s a small sampling of some of the images available on t-shirts and other products out there:

“Vampire Tourism” is the latest craze in Forks and and the rest of the Olympic Peninsula. And it’s working! The Peninsula Daily News reports in this article from Sunday, October 12th, that “the allure of vampire dreams delivered a 48-percent increase in lodging tax revenue for Forks . . . .”

Check out this cool photo gallery of Forks “Twilight-related” scenes from Seattle Post-Intelligencer photographer Brad Vest. You’ve got to love shots of visitors smiling gamely as they’re photographed frolicking in standing water alongside the road. That’s real Forks stuff. (Um, maybe too real . . . ) And what’s up with the shot of Forks Chamber Visitor Center Manager Mike Gurling wearing what appears to be a tuxedo?? Impressive! These photos capture the fun and excitement of visiting Forks and LaPush, especially now, in the “off-season,” when you can take your time and enjoy everything the area has to offer.

It’s a mystery keeping most Forks-area residents up at night–what happened to the gas cap on “Bella’s” truck? Yes, we’re talking about the vintage red truck (and popular local photo-op) that’s usually parked at the Forks Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center–located just south of Downtown Forks on Forks Avenue (Highway 101). Thanks to Peninsula Daily News reporter Paige Dickerson for her recent news story probing into this community crisis! Anyone with clues or other information about the whereabouts of the missing cap should contact the Chamber immediately at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
01/20/09 UPDATE: Whew–crisis averted!! Was that “Twicrimes”? Read the latest here!

Here’s early notice–Stephenie Meyer Day 2009 is happening September 12-13, 2009, in Forks, WA!! While this year’s event is still in the organizational stages, based on the overwhelming response last year, we want everyone (including folks in, um, Arizona . . . ) to have a chance to make plans to be here on Bella’s Birthday to celebrate with us. Now is the time to make lodging reservations in Forks or LaPush for this weekend–the entire area was booked solid last year. Many fans arrived before the weekend and/or stayed a day or two afterward, to have more time to fully enjoy everything the area has to offer.

While whales in general have received quite a bit of media attention in the West End over the years, whale watching has pretty much been limited to a shoreside activity. That is until now. Our friends at the Quileute Oceanside Resort in LaPush (about 15 mile west of Forks, right on the Pacific Ocean, at the mouth of the Quillayute River) just announced they are partnering with Pacific Coast Charters to offer whale watching excursions starting April 1st and extending through May 15, 2009. With package pricing starting at $210 for 2 people, including overnight, oceanfront, accommodations and a “3 hour tour” aboard the Ali Lynn with Captain Anthony Demorest, we suspect there will be strong interest in this popular outdoor activity. For more information, contact the resort now at 1-800-487-1267.

Sea stacks, sunsets and seals are some of the many features of the latest addition to our little webcam family—our “James Island” webcam.The brand-new camera, again co-sponsored by the Forks Chamber of Commerce and the Quileute Nation, shows the sea stacks and surf between James Island (A-Ka-Lat) and Little James Island.The scene, which extends westward across the mouth of the Quillayute River to the horizon, changes dramatically with tide and weather conditions.

This is just a taste of the kind of awesome scenery that visitors to the West End of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula enjoy!

MIKE & MARCIA TWILIGHT ACTION FIGURES

This is probably the most incredible thing we’ve ever seen. Seriously!! Yes, it’s our own Marcia Bingham, Chamber Director, and Mike Gurling, Chamber Visitor Center Manager, depicted as action figures. Right there next to the Alice Cullen action figure! It’s almost too much . . . .