Actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart starred in the 2008 movie 'Twilight,' which has helped popularize the town of Forks, Wash.
(Imprint Entertainment/Maverick Films/Summit Entertainment/Deana Newcomb/Newscom)Photos (1 of 1)
‘Twilight’ helps Forks, Wash., beat the recession
By Amy Farnsworth | 09.25.09
A Pacific Northwest town – Forks, Wash. – has found one way to beat the recession by cashing in on everything and anything “Twilight” related.
Fans of the popular romance-fantasy novels are flocking to the town of 3,275 residents and two stop lights to view the moss-laden forests and high school where charming vampire Edward Cullen and clumsy, teenage misfit Bella Swan meet and fall in love.
To cater to starry-eyed fans, Forks’ Chamber of Commerce launched a van tour that points out spots featured in the Twilight books. The town even created a “reserved” parking spot at the local hospital for the fictional character Dr. Carlisle Cullen.
Now, a new motion picture based on the four-part saga by author Stephenie Meyer promises to focus further attention on the tiny community, which averages 12 feet (feet!) of rain a year. With “New Moon” due in theaters Nov. 20, the tourist trade is already building, according to Jane Margolies of The New York Times.
Visitors to Forks have more than tripled this year through August compared with the same period last year, according to the local Chamber of Commerce. Most of them stop at Forks Visitor Center, where they “grab maps pinpointing Forks High School, where Bella and Edward first lock eyes in the cafeteria; City Hall, where Bella’s police-chief father works; and the driftwood-strewn beach in nearby La Push, where the character Jacob, a member of the local Quileute tribe, first informs Bella that Edward and his family are ‘blood drinkers,’ ” Ms. Margolies writes.
There’s a Twilight souvenir shop, Dazzled By Twilight, that carries jewelry (including Bella’s engagement ring), oversized calendars of actor Robert Pattinson (who portrays the vampire in the latest movie), and a Twilight coffee blend called “Stay awake with the vampires – Bella’s Blend.”
Even hotels, such as the Dew Drop Inn Motel and the Pacific Inn Motel, have caught on to the Twilight craze, decorating rooms with Twilight posters, black and red curtains and painted walls, and Twilight towels. Margolies reports that “revenue from hotel occupancy tax is up 26 percent over last year, according to a Forks City Council Member.”
Forks isn’t the only town that’s benefitting from Twilight mania. Port Angeles, Wash., a town northeast of Forks, where Bella has her first dining experience with Edward and shops at a bookstore, has been a draw as well. This year, fans visited the restaurant, Bella Italia, where the couple dine in the first Twilight movie, and purchased 4,500 $17 bowls of mushroom ravioli (which Bella ordered in the movie and the book). Meanwhile, Margolies reports that the bookstore Bella declines to visit because of its new age vibe – Port Book and News – says business has increased by as much as 20 percent.
– Amy Farnsworth is a Monitor staff writer. Click below for a look at Forks.
Comments
2. Amanda Taylor | 09.25.09
I joined the Twilight bandwagon well after the movie had made its way to video and a month after my sister and I started planning our trip to the Hoh Rainforest via Seattle. I had been unaware that the location in the books was exactly where we would be picking up our park pass and just a mere ten plus miles from the Upper Hoh Rd. It was a great surprise to, pardon my cliche, kill two birds with one stone.
I have to admit that we felt pretty silly spending any time in Forks in the event we would be mistaken for Twilight fans who would trek the globe to see where the Cullen’s set up shop. This was to be a fleeting embarrassment; after our second day preparing for our rugged hike from the Hoh Rainforest to Lake Quinalt neither of us wanted to leave the gracious folks in Forks and the amazing beauty to behold in the La push areas of Rialto, Peruvian Monument, First;Second; and Third Beaches. We decided against leaving the area at all in fact. The Twilight mania, is a bit silly, but it seems to have a positive impact for the rural community and not a dismal face was to be seen.
Although our motivation was rain, of which my sister and I are huge fans of- H2O junkies you could say, we had an amazing time in a beautiful place. I hope that the books (the movie was unfortunately filmed in our second favorite coastal state- Oregon) bring more positive ripples. Also, not ONE fast food restaurant in town. NOT ONE. Forks also boasts several coffee shops to supply visitors and locals with gourmet coffee/espresso.
We plan to revisit the area at least twice over the next year.
-Amanda
3. jan williams | 10.28.09
in july of this year my family and i visited forks washington. i could not believe the wounderful reseption we recieved by the people and businesses of this little town. we loved the twilight store as to say the forest indoors and the charm and greace of the owner annett. the four days we were in forks gave us ample oppertunity to stay at one of the local motels (a wounderful experience) we took in all the hubbub on twilight tours and visited the chamber and logging museum. with our intire tripe through washington a gorgous state as we returned to montana, i would say go there, go there, go there. of our two week vacation the only less then perfect experience was the local sweat shop. get on the band wagon you dont fit in.
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1. Fernanda Magalhaes | 09.25.09
So cool! I´m from Brazil and I´[m planning to visit USA and of course, Forks!! I just love the books! Stephenie Meyer is a genius!! And Edward Cullen is the most perfect boyfriend ever!