FORKS CHAMBER TAKING VISITORS TWILIGHTING

Twilight Tour guide Mike Gurling holds a printout of the latest Summit Entertainment movie poster for the Forks-set film “Twilight.” The alcove behind Gurling is being filled with “Twilight” items to add to the attraction of Forks to visiting Twilight fans. Forks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marcia Bingham scurries by to Gurling’s left as activity at the chamber’s visitor center picks up with the coming of summer.

---

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum Editor

See the homes of the stars!

Make that locations where vampires, werewolves and common West End folks live as mentioned in the best-selling “Twilight” books series and you have a van tour that outshines Hollywood excursions.

At least that’s what the Forks Chamber of Commerce hopes as it launches its first Twilight tour on Saturday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m.

“I think mothers and daughters” will be fans of the tour, Marcia Bingham, Executive Director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce said of the steady stream of Twilight fans who stop in at the chamber’s visitor center located just south of downtown Forks. “We even just had interested grandparents, so it crosses the age span.”
Bingham said on Friday a Twilight fan from Ohio had called to book a seat on the first tour. She said notice of the tour was first placed on the chamber Web site on Wednesday, May 14.

Tour driver, and retired Olympic National Park interpretive guide, Mike Gurling plans to take “Twilight” fans along the highways and byways of  Forks and La Push. Obvious stops include pointing out where Forks Police Chief Charlie Swan works at Forks City Hall, a ride down Spartan Avenue to see the classic brick facade of the old Forks High entrance where young lovers Bella and Edward go to school, and a spin to the coast to walk romantic sea-log-strewn First Beach at LaPush, plus other accessible locales that inspired “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer.

Gurling is the chamber’s Forks Visitor Center manager and he is well versed in Twilight lore. Look on the chamber’s Web site (www.forkswa.com) for photos of hundreds of Twilight fans who have arrived over the past months in small groups and as individuals. The chamber supplies them with Twilight packets that include a map of the West End with scenes from the book series well marked.

Gurling is a “Twilight” expert and knows the texts of the books in detail. He is the creator of Twilight trivia quizzes that the chamber hands out to fans. Brief versions of his Twilight questions appear in the Table Topics folders that the Forks Forum and the chamber distribute to restaurants..

The Twilight tour driver is sure to be a match for even the most died in the wool visiting Meyer fan who take his  tour.

The fan tours depart from the Forks Chamber of Commerce visitor center, located at 1411 South Forks Ave. across from the Forks Municipal Airport.

Upcoming tours are scheduled for Saturday, June 14 and Saturday, June 28, both leaving at 9:00 a.m.

Reservations are required. Call 374-2531, or send an e-mail to info@forkswa.com. The cost per person is based on the number of passengers who book. Tour riders receive a special Forks “Twilight” souvenir, plus are promised many photo op stops.
The fare is $20 each for two riders, $15 per rider for four and $12 each for six-eight passengers.

Posted Friday, May 16