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Last fall's blockbuster "Twilight" created a boon for the tourism industry in Forks, Washington.

The small timber town on the Olympic Peninsula is the setting for the vampire book series. Now, at a time when most tourist destinations are hurting, Forks is embracing the vampire theme and transforming its image along the way. Barbara Leidl reports.

Katie Jennings (taking a picture): "Ok, ready? Do you want to be by Bella? Edward? – Edward, I love you Edward, and Jacob...."

Cardboard cutouts of Twilight characters appear in the rusty red truck that's become the scene of many tourist photos.

14-year old Katie Jennings from Seattle gets her picture taken by her mom in front of a rusty red truck.

Not just any truck.  It's probably one of the most photographed vehicles around. It sits in front of the Visitors' Center of Forks, population 3100.

Many scenes of the "Twilight" novels take place in that car with Bella Swan, the human girl, Edward Cullen, the vampire and Jacob Black, the werewolf.

And it's one of the reasons Twilight fans are flooding Forks, says Chamber of Commerce director Marcia Bingham, who is going through the guestbook.

Marcia Bingham: "I'll just give you a typical example of what people write: "awesome", "Thank you", "Edward is mine", we get that a lot. "Twilight rocks." We get a lot of comments on "Forks is wonderful", "we'll be back" – THAT we particularly like."

16,000 so called "Twihearts" came to Forks in July alone. By comparison: in the whole of last year, only 8000 people visited Forks.

That's an increase welcomed by Annette Root. She's a "Twiheart" herself and even named three of her children after characters from the book. Root was so taken by the vampire stories she opened a store called "Dazzled by Twilight" in November of last year.

Annette Root: "We actually outgrew our original space and had to seek a larger location, because people were so crammed in and didn't have a good experience. And that's really what it's always been about – having a wonderful experience, feeling like you came to Forks and you walked into the books."

So, recently the 46-year old shop owner remodeled one store to look like a forest inside, opened a second location in Forks, and a third one in Port Angeles. In March, she began running guided bus tours.

This sign is often the first photo stop on a “Twilight” pilgrimage to Forks. Tom Banse visited Forks last November. Read his report and see pictures -  Vampire Tourism Provides A Novel Twist In Forks, WA Take an audio slideshow tour of Forks

The Chamber of Commerce had become so overrun with customers it couldn't manage any more.

Travis Belles: "We have arrived at Jacob's house – let's go check it out."

Travis Belles says he's led about 500 tours around Forks and nearby La Push beach.  As many as four times a day – each tour lasting 2 hours.

Even in a down economy, people are happy to pay $40 to hear his introductions and take pictures of the local hospital, the police department or the high school.

Locals like Sequim resident Alyeen Carlson have their favorite stories to tell about excited visitors.

Alyeen Carlson: "So we stopped and we were taking pictures and this gentleman came over and he was talking to me, telling me, 'Oh, I'll take you're picture.' And I said, 'that's ok, my husband went to high school here and he's familiar with it.' And so he was all excited: 'he went to high school here?' And he stopped another gentleman on the street and said: 'This man, he went to high school here.'"

Marcia Bingham from the Chamber of Commerce is delighted to hear stories like this. She calls it a "gift" that Twilight-author Stephenie Meyer chose Forks for her stories.

It fills the cash registers of businesses and restaurants in a town that claims itself as the "timber capitol of the world."

Marcia Bingham: "We know timber will be back – so some of the timber-families have found something to do in the meantime thanks to Twilight."

And it certainly put Forks on the map – says Twilight tour guide Travis Belles.

Travis Belles: "It used to be: When you tell somebody you're from Forks, they'd say – 'well, where's that?' And you'd say– 'well, on the Olympic Peninsula.' And they'd say, 'well, where's THAT?' Now, it's like you tell people, you're from Forks, and they're like: 'FORKS, oh my goodness, it's FORKS!'"

People in Forks are hoping for even more Twilight business when the second movie comes out in November. And this time it might actually show in Forks. The town's theater has been out of business for years. But the vampire phenomenon could breathe new life into it.

Online:

Forks, WA Chamber of Commerce

Twilight the movie

Author's web site