Twilight Sucks the Life Out of Forks, Washington!!
September 1st 2010 05:54
Forks has been invaded, but not by supposed vampires or werewolves but by hoards of Twilighters making their pilgrimage to the setting of the book they love. Did this town have a say-so in the so-called invasion, probably not? Forks is an unassuming small-town with a population of 3,120, located in northwestern Washington state. The multi-million dollar Twilight movie series phenomenon is based on the vampire romance novels written by Stephanie Meyer. Supposedly, Myers googled for the rainiest place on earth and Forks, Washington popped up on her map. Meyer set her vampire romances in Northwest Washington in the towns of Forks and La Push without even visiting the towns. These towns had no idea what was coming their way, but a slow steady stream of Twilight fans slowly invaded their town. Not only did the town not have a say-so in the use of its name, it also did not have a helping of the enormous profits that have been generated.
Before the people of Forks woke up and smelled the profits, Annette Root took up shop. Mrs. Root is a local social worker that was swept up by the Twilight books. When she took a pilgrimage to Forks to see the happening Twilight Events there was nothing to see, hence, Dazzled by Twilight was born. http://dazzledbytwilight.com According to their new online community, Dazzled By Twilight “is the one and only Online Community and Destination Site dedicated to the Twilight Saga located in the heart of Twilight – Forks, Washington.” Mrs. Root owns Twilight Tours, Dazzled By Twilight Visitor’s Shop, The Twilight Lounge, a restaurant downstairs from the lounge called The Lodge in Forks, and a Dazzled by Twilight store, all on the main thoroughfare through town. Much like a hurricane descending on the mainland, the people of Forks did not know quite what hit them. Mrs. Root a true Disney fan brought the Disney attitude, overkill and high prices, to Forks. After the rise of the first store, Mrs. Root and her husband cornered the market, by opening another store in Port Angeles, 56 miles away.
The Dazzled by Twilight stores are polished capitalism, clean professional designed signs, brochures, and a variety of products and styles, all under one roof. The Fork’s Pharmacy’s hand painted sign looks like lowly Cinderella next to Dazzled by Twilight’s polished advertisements. A Native American Twilight store, with limited items and variety is located directly across the street, desperately trying to compete with the Goliath of Dazzled. Every store along this thoroughfare, North Forks Avenue, is trying to cash in on what Mrs. Root has accomplished so brilliantly. It’s too little too late. Tourism is up, and revenue is up, yet something just isn’t right in Forks. Every corner has some attempt of capitalizing on the Twilight wave; it just takes the wind out of the town. One town member commented, “Twilight has effectively turned our timber heritage into nothing more then a side notes to a pop culture movie about pale-faced teenage lust. People no longer come here to visit the timber museum; instead they gawk at the ‘Bella mobile’ parked outside.” With a 48% increase in lodging revenue and an 1000% increase in tourism, the Forks Chamber of Commerce has happily joined the Twilight Brigade by offering online shopping, Twilight posters, postcards, tours, and life size cut outs for photo opts. The Chamber of Commerce is singing the Twilight song. http://www.forkswa.com
What’s wrong with people making money off Twilight? Nothing, if the town is enhanced by the popularity of its name in a book. Not many are thinking about the enhancement of Forks and La Push. Next to the Chamber of Commerce is a trailer park with baby strollers, household appliances and wayward items piled up outside the doors. What an incredible contrast to “Eat where Bella ate” and “wear the dress Bella wore in the movie.” Broken down trailers and deserted homes are the desolated theme of La Push, the home of the book’s Native American werewolves. The Native American community, the Quileute Nation, has struggled with how to handle the attention that the Twilight saga has thrust upon them. So far, the major benefits they seemed to have gained are some tax dollars that the community has received from their Oceanside Resort and meager sales at Jacob’s Java. Like any other community, social service programs, community restoration, education, and outreach for at-risk youth and the elderly are needed. A real Twilight saga would be if the moneymakers would pour some cash into the needs of the area. That would be something even Bella could sink her teeth into.
| 58 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
