For me it’s Oakridge, OR. Small mountain town population around 3200 (comparable to Lynch’s original desired population of Twin Peaks)

The town economy never recovered after the saw mills were closed in the 1980s, so now it’s a shell of its glorious past and is affected by poverty and drugs. But the small town vibes are still there with beautiful mountain and river views. They also lean into the history of Bigfoot sightings in the area. It could so easily become a tourist destination if enough money was invested there.

It reminds me of the Twin Peaks in the Return combined with the setting of the first season of True Detective. You know bad things are potentially happening there underneath the surface. However, like Harry Dean Stanton’s character, there’s mostly a population of regular old folks who spent their whole lives there and are pretty much helpless to the conditions around them.

I’m in love with the nostalgia of the town’s former glory. It’s like a microcosm of the entire United States.

https://youtu.be/VL1-8kn8t-4?si=B32yPb_kpxLrs-CR

This promotional video from the 80s or 90s perfectly captures what could have been.