The Forks Community Hospital was also game. Recognizing the hospital had a part in the books -- Edward's father is a doctor -- the administrator created a "Dr. Cullen Reserved Parking Only" sign and put it in the parking lot. It quickly became a tourist attraction.
When fans sought authentic Twilight food, Sully's Burgers obliged. The Bellaburger -- a hamburger topped with a ring of pineapple and a slice of Swiss cheese and served with a pair of plastic vampire teeth -- is the bestselling item at the mom-and-pop restaurant. Never mind that this burger does not exist in the books. Nor do the Bellasagna, Bellaberry (raspberry/blueberry) pie and other Twilight foods offered at area restaurants.
Sully's manager, Bruce Guckenberg, has four daughters, all of whom have read the books and three of whom work at the restaurant. What's been most surprising to Christina Guckenberg, 30, is how seriously some fans take the books. She was especially surprised by a customer who hoped to meet Chief Charlie Swan, the fictional Forks police officer who is Bella's dad.
"You mean Chief Powell?" Christina countered, offering her customer the name of the real Forks head of police.
Having strangers call him Charlie is "kind of flattering, but it's weird because it's from a book," said Mike Powell, who has good-naturedly started answering to the fictitious name. Powell also signs autographs as Chief Swan and poses for pictures with his squad car. He plays along, he said, because "it's good for the town."
But not everyone in town understands the books' appeal, or why their fans are descending upon Forks.
"Our kids don't see the novelty," said Mark Brandmire, assistant principal of Forks High School. "What part of 'fiction' don't you get?"
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Meyer had never been to Forks when she started writing her books. She chose the town after an Internet search showed it was the rainiest city in the Lower 48. Vampires, after all, don't like sun. Forks, with its prodigious 120 inches of annual precipitation, is often covered with mist.
Twilighters first started trickling into town in August 2006, when Meyer came to Forks for the first time to promote her second book, "New Moon." At that time, her books were printed in the tens of thousands and her appearances drew small crowds.
One year later, inspired by the release of Meyer's third book, "Eclipse," Forks threw a party. The date was Sept. 13 -- Bella's birthday -- and 125 Twilighters showed up.
