FORKS, Wash. -- For millions of die-hard fans, Friday marks the day they've been waiting for as "Twilight: New Moon" debuts in theaters. But for one tiny town on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, "Twilight" is a year-round phenomenon.

It's rainy pretty much all the time in Forks, Wash., a tiny town of 3,000 people sitting in the shadow of the Olympic National Park. Average rainfall is about 100 inches a year. For many years, more timber was cut in Forks than anywhere else on Earth, giving birth to Forks' distinction as the Logging Capital of the World.

Those days, however, are a distant memory as Forks, the real-life setting for the "Twilight" books and movies, embraces its fictional side, reported KXLY-TV in Spokane, Wash.

"They still would like to be known as the logging capital of the world," Forks resident Mike Daniels said. "It's not there anymore, the logging's gone."

Thanks to a woman who has never set foot in Forks, the small logging town on the Olympic Peninsula has a new distinction of being the home of Bella Swan, Jacob Black and the Cullen Family of Stephanie Meyer's popular "Twilight" series of books. The books have sold more than 70 million copies; the first movie has earned more than $400 million.

Now, ever since the books were released, tourists have been flocking to Forks. Before "Twilight," Forks saw maybe 6,000 tourists a year. In 2008, 19,000 people came to visit. So far in 2009, 66,000 people have made the pilgrimage to Forks.

The tourists have brought a new way of life to Forks and new twists on some old businesses. Every store sells "Twilight" souvenirs, even the locksmith. Sully's Drive-In has a Bella Burger on the menu. The Chinese restaurant in town has life-size cut-outs of Edward and Bella to greet customers who come in for the chow mein and Kung Pao chicken. Every motel in Forks has "Twilight"-themed rooms for rent.

One woman helped change this tiny town. Annette Root has read each of the "Twilight" books 15 times. She first came to town to visit and didn't find the "Twilight" experience she was looking for. So, she moved her family north from Vancouver, Wash.

"They thought I was nuts," she said, but she opened two "Twilight" stores and business took off. Her stores feature everything "Twilight," from shirts to sweatpants and from lunchboxes to Twi-lighters. People actually come in to buy the books, even if they already own copies ... just to have a book that came from Forks.

Annette also takes her love of "Twilight" on the road. She operates a "Twilight" tour company. For $39, Twi-hards load on a bus to see "Twilight" sites based on locations in the books. The city has designated certain homes to be the Cullen house and Bella's house. Forks Hospital has a parking spot reserved for Dr. Cullen, the vampire family's father. There's a "Twilight" display at the police station where Bella's father serves as chief and if you drive by Forks High School on any given day you'll probably see a tourist taking a picture outside.

The crazy thing is the movies aren't even shot in Forks. In fact, while the story takes place in and around the Olympic Peninsula the movies aren't filmed in Washington State. They're actually shot on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in the Portland, Ore., area. But that's not stopping thousands of people from making the trek to see Forks High School, the Cullen family's home or the Forks Police Department.

Not everyone loves the fame "Twilight" has brought to Forks. Some longtime residents say the tourists are bringing too much attention and distraction to this once quiet town. They don't like the traffic that comes along with being part of a cultural phenomenon. Twi-hard queen Annette Root is quick to dismiss the doubters.

"We were given a fabulous gift," she said. "Something that takes a town that was dying, whether they want to admit it or not. The economy was horrible, people didn't have jobs. The logging industry is a proud industry and they are proud of that, but it has stopped."

Most people in Forks admit, "Twilight" -- right now -- is keeping this town afloat.

"Not my cup of tea," Forks resident John Gray said. "But for the people who like it, bring yourselves, bring your money out, open up your wallet; we love you!"