By Bob Difley
Small towns and hamlets scattered throughout the West struggle to get by. Without major employers, there are few jobs for residents so many of these small towns rely on tourism for their survival. One such town in the Cascade Range of Central Washington has branded itself in a successful bid to attract tourism – and it has worked.
The town of Leavenworth, like many towns in the West, struggled not to become a ghost town when industries and jobs vanished like puffs of smoke. The local railroad relocated its main roundhouse and station, and the mill, no longer having access to the railroad industry, dried up and moved away. An immediate exodus brought the town to its knees, suffering through the Depression and languishing through the ’40s and ’50s. The population and jobs continued to drop, but the residents (now numbering nearly 2,000), liked where they lived in the beautiful Leavenworth Valley with their backdrop of high alpine peaks and refused to be forced to move away.
So they put their heads together and in the early ’60s came to the conclusion that they would have to come up with their own rescue plan, that no government white knight would ride in on a horse of largesse to spread prosperity throughout the valley. They would have to devise a magnet to bring tourists (and their disposable capital) into the town in order to revive it.
And that they did en masse, mortgaging their properties and investing everything they had – all private money with no government help – on a dream, transmogrifying Leavenworth into an authentically reproduced Bavarian Alps town.
When you and the other two million annual visitors visit Leavenworth today, you will find the typical Alpine village of gingerbread storefronts, Wienerschnitzel and sauerkraut restaurants, beer gardens, accordions and polkas, gift shops selling everything German from beer steins to cuckoo clocks, and a full calendar of lively festivals, art shows, and other entertaining events.
Leavenworth has become a destination for family fun and weekend getaways, for visiting wineries and tasting rooms, and as a base for the myriad recreational opportunities in the mountains and along the Wenatchee River.
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If you live in Wisconsin , then brats and beer are a staple food !!
This sounds lovely. Bet it’s pretty crowded in the summer. Wonder what the best off-season times are (without dealing with snow and ice).
(When you have to hang up the keys!!) Remember, Leavenworth, WA is also an Amtrak Empire Builder stop. Nice stop-over en-route to either Seattle or Chicago or points in between.
The wife and I visited Leavenworth a few years back and was very happy we did! We’re professional Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus it’s perennial Christmas atmosphere was really enjoyable.
I have been to Germany and Leavenworth is a reasonable facsimile. We can’t wait to visit again soon!
Love it! Been there several times. Have seen the plays! And everything else in town and nearby We love to go there to enjoy the fruit as well. So much to do in the area. We saw 5 mile backups returning to Seattle area on Sunday as we were heading the other way toward Leavenworth. It is a must area to visit!
Limited RV parks in Leavenworth so anyone traveling to the area should also consider the Chelan County Fairgrounds in Cashmere, 8-10 miles away. Full hookups and very large RV parking area.
I have been to the German Alps and the “Alps” in Leavenworth, Washington state. Both were great experiences. Get to both of them if you can !
The pic above could be Helen GA also the small town is located on the Chattahoochee river and in North GA. Every summer we get loads of tourist not something I enjoy but it does pay the bills for businesses.
I’ve been to both, grew up in N GA and went to Helen often. It has been decades since visiting Helen, flew over it a couple of times with my dad and it has really grown. Leavenworth was a couple of years ago with to work friends. Stayed at a little motel and loved the visit.