Front Street, Leavenworth
Front Street, Leavenworth
A plucky group of Leavenworth residents and merchants risked everything
back in the 1960s to rescue their community from certain ruin and create
the Bavarian Village of today. The history of the Leavenworth area
is interesting enough -- white explorers, trappers and settlers following,
eventually displacing the Wenatchi indians. The residents were farmers,
loggers, sheepherders and miners.
Big change came with the Great Northern Railroad, which completed its line through Leavenworth in 1892 and across Stevens Pass in 1893. In 1904, a sawmill was built and residents began to plant fruit trees, beginning an industry that was soon supported by the construction of irrigation ditches.
In the 1920s, the town lost both its sawmill and the railroad. The Great Depression and war years brought only more decline. By the 1950s, Leavenworth was limping. In the early 60s, with the help of the University of Washington's Bureau of Community Development and a year long study conducted by the townspeople themselves, Leavenworth's first Autumn Leaf Festival was held in 1963. The development of a Bavarian theme in architecture followed. In 1964, the Vesta Junior Women's Club of Leavenworth won a national prize for the improvements and that prize, plus the savvy promotions of residents brought attention to the town and helped sustain the change. There was no coercion, and no state or federal money. The residents did it out of pride in the town.
Old buildings were remodeled and new buildings went up in the Bavarian style. This little town of 2,100 entertains 1.5 million visitors a year at the Autumn Leaf Festival, Maifest, Quilt Festival, Oktoberfest, Christkindlmarkt, Christmas Festival of Lights, Bavarian Icefest, Fasching, International Accordion Celebration, Summer Craft Fair and Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. In addition to all the festivals and celebrations, there's white water rafting, cross country skiing, and the worlds's best d'Anjou pears. Whew!!
The Haus Lorelei was built in 1903 as a retreat for a lumber magnate. In the 70's, a family purchased it. In 1986, the father died, leaving his wife and 5 children aged 6 to 14. The family has operated the B&B ever since. It is a lovely mansion, perfectly suited for a B&B with six bedrooms, each with a private bath, opening into a large living area with a huge river rock fireplace. Our room was on the river side, just above the Wenatchee River. The setting, enhanced by the season's first snowstorm, was idyllic, quiet, restful.
