Snowblower meets snowplow in a snow-clogged driveway.
Some towns are authentic, maintaining the same character as when they were first populated. Other towns are theme based for the purpose of attracting tourists to bolster an economy that withered with the demise of a natural resource-based economy. Some are a combination of both.
Many years ago, Solvang, California, was a must-see attraction for me on my journey from Northern California to Southern California (along with Buellton, home of Hap-pea and Pea-wee’s famous Anderson pea soup). Solvang was, for a “minute,” the Danish capital of the world when Midwestern Danish moved to the milder climate in California. Currently, only 10% of the population is Danish, but the theme of Danish culture (think pastries and windmills) still attracts tourists, especially from Nordic countries.
Here in Washington, there are seven theme towns identified as charming, must-visit destinations and a couple more noted with honorable mention. No. 1 on the list is Leavenworth with its Bavarian theme. Like Winthrop, when natural resource-based industry such as mining and timber dried up, Leavenworth looked for alternatives to keep its economy viable.
With the help of University of Washington students, a couple of Seattle businessmen (Bob and Ted) came up with a Bavarian theme for Leavenworth that grew legs in the 1960s. Currently, thousands of tourists descend upon the town, especially during the holiday season to experience snow, lights, schnitzel and nutcrackers. The town always aims to have the lights on by Thanksgiving and kept on through February. Especially in fresh snow, it is indeed magical to see all the twinkling lights.
This past week, we met family in Leavenworth for a convenient in-between spot from the west side to the east side. Fortunately, Stevens Pass was open after being closed for several days with ice buildup on the road. There were so many visitors and so much traffic in the village, I couldn’t help but think about our little inconvenience when Winthrop traffic is backed up at the four-way stop. It’s nothing like the crowds in Leavenworth.
Winthrop came in after Port Townsend (Victorian), Poulsbo (Viking), and Lynden (Dutch) on the list of “charming” theme towns to visit. Roslyn (coal mining) and Langley (island/logging) followed with honorable mention for Forks (vampire) and Union Gap (Civil War).
The towns in the Methow Valley now depend on amenity-driven economies where the ambience and natural beauty attract a variety of visitors, second homeowners, and new residents. It is the way of rural communities that have found themselves empty-handed when industrial based economy dried up.
It is not unlike my hometown, which was a railroad community until a merger of railways sent the main line to Northern Montana and the biggest railroad repair shop between Chicago and Seattle was mothballed. My father, who had the highest seniority on the Northern Pacific Railroad, called it a deal made by the (expletive deleted) in St. Paul. The town is now a conclave of artists taking advantage of the backdrop of railroad authenticity.
Mazama was once a booming little community as the departure point for the mining towns in the Harts Pass area. It is now, too, an amenity-based community filled with outdoors adventurers who embrace the natural resources that offer so many options. Fortunately, we have the Shafer Museum that provides an historical picture of both Winthrop and Mazama as they once were. One thing for sure, times they are a changing.
Of note: There is much more snow in Mazama than there is in Leavenworth. You know when enough is enough when the snowplow gets stuck in your driveway!
