City of Leavenworth

On July 8, 2024, we arrived at Leavenworth/Pine Village KOA Holiday RV Park around 3:30 pm, and settled in during a heat wave. First order of business? Turn on the A/C. Pronto.

I guess July wasn’t the best time of year to have our Bavarian Getaway. The morning hours were the best time to get out and about. When temperatures rose above 100 degrees, we sought things to do inside.

The Greater Leavenworth Museum was one of those air-conditioned spots we enjoyed for about an hour. While there, we learned how Leavenworth got its start as a Bavarian-themed travel and vacation spot.

Ted Price and Bob Rodgers sparked the idea of a Bavarian-themed town to the economically depressed Leavenworth in the early 1960s. They believed the town’s transformation would bring in tourists, as it did for them. They were the owners of the alpine themed Squirrel Tree Inn 20 miles outside of Leavenworth.

To demonstrate their belief, they sold their inn and invested in Leavenworth property. Their renovations inspired others to create Bavarian-themed storefronts on their buildings. And to use a cliché, the rest is history.

Even today, strict regulations exist to retain the Bavarian look of signs, buildings, and other infrastructure. Even McDonalds had to abide by the design requirements.

Soon the town committed to three festivals: Maifest, Oktoberfest, and the Christmas Lighting Festival. Other outdoor and sports activities also drew people to the area.

Curious to know how Leavenworth got its name, I searched for an exhibit that told the story. Known as Captain Leavenworth, Charles Frederick Leavenworth was a prominent businessman who settled in Santa Rosa, California, from Rochester, N.Y. in 1871. He married Kate Mead two years later.

While in California, he designed and built a steam-operated flour mill and a municipal water system for Modesto, California. In 1883, he moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he invested in a sawmill. He built a larger sawmill in Gray’s Harbor, so he could ship lumber to California. His shipping business is where his nickname, Captain, came from.

On October 13, 1892, Leavenworth filed a warranty deed for Leavenworth. He surveyed and platted the new town, and with a group of financiers sold town lots. The Panic of 1893 caused a depression that lasted several years and put an end to their enterprise. He returned to Western Washington until his death on February 2, 1909. He never returned to the town of Leavenworth to live. Apparently, there wasn’t much to see after the local mill closed and the Great Northern Rail Road pulled out. I wonder what he would think if he could see it today.

One might think the pole on main street is a totem pole. Actually, it is a 96-foot tall Maibaum, or Maypole. The blue and white stripes are traditional Bavarian colors. Attached to the pole are placards that depict the town’s history.

The placards highlight key industries in the community’s history and today. These industries include logging, railroading, skiing, and a few more. At the base is a traditional Bavarian blessing, which in English translates to, “Maypole rise to the blue-white sky so our homeland may forever prosper.”

I have to agree with Bob and Ted. It may have taken a few years for their vision to take hold, but from the looks of what we saw, the community persevered and created a thriving community. We had a pleasurable visit despite the heat.

Lake Wanatchee State Park

One day during our visit, we drove about 30 miles to Lake Wanatchee State Park and Campground. The campground includes 197 campsites for tents, camper vans, truck campers, and small trailers under 20 feet. Too small for our 30-foot fifth wheel.

Lake Wanatchee, a glacier- and snowmelt-fed lake, feeds into the Wanatchee River. At an elevation of 1,873 feet (571 meters), the length of the lake is 5 miles (8.0 kilometers) with a surface area of 2,480 acres (1,004 ha) and a maximum depth of 244 feet (74 meters).

While poking around the park’s lake area, we kept hearing planes flying over. And then I noticed a plane glide along the lake’s surface, filling its tanks and flying off in less than a minute. About every 15 minutes, they came back for more water. I had to take a video. It was my first attempt with my new camera, so ignore the jerky first few seconds.

They must have been fighting the Shoofly fire, which was 20 miles west of the state park. Their skill in piloting the planes to skim the surface of the lake amazed me.

That wraps up our Bavarian getaway. Perhaps we’ll make our way back some day during fall so we can experience Oktoberfest.

Next Up: The Glass Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

Safe Travels