Waterfront Park, Leavenworth

Wenatchee River

Since the 1960s Leavenworth, Washington, has become a great example of an economically depressed town reinventing itself and embarking on an exciting new life. Other nearby towns like Peshastin and Cashmere have benefited from the creation of a Bavarian village on the Wenatchee River. Cashmere, 12 miles east on Highway 2, is the home of Liberty Orchards, which produces delicious Aplets and Cotlets.

Cottage Avenue in downtown Cashmere has changed a bit since these pictures were taken in the mid 1970s, but it remains a small town surrounded by orchards and towering mountains.

But these are not the only spots in this part of the Cascades with a fascinating story to tell!

The historic ski jump at Ski Hill

It may not look like much in the images above, but don’t be fooled — this part of the Cascades has been and continues to be a popular ski area. The Bakke ski jump at Ski Hill in its time was one of the biggest and best ski jumps in the country, and it played host to the U.S. ski jumping championships in 1941, 1959, 1967, 1974, and 1978. Below is a video with some of the history of the ski jump and the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, founded in 1928.

Ski lodge built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)