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Once upon a time, snow-capped mountaintops were all the logging hub of Leavenworth, Washington, had in common with Germany’s Bavaria

These days, sausages, lederhosen and, of course, beer attract tourists from across the United States to the quaint community dubbed ‘little Bavaria’

Christmastime is when it is in its full glory

After years as a busy logging town and the headquarters to the Great North Railroad, Leavenworth was on the verge of becoming a ghost town in the 1920s.

That’s because the railroad relocated to Wenatchee, hitting the local economy hard and leaving many without work.

The fledgling place struggled on until 1962 when, forced to find another way to survive, a town committee suggested transforming Leavenworth into a tourist attraction.

After years as a busy logging town and the headquarters to the Great North Railroad, Leavenworth, pictured in 1912 before the transformation, was on the verge of becoming a ghost town in the 1920s

Leavenworth’s history does not begin with the alpine tradition it knows today, but with the proud heritage of the Yakima, Chinook, and Wenatchi tribes

Award winning documentary-makers Lucid Inc. visited the charming town to capture its quirky history in a new documentary titled ‘Bavarianism’

The fledgling place struggled on until 1962 when, forced to find another way to survive, a town committee suggested transforming Leavenworth into a tourist attraction

As it is nestled in the mountains and gets heavy snow, a mock Bavarian village was suggested.

Local
residents Owen and Pauline Watson had been inspired by their visit to
Solvang, a Danish colony founded in California in 1911.

A
brave shop owner was the first to rebuilt the facade of his store front
in the Bavarian style but after that proved a success, the rest of the
town quickly followed – the Bavarianization of Leavenworth was under
way.

As it is nestled in the mountains and gets heavy snow, a mock Bavarian village was suggested

Local residents Owen and Pauline Watson had been inspired by their visit to Solvang, a Danish colony founded in California in 1911

Over the next 10 years, building by building the entire town center was transformed

Some residents mortgaged everything they had to be involved

Over the next 10 years, building by
building the entire town center was transformed, and some residents
mortgaged everything they had to be involved.

But the gamble paid off.

Leavenworth
went from a community facing ruin to a premier tourist destination, and
guests flock to the welcoming town for annual celebrations around
Oktoberfest and the Christmas period.

But the gamble paid off and the community is thriving

Leavenworth went from a community facing ruin to a premier tourist destination

Guests flock to the welcoming town for annual celebrations around Oktoberfest and the Christmas period

Locals where traditional Bavarian dress and perform for tourists in the streets

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