The scent of bratwurst and pretzels filled the air as horses clopped down the main street, hauling a carriage full of tourists. Nestled in her

Christmas Day has arrived! But before running out the door for those last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers, tree trimmings ahead of Santa’s visit, or final, forgotten ingredients for that big dinner or delicious dessert,

Leavenworth was a near ghost town on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, with abandoned mines and abandoned dreams. Then, desperate business owners made a far-fetched pitch.

Decades ago, Leavenworth was a near ghost town. But in the 1960s, desperate business owners made a gamble and began taking out loans to remodel the downtown.