Oct 01, 2019 the town of wellington, later renamed tye, was a railway stop located on the west entrance of the tunnel. Ghosts of wellington on the iron goat trail skykomish, washington in the late 1890s the great northern railway completed a rail line through the mountains of washington state that cut through stevens pass deep in the cascade mountains, linking seattle with the midwest. It was so fun to walk through the snow shed and then you go through wildflower filled meadow areas then a dry forest then a lush forest then to a tunnel and then out to the viewpoint. Ghost towns and haunted places in the washington cascades. High quality ore was processed and milled here until plummeting gold prices closed the mine and eventually emptied the towns buildings by 1934. This was the site of the 1910 wellington avalanche that claimed nearly 100 lives when a 14 foot wall of snow wiped out two passenger trains that had been stranded there at the depot. Nov 30, 2014 based on the population and the number of merchants in the town, you would think that govan would be a more impressive ghost town. An afternoon jaunt to wellington ghost town photo album steemit. Ghost towns of washington is the most comprehensive site on the web listing ghost towns and the history of ghost towns, historic mining sites, and other significant points of historic importance in washington state. If you like to explore ghost towns or haunted places, there is no shortage of those all over the state. Travel nine miles through a lovely forests of ferns, alders and evergreens from the iron goat interpretive site at scenic to the wellington townsite and trailhead. Founded in 1893, wellington, washington was a small town unknown by most.
This trail is known for being haunted, and for good reason. Melmont ghost town via foothills trail washington alltrails. Founded in 1893, it was located in the cascade range at the west portal of the original cascade tunnel under stevens pass. Train debris from the deadliest avalanche in united states history can still be found in the ravine where so many perished. At its peak, thousands of hopeful prospectors staked their claims, and a railroad and other infrastructure was built to haul ore out of the mountains. The town included a train depot that was unfortunately destined to become the site of the deadliest avalanche in us history. In western washington, most ghost towns were once at the center of an active coal mining industry, which boomed during the late 1800s and early 1900s and collapsed almost as quickly with the rise of petroleum, gas. This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the state of kansas.
Please leave your recollections in the comments below. Not only will hiking through one of our ghost towns put you in a spooky state of mind, but youll be able to burn off some of the energy buzz and calories youll get from all the candy youll surely devour. By the early 1900s fairfax was thriving with a population of 500 made up of southern and eastern europeans. Wellington, later known as tye, was a small unincorporated railroad community on the great northern railway in northeastern king county, washington. Ghost town of govan washington pacific northwest photoblog. Wellington later known as tye was a small unincorporated community and railroad community in the northwest united states, on the great northern railway in northeastern king county, washington. This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in washington, a state of the united states. In part one of his ghost towns of the pacific northwest series, associate producer chris anderson takes you to wellington, site of one of the biggest tragedies in us history that played a large role in the demise of this small turn of the century railroad community.
Although park benefited from its proximity to blue canyon, it was more of a logging town. Most importantly, perhaps, its recommended that all visitors to the iron goat trail understand some of the history recorded there, and carry themselves accordingly, with the proper equipment and avalanche training and with the reverence and respect due to sites like wellington washington states proverbial ghost town high in. Jun 08, 2009 in rememberance of those who lost their lives in the 1910 avalanche disaster that killed 96 men, women and children at wellington, an old railway town situated in the northern cascade mountains in. In the end, great northern changed wellingtons name to tye, due to the negative thoughts passengers might have traveling through wellington after the avalanche. You could walk 40 feet inside before a barricade and signs warned you to stop.
The mine produced steadily until 1919 when it closed. The first region is western washington, the second is the olympic peninsula and the third region is eastern washington. The storied ghost town of alpine, washington lay hidden in the secondgrowth forest of washington s cascade mountains for 80 years on the northern slope of a ridge that extends from mt sawyer. Matildaville came about during george washington s grand plan to construct a canal around the virginia side of great falls, so the nova history notes state. Monte cristo, accessed by a fourmile hike from a trailhead near route 2, is probably the most famous of western washingtons ghost towns. Namely, tunnels for the great northern railway and the remains of wellington, a ghost town. Molson was the best puttogether assembly, but bodie is literally what has been left. Filming site of 108 year old avalanche disaster by drone. Ghost story iron goat trail, stevens pass, washington. The town was ultimately abandoned in 1929 when the railway moved the line away from the old cascade tunnel to a new 7. Route 2 bypassed the town in 1933, and govan started sinking immediately.
Wellington is a ghost town just below the top of stevens pass. A short hike into the mountainside forest reveals a decaying 1890s town. Ghost towns of washington is the most comprehensive site covering ghost towns in washington state. However, the work was then abandoned because of the adverse weather. Wellington ghost town we stopped by wellington on the way to leavenworth. Below are terrifyingly haunted places in washington and some interesting reports about their paranormal activity. Inquire with local authorities or property owners for access to these places. Ghost towns of the pacific northwest photo gallery by monte. Located at the west portal of the original cascade tunnel under stevens pass, the community experienced a horrible blizzard.
Idea by tina lugo on explore washington ghost towns, autumn. Wellington later named tye was a railroad community on the great northern railroad located in northeastern king county wa. Franklin ghost town trail private property washington. Wellington watts owner alexandria colonial tours linkedin.
Sep 11, 2011 ghosts of wellington on the iron goat trail skykomish, washington in the late 1890s the great northern railway completed a rail line through the mountains of washington state that cut through stevens pass deep in the cascade mountains, linking seattle with the midwest. Visit the historic remains of one of washingtons most infamous ghost towns. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. To reach wellington, which was founded in 1893 at the west portal of the cascade tunnel along the great northern railway, you must walk the iron goat trail near stevens pass. Oct 30, 2016 take these 5 ghost town hikes in washington if you dare. Piha a video history of the wellington washington train.
Ghost town of wellington washington site of avalanche march 1st 1910. The worst avalanche disaster in united states history. Piha is in the process of creating a series of dvds that feature the museums, public historical sites and communities in washington state. The avalanche missed the bailets hotel which also housed the towns general. On march an avalanche at stevens pass swept two trains and a yard full of railroad equipment into a creek bed. Wellington ghost town washington trails association. Ghost town listings washington state ghost towns of. Washington has many ghost towns, abandoned cities, and lost communities.
As weve done quite a bit of coverage about road trips recently, it only seemed fitting to do something off the beaten trail. Ghosttown hikes for families in western washington. This was filmed inside the snow shed at wellington, washington. In rememberance of those who lost their lives in the 1910 avalanche disaster that killed 96 men, women and children at wellington, an old railway town situated in the northern cascade mountains in.
Wellingtons infamous claim to history came at the expense of. I revisit the ghost town of wellington washington with uhd cameras and drones to. One single devastating event launched it in to the spotlight. Alas, a fire in 1927 wiped out the towns business district. The most insane abandoned places in washington state. The ghost town of monte cristo was the first live mining camp on the west slopes of the cascade range located in snohomish county washington. The town included a train depot that was unfortunately. Washington state was several with bodie, molson and liberty topping the list. Wellington was established in 1893 at the west portal of the original or old cascade tunnel. John juleen, an amateur photographer, took the earliest photos of the aftermath. He was a bit winded and his knee felt stiff, so this was a good spot to rest for a few minutes. Ghost towns a haunted trip through washington state. Ghost town of wellington washington pacific northwest.
Wellington ghost town season 2019 episode 07262018. The term ghost town generally refers to a town abandoned by its residents, usually after the boom and bust of the local economy. Built by usda forest service and volunteers for outdoor washington vow. Discover lester ghost town in north bend, washington. We have visited 22 counties covering 52 town sites, 154 mines with over 10 miles of underground workings explored. Wellington later known as tye was a small unincorporated community and railroad. Matildaville came about during george washingtons grand plan to construct a canal around the virginia side of great falls, so the nova history notes state. Govan, wa in another abandoned ghost town sits the govan schoolhouse, a supercreepy building where the children of railway workers helping to build the central washington. Ghosttown hikes for families in western washington parentmap. Visit the historic remains of one of washington s most infamous ghost towns. Published on oct 17, 2018 wellington washington, site of the deadliest avalanche in us history. Washington state ghost society is a non profit organization that studies the paranormal and helps people understand their paranormal phenomena. The road down from hwy 2 is paved but full of potholes for the most part, while the final 12 mile or so is gravel with room for one vehicle. There are three regions in washington state that will be featured.
Follow a gentle path along the eastern portion of the iron goat trail near stevens pass, once the original path of the great northern. Wellington avalanche site leavenworth, washington atlas. Wellington ghost town and avalanche disaster viewpoint. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from april until october. Bodie, which happens to share its name with the popular california ghost town, was originally founded as a mining town in the late 1880s near the mouth of bodie creek. Melmont is a ghost town in pierce county, washington. In part one of his ghost towns of the pacific northwest series, associate. The post office is called, thlakebay post office instead of the home post office because of the hedonism practiced there. Some of the phenomena reported here includes disembodied footsteps, cold spots and the apparition of a former librarian, probably searching for an overdue book. The name of this ghost town certainly rolls off the tongue, but apparently that wasnt enough to keep it on the map. The ghosts of wellington is a compelling read for anyone interested in ghost stories, paranormal investigation, personal experiences. Wellington avalanche site in the wilderness of washington s tye river valley near stevens pass are twisted pieces of rusting metal slowly being overtaken by the surrounding foliage which look like. The town included hotel, school, store, post office, black smith and numerous company homes. Liberty, originally named meaghersville, is a living ghost town.
Jan 27, 2012 pseudo documentary about the biggest train disaster in american history. Discover wellington avalanche site in leavenworth, washington. Ghost town of wellington washington great northern. One of the most interesting nonmining settlements close to the mouth of the columbia river is frankfort.
The town of wellington ceased to be, at least in name, long before it officially became a ghost town. With the construction of the central washington railway in 1889, govan was designated as a place in lincoln county wa. Many of the sites listed here are on private property and may be dangerous or illegal to visit. Ghost towns of the pacific northwest several ghost towns of days gone by still survive in the outmost reaches of the pacific north west. The town was founded in 1893 at the west portal of the cascade tunnel along the great northern railway. The town of wellington, later renamed tye, was a railway stop located on the west entrance of the tunnel. There is no formal trail through liberty, but the open landscape makes it easy to navigate. Northwest now digital first wellington ghost town season 2019. Wellington ghost town we saved the spookiest for last. Ghost town of wellington washington pacific northwest photoblog. The mine was given the name blue canyon and the townsite that grew up around the mine bore the same name. The wellington avalanche was the worst avalanche, measured in terms of lives lost, in the history of the united states for nine days at the end of february 1910, the little town of wellington, washington was assailed by a terrible blizzard. Lester ghost town north bend, washington atlas obscura.
Jun 14, 2018 if you like to explore ghost towns or haunted places, there is no shortage of those all over the state. Williams and was named for fairfax county in the coal country of virginia. Travel photos and history from the pacific northwest. This is the story about the lost town of wellington. We had done the entire day of ghost towns starting with nighthawk, then molson, backroads to chesaw, bodie. Need a halloween experience thats a little unorthodox. The iron goat trail is sixty miles northeast of seattle, the trail goes along the upper and lower sections of an abandoned great northern railway grade. Wellington ghost town marks the remains of a town with an unsettling history founded in 1893 in washington state along by lilyraabe. Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, washington is definitely home to some spooky places. The settlement never really became a town in the true sense except in the minds of its two promoters, a frank bourn and a frank scott. He was a few miles along the trail when he approached a tunnel. In rememberance of those who lost their lives in the 1910 avalanche disaster that killed 96 men, women and children at wellington, an old railway town situated in. The town was founded in 1900 when the northwest improvement company, a subsidiary of northern pacific railroad, started the. This historic museum houses maritime artefacts from the past of this fishing town, and is rumoured to be haunted.
Franklin ghost town trail private property is a 3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near black diamond, washington that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Wellingtons infamous claim to history came at the expense of 93 lives lost on march 1st 1910. Bodie ghost town okanogan 2020 all you need to know. Wellington, washington is a ghost town on the old great northern railway line, just off stevens pass highway. Wellington ghost town we hiked from wellington west to windy point viewpoint then back and afterwards explored the short eastern path which totaled about 6 miles.
We visit abandoned structures across the state, left over from the old mining and railroad eras. Ghost town of wellington washington site of avalanche march the worst avalanche disaster in united states history. I grew up there and have a little tidbit for your page. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Ghost towns of washington pacific northwest photoblog. These haunted places in washington will keep you up at night. It was the center of a washington state gold rush in the 1870s and has the look and feel often association with the term ghost town.