Leavenworth battles to save Christmas village after storms sever Highway 2

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — Leavenworth's Christmas village is fighting to survive after a storm damaged 49 miles of Highway 2, severing the corridor between Leavenworth and Skykomish and placing renewed strain on a town that relies on December tourism for a large portion of annual revenue.\n\nThe damage occurred when an atmospheric river unleashed heavy rain, wind and landslides, leaving thousands without power and causing part of the roadway to crumble into rapids near Tumwater Canyon. Officials say the closure will keep the major route closed for months, turning a normally quick drive of under an hour into a four-hour detour for travelers. In Leavenworth and Skykomish, residents' daily routines were disrupted as crews prioritized restoration work and businesses prepared for a critical shopping season that now faces a delayed recovery.\n\n\n\nLeavenworth's downtown, famed for its Bavarian aesthetic and holiday lights, saw widespread power restoration within days, but the economic fallout lingered. The town's Nutcracker Museum board member and Chamber of Commerce marketing director noted that December accounts for roughly 40 percent of the village's annual revenue, with many shops and eateries serving as winter-season anchors. The Gingerbread Factory, a staple restaurant, closed for three days during the outage, a setback owner Heidi Forchemer called painful as the business ships cookies and gingerbread houses nationwide during the Christmas rush. She added that staff had to improvise to keep orders moving once power returned.\n\nOther local operators described steep revenue drops as the storm rerouted traffic away from Leavenworth. Louskis Deli in Skykomish reported a 60 to 70 percent hit to revenue and furloughed hours for workers, while the Cascadia Inn in Skykomish reported empty rooms throughout the week. Ski traffic, normally a major boost for the adjacent Stevens Pass area, cooled as access to the resort remained blocked by the shutdown of the highway. The hotelier said ski-season plans and cross-valley travel depend on the road's reopening. Officials warned that additional bad weather could hinder the cleanup operation and rebuild timelines as crews worked to keep the area safe while removing debris and stacking sandbags.\n\nWSDOT officials urged drivers to respect closures and signage, warning that people who disregard ROAD CLOSED signs slow the response and put crews at risk. In a social-media post, the agency explained that conditions along US 2 were dangerous and urged patience while crews work to stabilize the canyon and reconstruct damaged sections. Tumwater Canyon remains a focus for flood risk as temperatures fluctuate and precipitation returns later in the month, threatening further impairments to transportation and supply chains that support Leavenworth's holiday economy.\n\nDespite the setbacks, Leavenworth reopened to visitors, and the town's Christmas lights were restored after the outage. Downtown areas suffered only limited damage, and the Bavarian village framework remains intact, with illuminated facades and seasonal displays back on. The community remains hopeful that a rebound in January can help offset losses, even as Stevens Pass Ski Resort continues to operate under limited access and weather-related restrictions. Officials stressed that the timeframe for road restoration depends on weather and ongoing debris removal, and they cautioned that more adverse conditions could extend the closure.\n