A Guide to Visiting Winthrop, Washington
Twenty-five years ago, family fathers decided to give Winthrop a make-over and rebuilt the three-block downtown to resemble a frontier village of the late 1800s, complete with wooden sidewalks and old facades on storefronts. Some travel writers describe visiting the place as entering a time warp, but that’s a bit of a stretch.
You can still get a feel for the original town in a few places. The Duckbrand Saloon, built in 1891, was one of the original businesses in town and still stands. It was owned and operated by Guy Waring, the town’s founder. Waring, an upright citizen, refused to serve more than two drinks to the miners who entered his saloon. If anybody got rowdy, they got thrown out.
Over the years, the building has been a school, church, hospital, restaurant, home and now acts as Town Hall.
The Shafer Museum, one block above downtown, was constructed in 1897 by Guy Waring for his new bride. “The Castle,” as the place has been known since the Warings lived there, is decorated as a turn of the century rustic pioneer home. A pioneer cabin moved from upper Bear Creek has been redone as a schoolhouse. Visitors can also enjoy seeing an early day print shop, stagecoach, antique farm equipment, old cars, assay office, doctor’s office, a large display of mining equipment from the surrounding gold and silver mines, and a settlers cabin. Old photographs, donated by local families, are on display for history buffs.
Winthrop is fun to explore. There’s a working blacksmith shop, a number of art galleries, and even a funky miniature golf course tucked in behind Sherie’s Sweet Shoppe-renowned for its homemade chocolates, fudge and ice cream.
Locals can be found at Three-Fingered Jacks on Thursday for steak night; at the Duckbrand Restaurant for generous servings of Mexican specialties and pasta; and at Heenan’s Burnt Finger Bar-B-Q & Steak House eating the slow-smoked Texas style ribs and brisket.
Accommodations in Winthrop and the valley range from wilderness camping to luxury resorts. Sun Mountain Lodge is the probably the best known. Perched high above Winthrop, the resort has a knockout view of the entire Methow Valley and the rugged, snow-covered peaks beyond. With a four-diamond rating, room rates are notably higher than other choices in town. Visitors on a budget often opt for a stroll on the grounds, or stop by for a drink
If you’re going to go the luxury route, check out the Freestone Inn in nearby Mazama. It’s quiet, with a casual atmosphere, and first-class service.
For mid-priced accommodations ($49-$99), Winthrop offers a variety of options, including hotels, motels, B&Bs, and cabins. Bargain rooms (less than $49) aren’t easy to come by, and may not exist.
One of Winthrop’s best kept secrets is Bear Creek Golf Course-which is the way local golfers want to keep it. Deer, moose, bears and upland birds share the scenic course during a leisurely round. Stunning views, affordable greens fees, and challenging play make this a gem.
As might be expected, there are a number of outfitters and guides in the area. Back country horse trips, guided fly fishing trips to hidden lakes, and even a tour in a hot-air balloon are easy to arrange. Guides are also available to lead novice to advanced rock climbing adventures. In the winter, heli-skiing in the nearby mountain range attracts enthusiastic skiers. There is also an outdoor lighted ice rink, where you can join the action of a pick-up hockey game or just skim along the ice with family and friends.
Other than a moonlight ski or stargazing from the top of Studhorse Mountain, above town, there’s not a lot to do at night. The Winthrop Brewing Company has an open mic some Fridays; the bar at the Winthrop Palace has dancing on summer weekends; there are a couple of pool tables at Three Fingered Jacks. Heenan’s presents cowboys playing and serenading with old-time western songs and Indian flute on weekends.
During the winter, the town is usually dead at night, but most people are tired out from skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or other snow-related fun and just want to settle down in front of the fire anyway.
Over Memorial and Labor days the Methow Valley Horsemen host a professional rodeo that includes a country-western dance on Saturday night. Check out the local newspaper, The Methow Valley News, for a schedule of other events, like the Old Time Fiddler’s Contest and Big Bug Judging, the annual Blues Festival, and the Winthrop Wine Fest. There are a number of local cultural happenings during the year, and you are always welcome to join in.
Winthrop is definitely a tourist town, and the boardwalk gets pretty busy on weekends during the summer. For a more leisurely pace, visit during the week, or during the off-season. Spring is notable for an outstanding display of wildflowers. During late September and October, the valley turns gold and red as leaves turn color.
Now that you know about it, how do you get to Winthrop? Located on scenic Washington State Highway 20, the town is about 197 miles from Seattle if you drive through the stunning North Cascades National Park or 245 miles if you drive through Wenatchee and the Lake Chelan area. The trip can be made into an easy two-day excursion if you go one way, and come back the other (officially designated as “The Cascade Loop”). From Spokane, the drive is about 184 miles through rolling hills, wheat fields and interesting geologic formations. A side visit to Grand Coulee Dam is only a few miles out of the way.
