[the dufferz]

Some places are famous for their beauty, some are famous for their history and some are famous for... TV.

All three are the case for this area of Washington.

Travelling on I-90 through central washington will pass you by the town of Cle-Elum. At 70 mph you will pass by the town in less than a minute, but if you don't stop in, you will be missing quite the interesting side trip.

Cle Elum

The town of Cle-Elum is quintessential small town America. Sandwiched between the freeway and the mountain ridge, the town is only about 8 blocks deep. Here you will find a quiet old city with many retired folks. Areas to avoid, typically is south Cle Elum. This is on the "other side of the track". Not bad, but nothing there to impress for either visiting or living. Seen worse, see lots better.

Roslyn

Heading out of town on the main drag, 4 miles away you will find Roslyn. There are big changes afoot in the area. A huge and I mean huge development called Suncadia is being built in the area. Almost 4 square miles, this development has multiple golf courses, million dollars homes.

Once you get to Roslyn, you enter another state of mind and state. This is the home of Cicely Alaska, the home of Northern Exposure. While the show has been off the air for years, there are still signs of the show in the town.

During the run of the show, anybody could go into town and watch the show being filmed. The indoor studio was in the seattle area on the outskirts of Redmond. The famous Brick tavern on the inside was completely different in that it was created in the redmond studio. It does not look anything like what the show had.

Roslyn cafe, known then as Rolsyn's cafe is still there as it has been for decades. This restaurant and wall painting was there long before the show and the 's on the end of Roslyn was only there temporarily.

The doctors office is now a gift shop and at the other end of the street the radio station that made Chris in the morning famous still shows as being a radio station.

But that is not all there is regarding Roslyn.

In 1979 Roslyn first made it to the big screen in the movie "the runner stumbles". If you look beyond the "radio station" up on the hill you will see a very cool looking church on the hill. This church was center stage in this movie.

What most people don't know about Roslyn is that this is a mining town. Under much of the area are mines. These mind shafts undermine many of the homes on the hill. Very close to Roslyn Cafe is a mining museum that is very interesting.

Now for the crown jewel of Roslyn. Drive past the cafe, up the hill. go about 3 blocks back. You will come across a historical landmark.

The roslyn cemetary is like none other than i have ever seen. During the years of mining, foreign workers populated this town, many from eastern europe. Each nationality or lodge had a different area to bury their own. This cemetary is huge and meanders through two hillsides. roadways allow you to get up close and personal, but walking area the ereas are a must. The most interesting areas are to the right of the main sign, where the road curves to the right and you find a whole area that you can't see well from the main sign. Expect to spend at least an hour, walking and driving around. Bring the camera.

Whether you want to live there or visit, this is a really special place.

[Plato]

Sheesh, you didn't even mention what they mined in Roslyn. But I do recall there were some small gold and related metals mining in Cle Elum, if I remember correctly from my gold mining phase. Never did make it out there to look around, though.

I can live without cemeteries though, so to speak.

[MyAzi]

okay I have to say this.. I loved Cle-elum every time I drove by it. I thought to myself.. I could live here. THEN I went to check it out. Stopped a few places and went around to see what was there and the whole time I kept hearing the music for "Deliverence" in my head. The people seemed friendly yet... really made me feel out of place.

I decided this was not the place for me.

[the dufferz]

MyAzi said:

okay I have to say this.. I loved Cle-elum every time I drove by it. I thought to myself.. I could live here. THEN I went to check it out. Stopped a few places and went around to see what was there and the whole time I kept hearing the music for "Deliverence" in my head. The people seemed friendly yet... really made me feel out of place.

I decided this was not the place for me.

It is a very "settled" town, they think anybody from the "coast" is a little crazy and work hard to keep the distinction between them and "us".

When you get into their homes and you know the language of the poeple (yes, the have a language), then they are very warm and friendly.

did you go into Roslyn? Those folks are nice, but a little unique.

[MyAzi]

the dufferz said:

It is a very "settled" town, they think anybody from the "coast" is a little crazy and work hard to keep the distinction between them and "us".

When you get into their homes and you know the language of the poeple (yes, the have a language), then they are very warm and friendly.

did you go into Roslyn? Those folks are nice, but a little unique.

nope didn't go into Roslyn... maybe next time