Riverside - Washington Ghost Town

RIVERSIDE

NAME: Riverside
COUNTY: Okanogan
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Cool winter and summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: North of Omak, semi-ghost.
REMAINS: Some original buildings.

The early prosperity of Riverside was due entirely to its road location, freight teams and boats using it as a convenient stopover for loading and unloading. The Okanogan River flowed past Riverside and in the spring it swelled with melting snow from the mountains. That was the period of feverish activity and a fleet of loaded steamers brought a steady stream of supplies to Riverside, the center for a vast area of mining and farming communities. As soon as floodwaters subsided, river traffic was finished for another year. The railroad bypassed the town in 1914, a blow to Riverside that depended on road and river traffic for survival. The final stroke came when a modern highway was built to the north of the town. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

The early prosperity of Riverside was due entirely to its road location, freight teams and boats using it as a convenient stopover for loading and unloading. The Okanogan River flowed past Riverside and in the spring it swelled with melting snow from the mountains. That was the period of feverish activity and a fleet of loaded steamers brought a steady stream of supplies to Riverside, the center for a vast area of mining and farming communities. As soon as floodwaters subsided, river traffic was finished for another year. The railroad bypassed the town in 1914, a blow to Riverside that depended on road and river traffic for survival. The final stroke came when a modern highway was built to the north of the town.
Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

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