Then the railroad left. Steel and concrete replaced sandstone construction. The town once known for its coal mines, timber and sandstone pits earned a place in the ghost-town guidebooks. Now people are moving back to this spot in Pierce County, lured by Wilkeson's charm, history and spirit. The water is pristine.
Traffic is tolerable.
David Walker, the grandson of Welsh miners, has lived in and around Wilkeson for all of his 80 years. Sadly, Wilkeson is different in one other respect. Its personality conflicts and rumor mills have reached shameful levels. The result is a vile undercurrent that threatens not only to kill the charm of this adorable place, but also to ruin the remnants of its past. Wilkeson has no stop lights.