UPDATE January 2016: The “Woody” statue has has been cut down because the land it was located on was sold. It is being mounted to a more permanent base and will be relocated somewhere downtown for all to enjoy in the Spring. Keep your eyes out for Woody’s new home in the coming months!

Say “Hello!” to the newest addition in downtown Leavenworth, a 10+ foot tall chainsaw-carved Woody Goomsba, Leavenworth’s nutcracker mascot. After the loss of one of Front Street’s beautiful large trees to damage from a heavy ice storm in early January 2015, the city of Leavenworth had a fun idea. They contacted professional sculptor and chainsaw carver Jacob Lucas, as seen on the TV show Treehouse Masters, and after some discussion the plan was set. Jacob would visit Leavenworth for a week at the beginning of December to bring Woody to life, including a wooden etched plaque at the base that reads, “Leavenworth, WA The Bavarian Village”. It’s located next to the Innsbrucker Motel building, across the street from the Nutcracker Museum & Nussknacker Haus, it’s just up the street from the gazebo and Front St Park.

We have a feeling this Woody Goomsba is going to be photobombing a lot of people’s pictures over the coming years… A huge thanks to the artist Jacob Lucas who did an amazing job turning this stump in the middle of downtown into a new iconic landmark for Leavenworth!

Below is a collection of photos from the carving process last week.

After removing all the bark, Jacob prepares to make the first cut.

Jacob makes the first cut on Tuesday, Dec 8th.

Continuing to carve out the hat and head.

Carving out the shoulders and arms.

Drawing out the cut lines for the legs on Thursday.

There’s Woody! Just a little detail work left to go.

The final result! And the sun & blue skies are back!

UPDATE 1/11/16: The Woody Goomsba carving has been cut down so that it can be mounted and fitted with a permanent base and moved closer to 9th St and Front St at Front Street Park. The location where the tree once stood, is up for sale but the current owner donated the tree stump for the carving. Look for Woody in Front Street Park in the Spring of 2016!