The Apartments: Abandonment to New Heights
These monolithic buildings once boasted some of the most scenic views in town. But beyond the views, they were a hive of memories.
On my first trip to Kitsault in 2019, I met two town alumni, Chris and Joan Maki—original residents. One had been a teacher, the other a lifeguard. They shared stories of the extreme winters and how groceries had to be barged in before the mall existed.
Their apartment held countless fond memories—late-night parties, BBQs with neighbors, and eventful evenings, all captured in their photo albums. We spent the late afternoon searching for their old apartment, and when we finally found it, there were both tears and laughter. As the photo album of Kitsault’s past was laid out, the room fell silent. Within those abandoned walls, they shared stories and images of the ghost town’s glory days.
Kitsault had been a tight-knit community where you likely worked alongside your neighbor or crossed paths daily. The apartments were the heartbeat of a larger circulatory system—and the Makis made it clear how much they missed that warmth.
These buildings remain as striking as ever, but their heartbeat has long since faded, leaving ghostly hallways that echo with memories of days gone by.