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For Kids Of All Ages

Of Special Interest To Grown Ups

A Sampling Of Properties Available, Ask Lana About Other Homes, Farms, Commercial, And Investment Properties

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Soap Lake

Formerly known as "Smokiam", an Indian word meaning "healing waters", the small city with its unique mineral lake, offers a quiet and laid-back atmosphere with lots of history and fresh air. The mineral waters are reputed to soothe and even heal Arthritis, Rheuatism, circulatory ailments, skin disorders, and most notably Psoriasis. Results come from systemic use of mud and water over a period of time. Mud from the lake bottom is applied to affected areas of the body. The resort area and water has been compared to Baden Baden in Germany. Soap Lake is shallow at both East and West public beaches so one can walk far in the buoyant waters.

Banks Lake

Banks Lake winds its way through the magnificent Grand Coulee for which the dam was named. Once a parched semi-desert surrounded by towering basalt cliffs, the coulee floor was filed with water from the Columbia river in the early 1950s. The lake now harbors many species of fish providing a year-around paradise for fisherman and water sports enthusiasts. South from the dam, you'll find caves, rock shelters and towering basalt cliffs which offer endless adventures for hikers and rock hounds. Banks Lake is open year-around for fishing and is also excellent for water skiing, sailing,and swimming.

Blue Lake -- Rhinoceros Cave

In addition to covering logs, trees and minor plants, a ferocious, rapid-moving basalt flow in the Grand Coulee killed a rhinoceros and made a cast of its body for the record.

Today you can still see the positions of the legs that are marked by four cylindrical holes in the basalt, and the rounded contour of the body is arched over the leg cavities. One side of the cavity is open, disclosing the shape of the animal. The site is at the north end of Blue Lake accessed by boat.

Grand Coulee Dam

Constructed during the Great Depression and sometimes called the eighth wonder of the world, this is the largest concrete dam in the world. The structure is as high as a 46-story building and as long as 27 city blocks. The Dam offers a self-guided tour in a glass enclosed incline elevator and features the Third Power Plant, Artifacts Room, Spill Water Show, movies, and, Photographic Display, and the world's largest outdoor laser light show, free to the public. The light show runs during the evening from July through September. For more information, contact the Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 620, Grand Coulee, WA 99133, or call (509) 663-1570.

Steamboat Rock

Winding around Banks Lake on the drive to Grand Coulee Dam, on the left lies Steamboat Rock, 800 feet high and 2 ½ miles long, standing in the old channel (the dry coulee) of the Columbia River. Its layer of basalt looks like the decks of a huge steamboat. Geologists think that thousands of years ago, when the river ran through what is now called the Grand Coulee, Steamboat Rock stood between two tremendous waterfalls, each of them 800 feet high and 2 miles wade. There is a State Park located at the rock which offers full facilities.

Dry Falls

Geologists believe the glacial flood waters of half of North America thundered through this historic river bed, making it the mightiest waterfall of all time,400 feet high and 3 ½ miles wide. Dry Falls Dam, located at the south end of Banks Lake is where the mighty Columbia River once formed a giant cataract 2 1/2 times higher and 5 times wider than Niagra Falls. The Dry Falls Interpretive Center overlooks the falls and offers exhibits depicting the history of the area.

Sun Lakes State Parks

Located just a few miles from Dry Falls, this 3,365-acre park includes several lakes and has something for everyone – hiking, horseback riding, trail rides, golf, swimming and more. Accommodations include camping sites, mobile rentals, and cabins.

Lake Lenore Caves

Melting glacial waters carved these caves out of volcanic basalt. They're located just off Highway 17, on the east wall of the lower coulee, above Alkali Lake. These caves are a part of, but not adjacent to Sun Lakes Park. Prehistoric man inhabiting the region found caves like these useful as shelters. Because few artifacts have been found, archaeologists theorize the ancient population consisted of nomadic hunters.

Summer Falls

Facilities at Summer Falls State Park include a grassy picnic area, tables, sun shelters, rest rooms, lots of trees and a boat launch ramp. The falls is formed by the main canal of the Columbia Basin Reclamation Project as it plunges over a 165 foot basalt cliff into Bi8lly Clapp (Long) lake. The falls is only present spring through summer as the canal is dry during months when irrigation water is not in use. A 94-megawatt hydroelectric power plant was completed just east of the falls in 1984. The power plant does not affect the beauty of the falls.

Grant County Historical Museum

The museum is in two parts, the museum itself and a pioneer village. The village has a school, church, hair salon and dress ship, barber shop, fire hall, jail, and more. There is also a homestead comprised of several buildings. Located at 742 Basin Street North, Ephrata, WA 98823, call (509) 754-3334 for more information.

Schiffner Military Museum

This private military memorabilia museum is usually open by appointment only. On display are military uniforms and related items such as medals, tools and literature about the Navy, Army, Marines and Air Force. This museum is located at 4840 Westshore Drive in the Mae Valley (Moses Lake). Call (509) 765-6374 for an appointment and directions.

Adam East Museum and Art Center

This museum, located in downtown Moses Lake, features Indian artifacts gathered by the late Adam East. Stone, bone, shell, wood, leather and metal ornaments and tools of the Indians of the Columbia River area are featured. The Sinkiuse tribe, later called the Columbias by the U.S. Government, made and used most of the material displayed. Chief Moses , after whom the land and city are named, led this tribe for the last quarter of the 1800s. Also on display are rocks, fossils and bones of prehistoric animals found in the Lind Coulee. 122 West 3rd Avenue, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766-9395.

Monte Holmes' Railroad Museum

Take a fascinating tour of refurbished gas engines, antique cars, fire engines and relics of the past with Monte. 228 South Commerce, Moses Lake, WA 98837; call ahead, (509) 765-6342.

Sand Dunes – ORV Area & More

The facility, known locally as the "Four Wheel Drive Park", is the best and most extensive dunes area in the State that's open to ORV use. The park is comprised of long stretches of sand and hill climbs. The park lies in a basin area between Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir. From downtown Moses Lake, travel south on Division Street which becomes Potato Hill Road. Follow to its termination about 6 miles. The ORV area is clearly marked; for fishing, canoeing, hiking or picnicking along Crab Creek, take Exit 174 from I-90 and follow signs about 3.5 miles south.

Potholes Area

The 23 acres of irrigation waters, leftovers from the Columbia Basin Project and captured by O'Sullivan Dam, attract fishermen, boaters, skiers, campers, bird watchers and explorers. Fishermen (with and without boats) return to the area for trout, walleye, bass, perch and crapple. In addition to the 120 camping sites, playground, swimming, boat ramp, and restroom facilities offered by the Potholes State Park, the Mar Don Resort at the west end of O'Sulllivan Dam offers more commercial comforts.

Sail, paddle, or row, tow a skier, head for a fishing hole, or just explore and appreciate the sparkling expanse of the 44-mile reservoir. It borders on 35,000 acres of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge which is located on the Pacific Flyway, boasting more than 200 species of birds. The refuge also includes more than 45 nearby lakes south of O'Sullivan Dam. Contact the refuge on fishing regulations, also request information on birds and guided tours. Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Dept. FS, Drawer F, Othello, WA 99344.

Potholes of Seep Lakes

On the south of O'Sullivan Dam, some 50 seep lakes offer excellent trout fishing, some open in the winter season and others in the summer. This area is in the 35,500 acre Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and offers good duck and goose hunting in season.

Warden Historical Museum

This small museum is an old railroad depot on First Street in Warden, call ahead for scheduling, (509) 349-2078.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and the Wanapum Recreation Area

Established in 1935, the park offers a wide variety of recreational activities including sightseeing, picnicking, hiking, fishing, boating, waterskiing, swimming and camping.

Located near the geographic center of the state in Kittitas County where I-90 crosses the Columbia River at Vantage. The park consists of three major areas: The Heritage Area which houses the park's Interpretive Center, where you can learn about Wanapum basketry, prehistoric floods, gold mining and fur trading, view authentic arrowheads and interesting waterborne critters through a microscope. Displays and movies explain how, about 70,000 years ago, glacial movements created the rocky landscape of canyons we see today. The Natural Area has a hiking and interpretive trail and the Wanapum Recreation Area offers camping and is located 4.5 miles south of Ginkgo on the Columbia River.

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