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Touchet River Valley Fall/Winter 2011/2012

Table of Contents

Special Features10

11

14

15

For Beginners to Experts,Ski Bluewood's the Place

A Snowmobiler's Paradise

Fish are Biting in the Snake and Tucannon Rivers

Hunting Opportunities at Local Wind Farms

Enjoying powder and sunshine at Ski Bluewood, near Dayton.(Photo courtesy of Ski Bluewood. Design by Vanessa Heim.)On the Cover:

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8-9

12-13

16-17

19

18

20-21

Inside:History of the Touchet River Valley

Art & Culture: Museums | Public Art | Art Galleries

Lodging: Hotels & Motels |Cabins & Cottage RentalsBed & Breakfasts

Food & Drink: Fine Dining | Wineries & Brew Pubs | CasualDining | Bars/Taverns | Grocery Stores

Map of the Touchet River Valley

Touchet River Valley Churches

Special Events

Retail Shopping

4-5

The Touchet River Valley Visitor's Guide is a joint publication of the Blue Mountain News and The (Waitsburg) Times.

Blue Mountain News, 242 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328

Imbert MattheeCo-Publisher(509) [email protected]

Ken GrahamCo-Publisher(509) [email protected]

Jillian BeaudryEditor(509) [email protected]

Tanya PattonAdvertising Representative(509) 382-4458/(509) [email protected]

Bob NowellAdvertising Representative(509) [email protected]

Vanessa HeimGraphic Designer

(509) 540-2752

Copyright © 2011 by The (Waitsburg) Times and Back of the Moon Press.No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers.

The (Waitsburg) Times, 139 Main Street, Waitsburg, WA 99361

(509) 337-6631

Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Touchet River Valley


In the spring of 1806, Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery left Fort Clatsop, near the mouth of the Columbia River, to begin their long trek back to civilization. When they neared the spot where the Columbia is joined by the

Snake River, they took a short cut.For several days in late April and early May, the group traveled along what has

long been known as “The Forgotten Trail,” reaching the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. On the way, they passed through what we now call the Touchet River Valley. They spent the night of May 1 at a spot called Ronan, between the current towns of Prescott and Waitsburg.

The next day the group traveled through the future location of Waitsburg and on to Dayton, where Patit Creek joins the Touchet River. They followed Patit Creek east for 2 ½ miles and stopped for the night.

Today, that Patit Creek Campsite has been preserved by recreating the scene with steel silhouettes. Visitors can park and view the activities as the 31 men and Sacajawea and her child, along with their horses and other livestock, set up camp. (See Page 6.)

Long before white explorers and settlers came to the Touchet River Valley, the area was home to members of the Palus American Indian tribe. It was also the northern edge of the range of the Walla Walla tribe.

An established Indian trail – called the Nez Perce Trail, or Celilo Falls Trail – ran through the Touchet River Valley. Members of the Nez Perce tribe, from what is now northern Idaho, used the trail to reach the Columbia River and fish at Celilo Falls.

The first white settlers arrived in the area with the establishment of the Whitman Mission in the 1840s, near Walla Walla. In the 1860s, Jesse N. and Elizabeth Day

settled near where Patit Creek meets the Touchet River. In 1871 they filed a plat for the town they called “Dayton.” The town was incorporated in 1881.

Dayton’s first train depot was also built in 1881, upon the arrival of railroads to the area. That depot has been restored and is now the oldest remaining railroad depot in the state of Washington. It is located at the corner of Second and Commercial Streets, and serves as a museum and historical repository for the area. (See Page 6.)

In 1881, Dayton was named county seat of Columbia County. The Columbia County Courthouse was completed in 1887. In the early 1990s it underwent a complete restoration, and today it is the oldest operating courthouse in the state. (See Page 6.)

In 1865, Sylvester Wait opened his flour mill near where Coppei Creek flows into the Touchet River. Working with partners Willard and William Bruce, Wait’s mill became highly successful. The town of Waitsburg was platted in 1869 by William Bruce, and it was incorporated in 1881.

Wait’s mill operated until the 1950s, when it was closed and abandoned. The property was purchased by the City of Waitsburg. Plans were underway to restore the large wooden structure when it was destroyed by a fire in 2009.

In 1883 William and Carolyn Bruce built their home in Waitsburg. The home is now the Bruce Memorial Museum. It is located at 318 Main Street and is operated by the Waitsburg Historical Society.

The town of Prescott was platted in 1881 and became home of regional shops of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. Located nine miles west of Waitsburg, it was named for C. H. Prescott, who was the company’s general superintendant.

History of the Touchet River Valley

Walk the 'Forgotten Trail'


Another official of that company, W. H. Starbuck, is the namesake of the Town of Starbuck. It was platted in 1894 on the Tucannon River in northern Columbia County, near its confluence with the Snake River. It was incorporated in 1905. For many years, Starbuck was a busy railroad hub.

Wheat farming became the dominant economic driver in and around the Touchet River Valley beginning in the 1880s. Many settlers homesteaded and began raising crops over the following decades.

The towns of Dayton, Waitsburg, Prescott and Starbuck all thrived as farm towns in the early 20th Century. While agriculture remains a major economic factor in the area, the economy of the Touchet River Valley has continually diversified.

The area was home to many thriving fruit orchards as well as pea and asparagus farms in the first half of the 20th Century. In 1934, the Blue Mountain Cannery opened in Dayton. Processing both peas and asparagus, it became one of the largest canneries in the United States and was the largest asparagus cannery in the world. It was purchased by the Green Giant Company in 1947.

Operated in turn by Green Giant, Pillsbury and Seneca Foods, the plant ceased cannery operations in 2005. It is still owned by Seneca Foods, which runs a thriving seed processing and research operation there.

Logging was also an important industry a century ago, as towns in the valley grew and prospered. Numerous sawmills operated throughout the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Beginning in the 1870s, local families built large homes in the Victorian style. Many of those homes have been beautifully restored and remain a source of pride for the local communities.

In the 1950s, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction of four large hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River. Construction began on Little Goose Dam, near Starbuck, in 1963. Hundreds of construction workers moved to the area in the 1960s, providing a major economic boost. Little Goose Dam began producing electricity in 1970.

The Skyline Basin ski area was developed in the Blue Mountains south of Dayton in the 1970s. Located on National Forest Service land, it was renamed Bluewood Ski area in 1983 and has operated continually since.

In the 1970s, citizens in Dayton and Waitsburg began efforts to preserve

their historic buildings and sites. With the restoration of the Dayton Historic Depot, the Columbia County Courthouse and Waitsburg’s Bruce Mansion, showing off the region’s history has been a successful draw for tourists and new residents.

A major restoration of Main Street in Dayton’s Historic Downtown was also completed in the early 1990s, and the Liberty Theater in Dayton received a complete restoration and opened for movies and live performances in 2001. Waitsburg’s Main Street received a major facelift in 2008.

In the first decade of the new century, a new industry came to the Touchet River Valley. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) opened the Hopkins Ridge Wind Energy Facility on the windy hills northeast of Dayton in 2005. Pacific Power’s nearby Marengo I and II wind farms began operation soon after.

Hundreds of construction workers came to the area to build the wind farms, which provide nearly 50 full-time jobs. Approximately 200 wind turbines now produce electricity in the area. PSE has begun construction of the Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project, which will more than triple the capacity of the local wind farms and will be located in both Columbia County and in Garfield County to the east.

The residents of our area are proud of its history and heritage. We are always ready to show it off to visitors. We welcome you to the Touchet River Valley.

Opposite page: The Columbia County Courthouse as it looked in 1890. Top right: A crowd gathers in downtown Waitsburg in the 1890s. Right, above: A mule-drawn combine cuts wheat on a rolling field in Columbia County. (Photos courtesy of Dayton Historic Depot.)


Public Art

Stationmaster (Right): Using the uniform of a former Dayton stationmaster as a

guide, award-winning local artist Keith McMasters created a bronze statue to grace the boardwalk at the Dayton Historic Depot, on the corner of Second and Commercial, for many generations to enjoy.

To commemorate Sacajawea’s great contribution to the Lewis and Clark expedition, the late artist Carol Grende created a striking bronze sculpture of Sacajawea called “Arduous Journey.” Installed in October 2009, the life-sized statue has a permanent home on the corner of North First Street and Commercial Avenue in Dayton.

The Columbia County Courthouse, on Main Street in Dayton, is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the state of Washington. This wonderful, Western courthouse was built in 1887 at the cost of $38,069, and its rare, historical, architectural heritage has been preserved through a lengthy and committed restoration/renovation effort. You can take a self-guided tour inside during county business hours, Monday through Friday. Don’t forget to take a photo with one of the two Civil War cannons on the courthouse lawn, which have been on display since 1915.

The Corps of Discovery Campsite was built in 2006 on Patit Road approximately 2 miles east of Dayton to honor the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark’s expedition into the west. The Corps of Discovery camped along the Patit Creek in a “little bottom” just east of Dayton on May 2, 1806. This leg of their journey home is now referred to as the “Forgotten Trail” because the shortcut through the Touchet River Valley is often forgotten in historical writings. This exhibit of life-sized, steel silhouettes depicts the Corps encampment as it would have been one hour before mealtime and darkness.

Historic Sites

Dayton Historic Depot

The Dayton Historic Depot, the oldest surviving train station in Washington, was built in 1881 by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. The Depot is fully restored and hosts a number of various local and regional exhibits each year. A shaded courtyard with benches offers a pleasant place to relax just a block off of Main Street. Located one block north of Main at Commercial and Second streets, the Depot is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit www. daytonhistoricdepot.org or call (509) 382-2026.

Boldman House Museum

The Boldman House Museum is a Victorian house and garden located at 410 N. First Street in Dayton. Miss Boldman’s will directed that her family home be restored to its original, 1912 condition, and that it become a community resource and educational “showplace.” The house and its contents

present an extraordinary time capsule. The variety and volume of artifacts saved over time by the members of this Dayton family give us a unique and detailed history of the Boldmans and their friends, showing us how they interacted with the community and the changing times. The Boldman House is open Friday and Saturday from 1-4 p.m. or by appointment by calling (509) 392-2026.

Palus Artifact Museum

The Palus Artifact Museum (pronounced Pa-loos), at 426 E. Main Street in Dayton, offers a glimpse of the region’s past through a collection of locally found Indian artifacts. The nomadic Palouse Indians historically wintered near Dayton. A popular spot where the Palouse gathered with other native peoples for celebrations was along the Touchet River where Dayton is now located. The dirt trail where horse races were once held later became the town’s Main Street. This museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call (509) 382-4820.

Art & CultureMuseums


Art GalleriesAMO Art117 Main Street, Waitsburg(509) 876-1264www.amo-art.com

Amo Art is a contemporary art gallery presenting works of art by local, regional and national artists who have shown a commitment to their art form. Gallery at the Weinhard231 E. Main Street, Dayton(Located just off the lobby of the Weinhard Hotel)Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily

Featuring the award-winning watercolor art of Dayton native Jill Ingram and pastel work by Monica Stobie done on handmade bark paper. Jill Ingram can be reached at (509) 382-4034. Monica Stobie is at (509) 382-4096.

Wenaha Gallery219 E. Main Street, Dayton(509) 382-2124www.wenaha.com

Shop with confidence at a full-service, fine art gallery specializing in fine art and custom framing. Visit a unique gallery showroom or enjoy purchasing online from the virtual gallery 24/7. Experienced consultants

will assist you in finding art and designing framing for your home or office.

Blue Mountain Artists GuildDelany Annex, Dayton Library111 S. Third Street, Dayton

The Blue Mountain Artists Guild, with members of all ages from throughout the Touchet River Valley, displays their works in frequently updated exhibits. The artist and contact number of each artist is displayed. The exhibition is open during library hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-5, Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday 10-2. For more information about the Guild, contact Meredith Dedman at (509) 382-2372. To contact the library, call (509) 382-4131.

Steve Henderson Fine Art102 Deer Pond Lane, Dayton(509) 382-9775stevehendersonfineart.com

Steve Henderson is known throughout the nation for his fine art oil landscapes, seascapes, and figurative work. Many of his pieces capture the beauty of the Touchet River Valley. Studio tours are available.

Sun Lizard Studio712 Wolf Fork Road, Dayton(509) 382-2045

“Raku” is the Japanese word for Robbie Zimmerman’s process of firing pottery using combustibles. “The neat thing about Raku is that you never know what you’re going to get,” the artist says. Zimmerman sells her work at the Walla Walla Farmers Market, the Pendleton Roundup and many local galleries.

Pump House Studio421 Fields Gulch, Waitsburg(509) 337-6381www.jpenner.com

Featuring original western and wildlife art, giclee prints and cards, Jackie Penner’s paintings reflect the strength of her feelings for the horses, wildlife, people and landscape of the true west.Penner is a self-taught oil painter and draws her inspiration from the wildlife and domestic animals she lives around.


Lodging

One day just isn’t enough to do and see everything our region has to offer, so why not plan

to stay longer? A visit to the Touchet River Valley would not be complete without staying in one of our beautifully appointed hotels, Victorian bed and breakfasts or private, cozy cabins. We

have budget-friendly accommodations where the whole family can relax after a day spent exploring. Here is a complete list of all the hotels and motels, cottage and cabin rentals, and bed & breakfast establishments in the valley – from Prescott to Waitsburg, Dayton and even Starbuck.

Kick Back

Stay Awhile

The beautiful patio and pool at the Purple House Bed and Breakfast.


Hotels & MotelsBlue Mountain Motel414 W Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-3040

Dayton Motel110 S Pine StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4503

Nothing New Lodging214 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-6393

The Weinhard Hotel235 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4032www.weinhardhotel.com

Seven Porches Guest House329 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(206) 794-7516

Cottage & Cabin Rentals

Dayton Cottage Rental117 ½ W Dayton AvenueDayton, WA 99328(509) 386-4750

Hiromi's House609 Orchard StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-6028www.hiromisvacationrental.com

The Last Resort (Cabin Rentals)2005 Tucannon RoadPomeroy, WA 99347(509) 843-1556

Lewis Peak Estates26 Lewis Peak RoadWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 200-2131

PJ's Vacation Rental238 West 5th StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-8876www.pjsvacationrentals.com

Waitsburg [email protected]

The Weinhard Vacation Cottage514 S 2nd StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4032www.weinhard.com

Guest SuiteBluewood View Lodging800 N Willow StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 520-2558www.bluewoodview.com

Bed & BreakfastsAunt Jennie's Bed & Breakfast204 Tucannon StreetStarbuck, WA 99359(509) 399-2373

Hollyhock Heaven226 W Patit StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2835

Purple House Bed & Breakfast415 E Clay StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-3159www.purplehousebnb.com


If you haven’t been to Ski Bluewood in a while, the 2011 – 2012 season has lots of reasons for you and your family to try one of the friendliest ski resorts in the Pacific Northwest.

“This coming year will be so much more fun for us,” said Mike Stephenson, who bought Ski Bluewood with his wife Kelly and a group of investors last year. “I can’t wait for the snow to start falling. It won’t be another ho-hum year at Bluewood.”

Off-piste skiing on the high Vintner’s Ridge, more night skiing on Triple Nickle, two terrain parks, live weekend entertainment at the lodge, Throwback Day, Beach Day and the first sanctioned free-style weekend in February are just some of what Stephenson calls the “adventures” that await skiers at the second-highest base-elevation ski mountain in the state this year.

Opening day is projected for Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) with the year-end bash to round out the season in mid-April. If last year is any indication of this year’s prospects, skiers were pleasantly surprised to see the likes of former basketball all-star Shawn Kemp and free-style master Glen Plake on the slopes during the Stephensons’ first season as owners.

Jerry Hanley, who produces videos for the statewide ski resorts association, Ski Washington, and came to the mountain several times last season, was among the many ski industry observers impressed with the new owners’ improvements and dedication to the resort.

“I sense a lot of enthusiasm from the Stephensons,” he said. “They put their money where their mouth is – they want to make it as good as it can be and then some.”

Ski Bluewood, a 1,600-acre development on U.S. Forest Service land, has about 500 skiable acres with the triple-seat Skyline Express as the backbone of two dozen runs ranging from green to black diamond.

Skyline, which has the capacity of nearly 4,000 skiers per hour, brings snow lovers 1,125 vertical feet from the lodge to a top of 5,670 feet overlooking the expansive pine-crested Blue Mountains.

Almost one third of the runs are “easy,” while another third are “intermediate” and the remaining third “difficult.”

Vintner’s Ridge, the ungroomed pure powder slope above Skyline will be accessible through special sled runs the Bluewood crew tried out last year to the delight of the hardier skiers.

“People just loved it,” Stephenson said. “With the fatter skis, off-piste skiing is all the rage. We’ll offer the sled shuttle on the weekends and possibly on some weekdays, depending on the need and the weather.”

Last year, the new owners took over operations of Ski Bluewood with barely enough time to get the resort ready and running for the season. This year, the Stephensons, including General Manager Travis Stephenson, Mike Stephenson’s son, have had all summer to make improvements and think up new ways for their patrons to enjoy the mountain.

“It will be a fresh mix,” Travis Stephenson said about the addition of a second terrain park that was installed on the Baby Face run last year and will be built on this year with step-up and step-down jumps, rails, jibs, hips and quarter pipes.

To add to this year’s excitement, Ski Bluewood will hold its first-ever free-style skiing event on the weekend of Feb. 11 – 12, with slope-style competition on Saturday and boarder cross and ski cross on Sunday.

Last year, the new owners added an espresso cart and more food choices to the menu. This year, the kitchen will offer pizza by the slice, panini sandwiches and other items skiers “can just grab and go,” Mike Stephenson said.

Of course, everything about skiing revolves around the weather. The Stephensons said there’s another La Nina year in the forecast and that means a winter with lots of precipitation, read fresh snow!

“It’s going to be a fantastic winter,” Mike Stephenson said.But on days when the weather doesn’t allow for decent conditions, the resort’s weather

report will be honest about it, he said. “We’ll be truthful about it.”

Feature Stories: Fall & Winter Recreation

For Beginners to Experts, Ski Bluewood's the Place


There’s a well-kept, snowy secret in the Touchet Valley that snowmobile enthusiasts have been enjoying for years. Touchet Corrals, at the foot

of Bluewood ski area, has a launching spot and large snow park for snowmobiling from Dec. 1 to April 1 each year.

“We’re kind of undiscovered,” said Aileen Warren, a member of the Blue Mountain SnoMo club, an Eastern Washington snowmobile organization that rides in the Dayton area.

There are about 40 families in the club from Colfax, Ritzville, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Dayton, Warren said.

Touchet Corrals has less traffic than other snowmobiling sites and more diversity in where you can ride, Warren said. It has easy trails and ones that are “steep and deep,” she said. You can definitely push yourself to the limits on these trails.

Warren goes snowmobiling on weekends and her husband Glen goes every chance he can get, she said.

The trails are open during the day and on weekends and operate when forest service roads close, Glen Warren said.

There is nowhere in the area to rent a snowmobile, so riders must bring their own. Riders also need sno-park parking permits, a registration and a license to operate the snowmobile.

“They do patrol,” Glen Warren said of the Touchet Corrals area.

The State Parks website has detailed maps of the area and the Warrens said riders should familiarize themselves with the area before heading out because there are boundaries they must stay within and trails are not always well-marked.

“It’s a whole different world in the mountains,” Glen Warren said.

For lodging, riders can stay in town, or they can rent a forest service building near the trails to sleep in

overnight. Aileen warns that riders can get stranded and it can

be dangerous in the snow, so come prepared. She suggests having a cell phone with you, telling friends and family where you are and when you’ll return and to wear appropriate snowmobiling clothing.

“Carhartts don’t cut it,” Aileen said. “Expect the unexpected.”

If new snowmobile gear is too costly, she suggests hunting through swap meets and garage sales where you can find used gear.

There isn’t a snowmobile shop in town, but riders can pop into the Dayton Chamber of Commerce to be directed to the nearest business or club member for more information about the trails or where to find gear, she said.

Also, a big event for the Washington State Snowmobile Association is being held locally in Walla Walla this year. The Warrens said enthusiasts won’t want to miss the 2012 Winter Rendezvous Feb. 17 through 20. They hope the event will bring many more people into the area to experience Touchet Valley’s pristine snowy trails.

WAITSBURGTOWN HALL

Modernized Facility Available for Receptions, Events, Reunions, Meeting, Services,

Gatherings, Celebrations, Forums, Retreats.

Capacity for 290 • Full Kitchen AvailableEntertainment Stage • ADA RestroomsTables & Chairs • Climate Controlled

Small Rooms Available

SINGLE USE, WEEKLY, & MONTHLY,RATES AVAILABLE, CONTACT:

Waitsburg Town Hall Association121 Main Street • Waitsburg, WA 99361

509-520-0253

The Last Resort &Blue Mountains KOA Campground2005 Tucannon Road, Pomeroy1-800-562-3417www.thelastresortrv.com

Lewis & Clark TrailState Park36149 Highway 12, Dayton(509) 337-6457

Shangri-La River Ranch 104 Rose Gulch, Dayton

(509) 382-1125shangrilariverranch.com

Tucannon River RV Park511 Highway 261, Starbuck(509) 399-2056

Lyons Ferry Marina KOA102 Lyons Ferry Road, Starbuckwww.lyonsferrymarina.comReservations: (800) 562-5418Information: (509) 399-8020(Limitied services in winter)

Camping/RVing

A Snowmobiler's Paradise


HistoricLewis & Clark

Campsite

Waitsburg

Dayton

Starbuck

The Last ResortRV

Ski Bluewood

Prescott

SpringLake

BlueLake

RainbowLake

DeerLake

Lewis and Clark Trail State Park

Marengo Wind Farm

Tucannon River

Touchet River

North Touchet River

Tucannon Road

North Touchet Road

Patit Road

Turner Road

Hopkins RidgeWind Farm

Johnson Hollow Road

12

12

12

261

124

125

127

N

1

Miles

2 3

CemeteryCity park, pool and skate park

Library

Fairgrounds

Athletic �eld

Fishing ponds

Hospital

Liberty Theatre

Port of Columbia

Touchet ValleyGolf Course

Future site of Blue Mountain Station

Historic Depot

Historic Courthouse


Visitor

Information

To Bluewood Ski Area and North Touchet Road

To Historic Lewis and Clark Camp Site

City Hall

12

12

Patit Road

4th Street

1st Street

Main

Dayton

City Hall

Library

Bruce Mansion

High school

City Cemetery

I.O.F. Cemetery

Fairgrounds

Preston Park

12

12

124

City pool

Mai

n

Waitsburg

To Lyons Ferry Marina and Little Goose Dam

To Pomeroy,Lewiston and

Clarkson

To Walla Walla To Walla Walla

SpokaneSeattle

Tri-Cities

To Tri-Cities


Map design by Sheyna Watkins

HistoricLewis & Clark

Campsite

Waitsburg

Dayton

Starbuck

The Last ResortRV

Ski Bluewood

Prescott

SpringLake

BlueLake

RainbowLake

DeerLake

Lewis and Clark Trail State Park

Marengo Wind Farm

Tucannon River

Touchet River

North Touchet River

Tucannon Road

North Touchet Road

Patit Road

Turner Road

Hopkins RidgeWind Farm

Johnson Hollow Road

12

12

12

261

124

125

127

N

1

Miles

2 3

CemeteryCity park, pool and skate park

Library

Fairgrounds

Athletic �eld

Fishing ponds

Hospital

Liberty Theatre

Port of Columbia

Touchet ValleyGolf Course

Future site of Blue Mountain Station

Historic Depot

Historic Courthouse


Visitor

Information

To Bluewood Ski Area and North Touchet Road

To Historic Lewis and Clark Camp Site

City Hall

12

12

Patit Road

4th Street

1st Street

Main

Dayton

City Hall

Library

Bruce Mansion

High school

City Cemetery

I.O.F. Cemetery

Fairgrounds

Preston Park

12

12

124

City pool

Mai

n

Waitsburg

To Lyons Ferry Marina and Little Goose Dam

To Pomeroy,Lewiston and

Clarkson

To Walla Walla To Walla Walla

SpokaneSeattle

Tri-Cities

To Tri-Cities


Tri-Cities resident Pat Van Horn has been river fishing since childhood, but only this fall did he try his luck where the Tucannon River flows into the Snake River

about a mile west of Lyons Ferry.“It’s probably one of the better areas as far as facilities go,”

he said while launching his small motorboat at the Lyons Ferry Marina with his friends James Lindholm and Lindholm’s son Justin. “I’ve always known about this but never had a chance to come up. We heard they were catching fish up here, so we came to check it out.”

Fishermen from all over the region are coming to the Lyons Ferry area this year because of good prospects for Steelhead and the opening of Chinook, the first time that fish has been permitted in decades.

“We have a lot of fish coming over the dam,” said Jim MacArthur, who runs the Lyons Ferry Marina with his wife Angela. “Some of those guys are catching the limit daily.”

The Snake River in the northern part of Columbia County, just a short drive from the Touchet River Valley, is a body of water with plenty of resident fish species, such as bass, walleye, perch, cat fish and sturgeon.

Only the migratory Steelhead and Chinook have a limited season, explained Verna Foley, co-owner of Darver Tackle in Starbuck. But they too are plentiful.

The stretch of Snake most interesting to fishermen runs from Ayer Boat Basin west of Lyons Ferry to the Little Goose Dam, where many station themselves at the park just down from the locks.

The area has several camping and launching sites, including Lyons Ferry and Texas Rapids. Lyons Ferry has a fueling dock, bathroom facilities, a restaurant and shop with fishing and camping supplies, campsites and RV sites.

Foley and her husband Darcy Linklater run several RV sites

in Starbuck, the nearest town that also features Aunt Jennie’s Bed & Breakfast.

Starbuck’s only B&B caters to fishermen with its trailer parking and fish-cleaning setup out back. Rooms that sleep up to three are $75 with shared bathroom facilities and a hearty breakfast.

The tackle shop, now in its 10th year on McNeil Street, is one of the largest in this corner of the state with 400 rods and 250 reels under two dozen different brands. It even has its own line of rods, designed by Linklater as a special long-handled 11’ 6” casting pole that plunks as lightly as a smaller rod but gets the bait out there much farther, Linklater said.

Darver also offers bait such as worms, nitro worms, shrimp, prawns, egg roe, herring, smelt, anchovies, sardines, crawfish tails, sturgeon candy, squid, chicken livers and gizzards and many varieties of lures. The guest book at the shop gives a glimpse of just how far-flung visitors to the store are: Vancouver, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Japan, China and Germany.

Darver also has camping and RV equipment. Plus, it handles hunting and fishing licenses.

“We have everything the fishermen need for their experience,” Foley said. “If we don’t have it, we’ll order it for them.”

Other retailers in the Touchet River Valley area sell fishing-related merchandise, such as Dingle’s in Dayton and the Waitsburg Hardware & Mercantile store. PDQ and the General Store in Dayton carry bait.

For guide services, Foley recommends Richard Ells of Reel People Guide Service, based in Starbuck. A bit further afield is Mid Columbia River Guide

Service with trips ranging in cost from $125 to $150 per person.

Checking back with Van Horn and his friends later that day, he reported catching two six-pound Steelhead and a 10-pound wild salmon, which he released. His group didn’t do quite as well as some of the other boats near him at the mouth of the Tucannon, but he said he’s in it as much for the experience as the catch.

“We had a great day,” he said. “I’m kind a liking this place. There’s not a whole lot of people to fight like in some other places. We’ve been having a good time.”

Feature Stories: Fall & Winter Recreation

Fish are Biting in the Snake and Tucannon Rivers


Hunters are flocking to the Touchet River Valley to gain access to year-round game hunting under the shadows of the region's large wind turbines.

The Hopkins Ridge Wind Project and the Marengo Wind Project allow hunting on their lands if you take out the appropriate permit.

According to Anne Walsh, the senior environmental/communications manager for Puget Sound Energy’s Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility, PSE started the hunting program on the lands it leases for the wind turbines in fall of 2006. When the company applied to build the turbines, the county encouraged PSE to start a hunting program with maps, boundaries, hunting buffer zones and asked it to work with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The lands are open to hunters year-round, but “deer rifle and elk rifle are the biggest seasons in this area,” Walsh said.

About 850 people each year register to hunt on the wind turbine lands, she said. To get to the boundary line of the wind project, it’s just a short 20-minute drive from Dayton.

To get signed up, it’s pretty easy. Hunters can log onto Puget Sound Energy and PacifiCorp web sites for the application and rules. Your permit must be picked up from the Last Resort Campstore on the upper Tucannon River before you can head to the lands. Also, Walsh recommends surveying the land well before hiking in because the area is large and there are certain areas where hunting is not allowed, such as around homes.

Other rules include staying at least 300 feet away from the wind turbines and not driving on turbine roads. And the company does not allow horses or pack animals.

Friends and family members who know homeowners on turbine lands personally can also apply through the homeowners who don’t always allow hunting on their property.

Jim MacArthur, who runs the campstore, said the lands are great for hunters as well as those who like to watch birds and go fishing. Also, those who visit the area to hunt on the wind turbine lands are eating at local restaurants and spending money in the community.

“As a business owner, there’s a lot of economic benefit of having the hunters in the area in the fall,” he said.

There wasn’t much access to lands for hunting in that area before and MacArthur said he is glad to see it open to sportsmen.

“I really hate to see land closed off,” he said. “My hat goes off to these companies. They really went out of their way to make this happen.”

The energy companies do pay to maintain the program including its maps and educational videos. During the fall, the companies hire private security teams to make sure all of the hunters have a permit and are following the rules. The security guards call on the Sheriff ’s Office to handle enforcement, Walsh said.

There haven’t been many issues since the lands have been opened to hunters. And she was surprised that hunters make sure to report poachers and other offenders.

“They keep the bad (hunters) from giving it a bad reputation,” she said. Walsh stays on top of moving the program forward and finds ways to improve it each year.

She recently added GPS coordinates and a topographical map for hunters so they can better understand the boundaries. And, all of the hard work is paying off.

“The feedback is very positive,” Walsh said. “We have reams of thank-you letters for having these lands open.”

Hunting Opportunities at Local Wind Farms


Casual DiningDaytonAsian Grill525 W Main StreetBehind Ameristar(509) 382-3022Country Cupboard Bakery & Deli330 E Main Street(509) 382-2215Fiesta En Jalisco404 W Main Street(509) 382-0606Home Baked Goodness309 E. Main Street(509) 520-0614www.homebakedgoodness.netRay's Drive In221 W Main Street(509) 382-4822Skye Book & Brew148 E Main Street(509) 382-4677www.skyebookandbrew.com

WaitsburgBetty's Diner114 Preston Ave.(509) 337-6098La Monarca206 Main Street(509) 337-3200Laht Neppur Brewery444 Preston Ave.(509) 337-6261www.lahtneppur.com

Food & Drink

DaytonManila Bay Asian Café311 East Main Street(509) 382-2520www.manilabaycafe.comPatit Creek Restaurant725 E Dayton Avenue(509) 382-2625Weinhard Café258 E Main(509) 382-1681www.weinhard-cafe.com

Waitsburgjimgermanbar119 Main Street(509) 337-6001www.jimgermanbar.comWhoopemup Hollow Café120 Main Street(509) 337-9000www.whoopemuphollowcafe.com

Fine Dining

DaytonDayton Wine Works507 E Main Street(509) 382-1200www.daytonwineworks.comDumas Station Wines36229 Highway 12(509) 382-8933www.dumasstation.comMace Meadworks250 East Main St.(509) 540-0000www.facebook.com/MacemeadworksSkye Book & Brew148 E Main Street(509) 382-4677www.skyebookandbrew.com

WaitsburgLaht Neppur Brewery444 Preston Ave.(509) 337-6261www.lahtneppur.com

Wineries & Brew Pubs

Steve'sGrocery

YourGatewayto the

BlueMountains

724 S. 4thDayton

509-382-2231


White Stallion Restaurant701 Preston Avenue(509) 337-6839

PrescottTuxedo Bar & Grill105 South D Street(509) 849-2244

StarbuckHuwe's Café401 Main St.(509) 399-2211Snake River GrillLyons Ferry MarinaHwy 261, Starbuck(509) 399-8020www.lyonsferrymarina.com

Coffee ShopsDaytonRooster's Brew36709 Highway 12(509) 382-8982Weinhard Hotel Internet Café235 E Main Street(509) 382-4032www.weinhard.com

WaitsburgCoppei Coffee139 Main Street(509) 337-8184

Bars/TavernsDaytonWoody's Bar & Grill214 E Main Street(509) 382-2364

WaitsburgAnchor Bar141 Main Street(509) 337-3008

StarbuckRawhide Bar N Grill211 N. Main(509) 399-2222

GroceryDaytonAmeristar533 West Main Street(509) 382-9952

Dayton Mercantile & Subway516 W Main Street(509) 382-2563General Store & Picadilly Pizza426 W Main Street(509) 382-1042PDQ Foodmart403 E Main Street(509) 382-2155Shell Service Center401 West Main Street(509) 382-2741

WaitsburgWaitsburg Grocery200 Main Street(509) 337-6641Midway Food Mart903 Preston Ave(509) 337-6151

PrescottSandy's MarketHighway 124(509) 849-2844


Prescott Library103 S. D Street, Prescott(509) 849-2411Hours: T, Th 12-8 p.m., Sat 10-3Weller Public Library212 Main Street, Waitsburg(509) 337-8149Hours: M 3-8, Th 10-noon, 1-6

Dayton Memorial Library111 S. 3rd Street, Dayton(509) 382-4131www.ccrld.lib.wa.usHours: M,W,F 10-5; T,Th noon-8; Saturday 10-2Free WiFi, copier/fax machine, meeting room available.

Libraries

Dayton Memorial Library

Special EventsOctober

Modern Firearm Deer SeasonStarts Oct. 15.

Modern Firearm Elk SeasonStarts Oct. 29

November Fall Musical: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”Presented by Touchet Valley Arts Council ProductionsNovember 18 - December 3Liberty Theater344 E. Main St., Dayton

This year’s fall musical features an original script by Mike Ferrians and Brenda Chapman of TVAC Productions. Nine performances will be held. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.libertytheater.org or call the theater at (509) 382-1380.

Dayton’s Christmas Kick-OffNov. 25 and 269 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Activities include a Christmas lighted parade Friday evening, shopping on Friday and Saturday, Depot Christmas Market and Art Show, family movie at the Liberty

Theater, mule-drawn hayrides at the Depot, family movie at Liberty Theater, visit with Santa downtown, Main Street carolers, live nativity and Friday night fireworks.

Pomeroy’s Starlight Parade, Nov. 255 p.m.

Chili Feed, a visit from Santa, hay rides and a holiday movie. Hosted by the Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce, 509-843-5110 or 877-353-0118.

DecemberWaitsburg HometownChristmasDec. 3 & 4

Hosted by the Commercial Club. Activities for families including Turkey Bingo, craft vendors, Christmas carolers, Santa on Sunday, special drawings, a Christmas lighted parade, chili feed and high school talent show.

Liberty Theater’sNew Year’s Eve PartyStarting at 9 p.m.Liberty Theater344 E. Main St., Dayton

Spend New Year’s Eve at Dayton’s historic theater. Enjoy a movie along

with food, drinks and a midnight champagne toast. Visit www.libertytheater.org.

FebruarayGround Hog Day Sausage FestFebruary 2, 5 to 8 p.m.Youth Building, Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton

Blue Mountain Heritage Society holds this festival to help shake off those winter blues. Enjoy entertainment and a great meal. For details, call 509-382-8919.

MarchBlue Mountain Brix & Brew FestivalFriday, March 16

Annual benefit auction for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. $25 admission includes wine or beer, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Tickets at Chamber office or the door.

Don't Miss:The LibertyTheater344 E. Main Street, Dayton(509) 382-1380www.libertytheater.orgThe Liberty Theater opened in 1908. After being closed for 30 years, the Touchet Valley Arts Council reopened it in the fall of 2001. Now completely restored, the theater hosts live events and movies on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday evenings.


DaytonBlue Mountain Assembly of God 311 S. 4th StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-1972 Sunday School 10 a.m. & Worship – 11 a.m."Connecting to God from one Generation to the Next"Community Bible Church203 S. 2nd StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4106www.cbcdayton.orgWorship 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Fellowship/Children's Sunday School 11:00 a.m.Dewayne Ramsey, PastorMission: Growing whole-hearted followers of Jesus ChristChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints1114 S. 3rd StreetDayton, WA 99328Sacrament Meeting 9:00 a.m.Sunday School/Primary10:20 a.m.Priesthood/Relief Society11:10 a.m.(509) 382-9655Dayton Nazarene Church 402 E. Tremont St. (South 3rd Street and Tremont)Dayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2644Email: [email protected] School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Joe Simmons, PastorDayton United Methodist Church110 S. 3rd StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4671Sunday Service 11:00 a.m.Bill Peck, PastorFirst Christian Church410 S. 3rd StreetDayton, WA 99328509-382-2330www.daytonchristianchurch.orgWorship 9:30 a.m.Bible Study Fellowship 11:00 a.m.Jim Edwards, Pastor"To Know Jesus and Make Him Known"

First Congregational Church214 S. 3rd StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2471Sunday Service 11:00 a.m.Bill Graham, Interim PastorGrace Episcopal Church301 S. 3rd Street Dayton, WA 99328www.gracechurchdaytonwa.orgSunday Service 9:00 a.m."Small Church, Big Heart, Faithful People"Harvest Christian Center653 Wagon RoadDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4728Worship 10:45 a.m. Breakfast 9:30 a.m. every first Sunday Pastor Tony SykesRedeemer Lutheran Church601 S. 3rd StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4662 office(509) 540-5532 cellwww.redeemerdaytonwa.comemail: [email protected] Bye, Pastor“Praying for Spiritual Renewal in the Touchet Valley and Garfield County”Seventh-Day Adventist Church1525 S. 4th StreetDayton, WA 99328Lesson Study 9:30 a.m. SaturdayWorship 10:40 a.m. Saturday(509) 382-4020St. Joseph Catholic Church112 S. 1st StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 843-1110 / (509) 382-2311www.rc.net/spokane/stjosephSunday Mass: 11:15 amHour of Prayer: 4:30 - 5:30 pmWednesday Mass: 8:00 amRev. Robert TurnerUnited Brethren Church1106 S. 4th StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4009Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Services10:45 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m.Greg Brownell, Pastor

WaitsburgSt. Mark Catholic Church405 W. 5th StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 843-1110www.rc.net/spokane/stjosephSunday Mass: 5:00 p.m.Hour of Prayer: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. TuesdayTuesday Mass: 6:00 p.m.Rev. Robert TurnerFirst Christian Church604 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-8898www.christianchurchwaitsburg.orgSpiritual Growth Grps. 9:30 a.m.Worship 10:50 a.m.Mike Ferrians, Pastor“A Touchet Valley Community Church”Jehovah’s Witnesses122 Coppei RoadWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-9243Presbyterian Church504 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-6589Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11:00Summer Schedule - Worship only at 9:30 a.m.Bret Moser, Pastor

PrescottPrescott Community Church202 E. 2nd StreetPost Office Box 163Prescott, WA 99348(509) 849-2273 www.prescott.org Sunday School 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.Worship Service 11 a.m. – noon.

StarbuckStarbuck Community Church110 Main StreetStarbuck, WA 99359(509) 399-2259Sunday School 9:45 a.m.Worship 11:00 a.m.David McIlroy, Pastor

Touchet River Valley Churches


Bring home more than just great memories after visiting the Touchet River Valley. You’ll find a great selection of gifts and goods at the many fine shops here. The

beautiful historic Main Streets in Dayton and Waitsburg make shopping, or just looking, a joy. And we have all the necessities as well. Following is a complete list of retail stores and shops in the Touchet River Valley.

RetailDaytonAg Link207 N ThirdDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4743

City Lumber & Coal Yard200 N Third StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4211

Country Cupboard330 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2215

Croft's Floral & Gifts207 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2565

Customized Business Systems159 E. Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4415

Dayton Historic Depot Gift Shop222 E. Commercial StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2026

Dingle's of Dayton179 E MainDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2581

Elk Drug176 E MainDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2536

Folk Art Shoppe127 E. Main StDayton, WA 99328(509) 494-1458

Shopping!

Toys, toys, toys: Etceteras in Waitsburg


Ready for Christmas shoppers: Dingle's of Dayton

Jacci's Yarn Basket242 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2526

Mrs. Mc's Antiques163 E. Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-1964

Skye Book and Brew Pub148 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4677

St. Vincent de Paul247 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-4146

Suffield Furniture Company362 E MainDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2331

Village Shoppes245 E Main StreetDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-9152

Wenaha Gallery219 E MainDayton, WA 99328(509) 382-2124

WaitsburgEtceteras208 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-6150

Hugs, Gifts & Collectibles109 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 539-8773

Waitsburg Hardware & Mercantile134 Main StreetWaitsburg, WA 99361(509) 337-6671

StarbuckDarver Tackle ShopPO Box 156Starbuck, WA 99359(509) 399-2015

KOA KampstoreLyon’s Ferry MarinaStarbuck, WA 99359(509) 399-8020


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forgotten trail

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