Welcome to Eastern Washington Windermere

KITTITAS COUNTY

County Offices
205 W 5th Avenue
Ellensburg 509-962-7531
https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
609 North Main Street
Ellensburg 509-925-2002
https://www.kittitascountychamber.com/

Kittitas County is a county located in Washington. It is home to more than 41,000 residents. Its county seat and largest city is Ellensburg. The county was created in November 1883 when it was carved out of Yakima County.

Lifestyle

From the mighty Columbia River to the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, Kittitas County is a premier destination for outdoor adventure, sunshine and unique cultural offerings. Residents can fly fish the Yakima River, take in a jazz concert at Central Washington University and visit one of the historic downtown Ellensburg’s wine shops.  Or they can explore Roslyn’s mining history and hike in the Alpine Lake Wilderness. There’s boating the on Columbia River near Vantage, snowmobile trails near Cle Elum and Roslyn and all kinds of offerings at Suncadia resort.

Positioned about halfway between Seattle and Spokane, this area has become a popular hub for water skiing on the Columbia River, golf, fly fishing, river rafting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The Columbia River is 30 minutes from Ellensburg. Contributing to its popularity is the weather, with the area receiving only about nine inches of precipitation a year, over 300 days of sunshine, and four distinct seasons. The county is situated in an area of natural beauty. The Yakima River Canyon offers world-class fishing and hiking through its basalt cliffs. Skiers and off-roaders are close to spectacular countryside in the Cascade Mountains, Stuart Mountains, and nearby state and national forests. Residents can also spend a day visiting wineries or taking in a concert at the world-famous Gorge Amphitheatre.

Services

Quality educational opportunities are available in and near Kittitas County, underlined by excellent public-school districts and options for select private and parochial schools. The county is served by several school districts that use nationally recognized programs and detailed planning to ensure the highest education possible for students. Students in county school districts enjoy exceptionally low student to teacher ratios, giving students the opportunity for exceptional learning. For those seeking higher education, there are a number of online opportunities available from state and regional colleges and universities for students of all ages. The county is home to an extension of Yakima Valley Community College. Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg on a more than 300 acre campus. It offers a full spectrum of degree programs as well as post-secondary education options.

Local healthcare is provided by Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 1. It provides care to Kittitas County and surrounding areas. KVH Hospital provides 24-hour emergency care and offers inpatient and outpatient hospital services. KVH provides care through clinics and specialty services in both Upper and Lower Kittitas County. KVH clinics include ear, nose, throat & allergy, family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, general surgery, women’s health, dermatology, neurology and urgent care. Specialty services provide home health, hospice, physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Cle Elum
City Offices
509-674-2262
http://cityofcleelum.com/

Chamber of Commerce
509-925-2002
https://www.kittitascountychamber.com/

Cle Elum is a small rustic community with a history in mining and logging. This historic past is seen throughout the community. Right at the base of the Cascade Mountains lies Cle Elum. This town with its proximity to the Wenatchee National Forest, is popular for its wealth of recreational opportunities such as fishing, backpacking and cross-country skiing. The community is the hub to some of the best trail heads in the state of Washington and has hundreds of miles of trails close by, this is why the town is known as a recreation hub for the region.  Downtown Cle Elum is home to a variety of boutiques and stores that feature jewelry, Native American artifacts, wine and more. The shops feature local and regional items of every kind. And the historic downtown is perfect for a stroll through the shops or for just a stroll through history with several buildings on the national register of historic places. This community offers its residents and visitors alike a slower pace of life with mother nature at their doorstep.

Ellensburg
City Offices
509-962-7221
https://ci.ellensburg.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
509-925-2002
https://www.kittitascountychamber.com/

Located in the heart of the Kittitas Valley, Ellensburg is home to year-round recreational activities, numerous events, excellent shopping and dining, and a variety of performing and visual arts.

Ellensburg’s downtown historic district offers a wide variety of cultural activities, eclectic shops, pubs and restaurants.  Central Washington University is home to plays, concerts, dance recitals, operas, musicals, films, lectures and other events featuring fine arts, crafts, pottery, weaving and sculpture. Shoppers can stroll quiet downtown streets and then share a shady bench with the famous Ellensburg Bull.  Relax at a local microbrewery or dine in a locally owned restaurant. On weekends residents can enjoy local food and fresh produce, regional crafts, and entertainment downtown at the Kittitas County Farmers Market.  But the town is best known for hosting the Ellensburg Rodeo and Kittitas County Fair, the largest rodeo in Washington State and a tradition since 1923. The Ellensburg Rodeo is considered one of America’s top 10 professional rodeos. Another fun city fest is the Jazz in the Valley Festival, which has been running for 15 years. Hear live blues and jazz music in all forms all throughout Ellensburg.

As one of the 10 most beautiful towns in Washington, Ellensburg also is one of America’s top “Distinctive Destinations,” according to the National Historic Land Trust. Recently Ellensburg was named one of the most romantic destinations on the West Coast and one of America’s most bicycle-friendly communities. Ellensburg is situated in the heart of breathtaking natural beauty. The Yakima River Canyon offers world-class fishing and hiking through ancient basalt cliffs. Skiers and off-roaders are close to spectacular countryside in the Cascade Mountains, Stuart Mountains, and nearby state and national forests. The Columbia River is 30 minutes from Ellensburg, just right for a day of water skiing and fishing, visiting wineries, or taking in a concert at the world-famous Gorge Amphitheatre.

Ellensburg has become the choice to call home for many residents due to its relaxed lifestyle and enviable amenities. Neighbors are friendly here and the cowboy lifestyle is a big draw to people all over the region and the nation.

Roslyn
City Offices
509-649-3105
http://www.ci.roslyn.wa.us/

Roslyn is located at the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains at 2200 feet above sea level, Roslyn is the gateway to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, crown jewel of the Central Cascades. Roslyn abounds with year-round recreational opportunities, and the eastern Washington climate provides an excellent escape when the weather is cooler, wetter and cloudier on the west side of the Cascades.

Roslyn is a small rural town and home to just a little more than 1200 residents. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic District in 1978, much of the original architectural style still exists in the building of the community. Old mine shafts, slag piles, coal sheds and other artifacts are still found through the areas surrounding the town – reminders of the history of the area. Roslyn’s rich history and cultural heritage lives on and is celebrated during events like the Coal Miner’s Festival, the Croatian Picnic, Black Pioneers Picnic, the Run to Roslyn, as well as many others including a Memorial Day event that showcases the local historic cemeteries. Roslyn was the setting for the popular Television show, Northern Exposure which aired from 1990 to 1995. Many of the homes and offices used in the show remain and are occupied today, including the Brick Tavern, the oldest operating tavern in the State of Washington. Roslyn truly is a unique community offering a resident lifestyle that is increasingly hard to find. Roslyn offers residents and visitors the small town feel that som many people are seeking in today’s world and is a great place to call home.