Please check for COVID restrictions before planning your visit
Learn about wind power, take in an eclectic collection of yard art or visit a historic mill. Whether you are visiting for the day or a longtime resident, these Kittitas County attractions are worth a stop.
n OLMSTEAD PLACE STATE PARK This pioneer farm east of Ellensburg was homesteaded by the Olmstead family for 100 years before it was donated to the state of Washington. Most of the original buildings are still intact, including the original cabin and farmhouse. Volunteers help keep up the historic gardens, and interpretive programs are planned (check ahead for information). parks.wa.gov 921 Ferguson Road, Ellensburg
n WIND POWER UP CLOSE Puget Sound Energy’s Wind and Solar Facility has a visitor center east of Ellensburg with interactive displays, tours, and a great view of the surrounding area. The center is open April 1 to Nov. 30, weather permitting, seven days a week. Outdoor trails lead to a solar array, blade, turbine generator and additional displays. pse.com 25905 Vantage Hwy, Ellensburg
don’t miss attractions n DICK AND JANE’S SPOT Local artists Jane Orleman and her late husband, Dick Elliott, have spent more than 35 years amassing an eclectic collection of artwork from more than 40 Northwest artists in their home and yard at First Avenue and Pearl Street. Nearly every post and fence is covered with highway reflectors, 10,000 bottle caps, colored glass bottles and bicycle wheels. The pieces in the yard are ever changing — as old pieces decay, new ones are added. reflectorart.com First Ave. and Pearl St., Ellensburg
n THORP MILL The Thorp Mill was a gathering place for area farmers who brought their grain to be milled from 1883 to 1946. The mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and restoration work went into high gear in the late 1980s and through the early 1990s. Self-guided outdoor tours are available year round, with guided indoor tours offered in the summer. The mill is on North Thorp Highway northwest of Thorp’s small residential area and Thorp School District buildings. thorp.org 11640 Thorp Hwy N., Thorp Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility 16
CENTRAL WASHINGTON | VISITORS GUIDE
