Grand Coulee Dam Area Visitors’ Guide 2014-2015
A Supplement to The Star Newspaper
Come to the Coulee
Events
April
• Triple Fish Challenge Fishing Tournament
May
• Colorama Festival & Pro-West Rodeo Run the Dam
June
• Weekly Saturday Markets (June - September) • Coulee Kids Fest
July
• Festival of America: Fireworks, Live Bands, Arts/Crafts & Food
September
• Harvest Festival
Visit www.grandcouleedam.org or call 509.633.3074 for more information
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Members 2014 4-Bears Storage
PO Box 490 Electric City, WA 99123 633-2773
Banks Lake Golf Course
Coulee House Inn & Suites 110 Roosevelt, Way Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-1101
Coulee Medical Center
19849 Ludolph Rd Electric City, WA 99133 633-2317
411 Fortuyn Rd Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1753
Body by Dam
Coulee Pioneer Museum
423 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 631-4875
Business Interiors & Equipment Inc.
1634 W Broadway Moses Lake, WA. 98837 765-5800
Lonna Bussert
PO Box 574 Electric City, WA 99123 633-2410
Choice Auto Group
122 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0600
CJ’s Mini Storage
PO Box 673 Electric City, WA 99123 631-1222
3 Coulee Blvd Electric City, WA 99133 633-2773
Coulee Playland
401 Coluee Blvd E Electric City, WA 99123 633-2671
Coulee View Food & Fuel 2 Okanogan Ave Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-2951
DWK Fowler Construction 58045 Spokane NE Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2485
City of Electric City
10, Western Ave Electric City, WA 99123 633-1510
Columbia View Apartments
1201 River Dr, #18 Coulee Dam, WA 99116 895-9245
Coulee Construction
45896, Westwind Dr Grand Coulee, WA 99133 760-9594
Coulee Creamery
403 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 217-2377
Coulee Cruizers Car Club
PO Box 665 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0836
Coulee Dam Casino
515 Birch St Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-0766
Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union
N 402 Columbia Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-0830
Town of Coulee Dam
300 Lincoln Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-0320
Coulee Hardware
416 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1090
Funzee’s Nothin’ But Fun 401 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3094
Loepp Furniture
226 Main St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0430
Silver Creek Systems, LLC
Grant County PUD
Gene Gross, M.D.
Loyal Order of the Moose #504
138 Miller Ave Electric City, WA 99123 633-0290
H & H Grocery
119 Coulee Blvd E Electric City, WA 99123 633-2687
Lynn’s Storage
PO Box 431 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0246
3 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1350
Heaven-Sent Computer Services
Susan Miller
308 Spokane, Way Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0280
6594 Patton Blvd NE Moses Lake, WA 98837 764-6579 30 C St SW Ephrata, WA 98823 754-6633 PO Box 171 Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-1419
PO Box 760 Grand Coulee, WA 99123 631-4311
216 Continental Heights Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0555
PO Box 373 Electric City, WA 99123 633-2364
National Park Service
Investment Services NW
1008 Crest Dr Coulee Dam, WA 99116 754-7800
Jack’s 4 Corners
608 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1700
Jack’s Spring Canyon
311 E Grand Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3073
Jess Ford of Grand Coulee
North Cascades Bank
Okanogan Country Tourism
JR Newhouse
Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille
Gillespie Eye Care
404 Spokane, Way Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2860
Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club
PO Box 777 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 851-4180
Ken’s Distributing
Rite-Way Publishing
King’s Court RV Park
212 E Grand Coulee Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3655
(Travel-Recreation Directories) PO Box 6707 Boise ID 83707 208-377-0226
Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club
PO Box 367 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0799
203 Main St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2327
Tamra Sacchi
425 N Columbia Ave Coulee Dam, WA 99116 846-5537
Grand Coulee Eagles, #2577
Safeway
320 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2411
122 B St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0162
321 Burdin Blvd Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3260
Ridge Riders
2209 Alcan Rd NE Grand Coulee, WA 99133 631-0018
Grand Coulee Dam Seniors
Grand Coulee Physical Therapy
113 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-8283
227 Main St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 631-2667 PO Box 543 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0155
State Farm Insurance
Statewide Impact Directories
(Local Book) 5009, W Clearwater Ave, #H Kennewick, WA 99336 877-336-5081
Strate Funeral Home
329 Grand Coulee Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1111
Sunbanks Resort
Sunrise Disposal, Inc
17 Midway Ave. Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-6767
Grand Coulee Center Lodge
Star Publishing, Inc
Margi Overman
Gerard Building Company
Junkers
Skydeck Motel
57662 Hay 155 N Electric City, WA 99123 633-3786
23685 Boulder Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1946
407 Burdin Blvd Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0340
Wilbur, WA 99185 647-5337
320 Omak Ave Omak, WA 98841 826-5107
522 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0110
19 Coulee Blvd Electric City, WA 99123 633-1664
Siam Palace
213 Main St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2921
Foisy & Kennedy
Columbia River Inn
La Presa Restaurant
Shaw’s Fruit & Produce
3533A Hwy 155 Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-0133
515 E Grand Coulee Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3173
630 Grand Coulee Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-2472
309 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0410
KISSed Quilts
301 Main St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 386-5715
Grant County EDC
Flo’s Café
316 Spokane, Way Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3216
10 Lincoln St Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-2100
319 A St Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0711
17 Midway Ave Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-0150
Columbia Basin Development League 203 Mission Ave, #107 Cashmere, WA 98815 782-9442
Grand Coulee Veterinary Services
330 Ferry St Omak, WA 98841 422-4530
Gayle Swagerty
317 Stevens Coulee Dam, WA 99116 633-8375
Taylor Enterprises
PO Box 44 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-1531
Trail, West Motel
108 Spokane, Way Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-3155
Tropical Pig
6 W Coulee Blvd Electric City, WA 99123 631-3007
Bob Valen
PO Box 86 Grand Coulee, WA 99133 633-8209
Wheeler Broadcasting
PO Box K Grand Coulee, WA 99133 662-3842
Whitley Fuel
PO Box 907 Okanogan, WA 98840 422-3120
Stronger Together
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Table of Contents
Basic Questions..................................................................... 6 Grand Coulee Dam Facts............................. 10-12, 15-16 Where Can I Camp.............................................................17 Are the Fish Biting?............................................................20 Monthly Fishing Guide.....................................................21 Hunting the Coulee.................................................... 22-23 Lake Roosevelt Facts.................................................. 24-25 Parks or Viewpoints...........................................................28
“Coulee” Facts............................................................... 29-30 Colville/Native People............................................... 34-36 Chelan............................................................................. 38-40 Laser Show Facts.................................................................50 Welcome to Wilbur............................................................41 Welcome to Okanogan County.............................. 42-45 Ad Index.......................................................................... 48-49
Banks Lake.............................. 6-8,12,16-17,20-25,24-25,28-30
Lake Roosevelt...................... 6-8, 12,14,16-17,20-21,24-25,28
Camping/Accomodations ...6-9,15,19,26-27,37,39,41,43,47,51
Map of Area...............................................................................31-33
Casinos...........................................................................................7,52
Municipal Parks ...........................................................38-39,41,43
Crown Point Vista................................................................... 6,8,23
Museums . ...................................................................6-7,28, 41-42
Fishing ...............................................7-8,214-15,20-23,26,42,51
National Park Service.............................6-8,16-17,24-25,38-40
Fruit Stand....................................................................................... 7,9
Native Americans - History..................................................34-36
Grand Coulee Dam..... 3-4,6,10-12,16,18,20,24-25,28-29,50
Schedule of Events.......................................................................2-3
Golfing/Bowling.......................................................................43-44
Steamboat Rock State Park....................................6-8, 17,29-30
Index
Hiking.....................................................................7,14,17,25,28-30
Spring Canyon Campground/Park................... 7-8,16-17,24-25
Hunting, Wildlife..............14-17, 22-26,28-30,38-39,42-44,51
Swimming..........................................................7,16-17,24-25,29-30
Laser Lights at Grand Coulee Dam.......................................6,50
Need more Visitors' Guides? Want to advertise in print or online? Contact us at 888-633-1350 or email star@grandcoulee.com
About the Cover Tours of Grand Coulee Dam include a stop on the top of the dam for a great view and an appreciation of the mass of the dam that holds back the mighty Columbia River by its weight alone. Here, a delegation of Native Americans, hoping to bring migrating salmon back to the upper Columbia visits in anticipation of upcoming treaty talks between the United States and Canada that could affect their goals.
4
in Coulee Dam next to the Casino
Store Hours 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. Saturday & Sunday
Fresh Donuts and Maple Bars Sandwiches Lattes
“Featuring “CHAMPS” Chicken Best in the Area
USDA Choice Meats Premium Angus Beef Garden Fresh Produce and complete line of groceries.
“Welcome to Our Town”
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
A tour bus stops on top of the dam at a time when excess water flows over the top. Compare this photo, noting the size of the bridge arches, with images of the whole dam to get a sense of its size.
WIRELESS INTERNET
BAR & GRILLE
We Also Cater!
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Banquet Room & Lounge “We Hand Cut & Trim Our Own Steaks” Try The Local Favorite Chicken and Pork-Fried Steaks & Chicken-Fried Chicken
(509) 633-8283
113 Midway Ave., Grand Coulee • pepperjacks.webs.com/ 5
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Basic Questions: What town am I in?
There are four towns adjacent to the Grand Coulee Dam. The city of Grand Coulee is above the dam. Electric City is two miles west of Grand Coulee. These two municipalities are located in Grant County. To the north, the town of Coulee Dam is directly below the dam. Coulee Dam — divided by the river — lies within three counties: Okanogan County on the east side of the river, and Douglas County and a tiny portion of Grant County on the west side of the river. The town of Elmer City, less than two miles north of Coulee Dam, also is in Okanogan County. The Colville Indian Reservation begins in the middle of the Columbia River Bridge in Coulee Dam and extends north to Omak. The east side of Coulee Dam and the town of Elmer City are within the boundaries of the reservation.
What time does the laser light show begin?
The laser show is held nightly at Grand Coulee Dam as follows for 2014: May 23 to July 31 at 10:00 p.m. Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. The show is about 28 minutes in length. There is no admission fee.Call 509-633-9265 for more information.
Where can I view this show?
• Best location — the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center (VC) at the dam and from the park below the VC. These areas are covered by an outdoor sound system. • The town of Coulee Dam has constructed a new park along Roosevelt Drive starting at the east end of the Columbia River bridge. The park has a terraced, grassy area for viewing the Laser Light Show. • Other view spots: from Douglas Park in Coulee Dam, from Crown Point atop the granite cliffs and above Lake Rufus Woods — access from SR174 toward Bridgeport. • The USBR broadcasts the audio portion of the Laser Light Show nightly at 90.1 FM.
6
How do I take a tour of Grand Coulee Dam?
At the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Visitor Center on SR155 just north of Coulee Dam, tours are offered. The VC offers movies about the dam, informational displays, and guides can answer questions. You can get the latest information there, or call 509-633-9265.
Where are public restrooms? • VC and park below. • North Dam Park, SR155, west of Grand Coulee. • Grand Coulee City Hall, SR155, Grand Coulee. • Grand Coulee City Park, SR174. • Etheta Anderson Memorial Library, Grand Coulee. • Mason City Memorial Park, Coulee Dam, across street from shopping center. • Spring Canyon, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, SR174 east. • Steamboat Rock State Park, SR155 eight miles south of Electric City. • Coulee Playland, SR155, Electric City. • Coulee Dam Town Hall, 300 Lincoln, Coulee Dam.
Where can I find overnight accomodations? • AREA MOTELS: Coulee Dam — The Columbia River Inn, 10 Lincoln Avenue, 509-633-2100, 800-633-6421. Coulee House, 509-633-1101, 800-715-7765, couleehouse.com, info@couleehouse.com Grand Coulee - The Grand Coulee Center Lodge, 404 Spokane Way,509-633-2860,866-633-2860; TrailWest, 108 Spokane Way, 509-633-3155, 866-633-8157. Electric City - Sunbanks Lake Resort, 57662 SR155 N, 509-633-3786, 888-822-7195; SkyDeck Motel, 509633-0290. Outer Area - The Willows Motel, Wilbur 509-6472100. • AREA CAMPGROUNDS - Steamboat Rock State Park on Banks Lake,11 miles south of Electric City on SR155, 509-633-1304; Spring Canyon on Lake Roosevelt, 1.4 miles east of Grand Coulee on SR174, 509-633-9188; Coulee Playland Resort on Banks Lake in Electric City, 509-633-2671; Grand Coulee RV Park, SR174 toward Bridgeport, 509-633-0750; Lakeview Terrace Mobile Park,2.4 miles east of Grand Coulee on SR174,509-6332169;King’s Court,SR174 toward Wilbur,509-633-3655.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Where can I eat? Family Style
Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille, 113 Midway Ave., Grand Coulee R&A Cafe, 514 Birch St., Coulee Dam Sunbanks, on Banks Lake
Fast Foods
TeePee Drive In, 211 Midway, Grand Coulee Jack's 4 Corners, Grand Coulee Hometown Pizza, Highway 155, Grand Coulee Electric City Bar & Grill, Electric City MJ's Bistro, Electric City Tropical Pig, Electric City Coulee Dam Casino, Coulee Dam
Specialty
La Presa, Hwy. 174, Grand Coulee Siam Palace, Main St., Grand Coulee
Where can I launch a boat?
Public launches on Banks Lake are at: Coulee Playland, Jones Bay, Northrup Point and Steamboat Rock State Park. On Lake Roosevelt, local launch ramps at at Crescent Bay in the city of Grand Coulee, and at Spring Canyon campground, both operated by the National Park Service. The Columbia River below Grand Coulee ( L a k e R u f u s Wo o d s ) c a n b e a c c e s s e d at S eaton's Grove nor th of Elmer Cit y.
Where can I buy postcards, gifts, souvenirs?
Many area retailers carry postcards, as do motels, restaurants and area concessionaires. • In Coulee Dam: Colville Tribal Museum Harvest Foods & Variety Coulee Dam Casino, Coulee View • In Grand Coulee: • Steamboat Rock State Park, Chamber of Commerce SR155, eight miles south of Funzee's, The Variety Store, Electric City in the Grand Coulee. Jack's Four-Corners, Sp. Cny. Exxon • Spring Canyon, SR174 east toward • In Electric City: Spokane. Coulee Playland Resort • Grand Coulee Dam’s Visitor Center H&H Grocery Park, below dam; and Roosevelt Sunbanks Lake Resort Memorial Park, look for the A picnic below the dam. Pioneer Museum bust of Franklin D. Roosevelt off • Outer Area: SR155 near the top of the dam. Shaw's Fruit & Produce • Municipal parks are located at: North Dam Park, Trading Post, Nespelem SR155, Grand Coulee (covered eating area); Grand Grant County Historical Museum, Ephrata Coulee City Park, SR174 east toward Spokane; Douglas Park, SR155, Coulee Dam; Cole Park, just off SR155 on Columbia Avenue (do not cross Columbia River Bridge); Mason City Memorial Park, across street from Coulee Dam shopping center; National Park Service headquarters, Crest Drive, Coulee Dam. • Colville Confederated Tribes Casino, 516 Birch, Coulee Dam; • Banks Lake Golf and Country Club, public golf, SR155 Banks Lake in the Grand Coulee, Lake Roosevelt west of Electric City, 7 a.m. - dark; behind Grand Coulee Dam, and Lake Rufus Woods • Hiking trails at Candy Point; Northrup Canyon; below Grand Coulee Dam. All three are year-round Steamboat Rock; down river below Grand Coulee fisheries.Fishing is also permitted on the Colville Dam;Bunchgrass Prairie Nature Trail at Spring Canyon; Indian Reservation on McGinnis Lake and Buffalo a historic walk through old Coulee Dam; Lake. • Houseboat, skiing and fishing boat rentals on Lake FISHING REGULATIONS KEEP CHANGING. Roosevelt; PLEASE REFER TO THE CURRENT STATE • Boating on Banks Lake, Lake Roosevelt and Rufus AND TRIBAL FISHING REGULATIONS Woods Lake; Small boat, party boat and peddle boats FOR MORE INFORMATION. rentals at Coulee Playland, Electric City;
Where can I have a picnic?
What else is there to do besides tour the dam?
Where can I fish?
7
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Cell phones and digital cameras in the crowd attempt to capture the splendor of fireworks off the top of Grand Coulee Dam, presented every year on the Fourth of July during the Festival of America in the park below the Visitor Center.
• Swimming at Steamboat Rock State Park and Coulee Playland on Banks Lake; and at Spring Canyon on Lake Roosevelt; • Canoeing with a National Park Service ranger on Crescent Lake, below the city of Grand Coulee. Dates are subject to change. Call 509-754-7886 for info. Check with a ranger for times, which change as the summer progresses. • Gehrke’s Windmills, North Dam Park, Grand Coulee; • Panoramic view of Grand Coulee Dam, at Crown Point. Take Highway 174 two miles west toward Bridgeport and watch for signs.Great spot for camera buffs. • Bowling at Riverview Lanes in Coulee Dam; • Public library, Federal Avenue, Grand Coulee; • Tennis courts at North Dam Park, Grand Coulee; behind the credit union in Coulee Dam's Cole Park; and at Lake Roosevelt High School. •Year-round fishing. • Skate Park, North Dam.
Where are the grocery stores/ mini marts? • Electric City — H&H Grocery, Coulee Playland and Sunbanks Resort. • Grand Coulee — 4 Corner's where SR 174/155 8
meet; Spring Canyon on Grand Coulee Ave., Safeway on SR 174. • Coulee Dam — Harvest Foods & Variety, Coulee Dam Shopping Center, Coulee View, 2 Okanogan Ave., • Elmer City - Shaw's Fruit & Produce, SR 155. • Outer Area — Trading Post, SR155, Nespelem.
Where are holding tanks dumped? At Coulee Playland, Electric City; Steamboat Rock State Park on Banks Lake; Spring Canyon on Lake Roosevelt; and at Coulee Dam's station on Stevens Street, one block off Columbia, near Mini Mart.
Where can I get propane? King’s Court RV Park,Grand Coulee RV Park and Coulee Playland, Electric City.
Continued on page 15
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
3533A Hwy 155, Coulee Dam
Electric City’s BBQ Cafe Featuring
• Ribs • Sandwiches • Salads • Soups •40-Flavor Soft-Serve Shakes •Smoothies • Bubble Tea Baked Potato & Chili Wraps & Burgers Dine In or Take Out • Catering Available 6 Days A Week 10:30 - Closing
Call 631-3007 For Take Outs
tropicalpig.com • Check Us Out On Facebook
R&A
for us et Look rk ay Ma rd tu at Sa
6.5 Miles North of Coulee Dam
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily • Open May thru November
(509) 633-0133 • www.shawsfruit.com
CAFE
BEST FOOD, BEST PRICES BEST SERVICE … BEST BET!
Open 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mon. thru Sat.
“The best dam food in town!”
514 Birch St. Coulee Dam. Next to the Coulee House, across from the casino. (509) 633-2233 (CAFE)
108 Spokane Way, Grand Coulee Completely Remodeled Rooms
• Heated Pool to 88º • Air Conditioning • Cable TV • Phones • Kitchenettes • Ref./Micro/Coffeepots in room Non-Smoking • Free Internet Access
(866) 633-8157 • (509) 633-3155 www.trailwestmotel.com
“We're an institution in the Coulee” Opened in 1937
TeePee Drive-In
211 Midway Ave. Grand Coulee, WA 99133
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Visitors from a tour bus stop on Grand Coulee Dam to get photos from the top of the massive spillway and roiling river below. Some people find it hard to grasp the size of the dam, often thinking it’s smaller than it is. This group is in the middle of the mile-wide dam.
Grand Coulee Dam Facts: When was Grand Coulee Dam built and by whom? The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began construction of Grand Coulee Dam in 1933 as the key structure in its multipurpose Columbia Basin Project. It has since become the linchpin in harnessing the second largest river in the United States. It took nine years to build Grand Coulee Dam, but even more years of battling and political maneuvering before construction started. While it was recognized early in the century that the Columbia Basin had rich farmland that needed only water to flourish, the method for providing that water caused much controversy. A Spokane group insisted upon a 13410
mile gravity flow canal from Lake Pend Oreille to the Basin, while a Wenatchee/central Washington group favored building a big dam on the Columbia at Grand Coulee. The battle raged for 13 years. At its conclusion, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized $60 million to get the dam project started. In the Grand Coulee, life changed dramatically and quickly once work on the dam began in 1933. Not only did the undertaking of this massive project change forever the shape of the river, but overnight it created towns where nothing but sagebrush, sand and rocks had previously existed. Thousands came to the Grand Coulee looking for work in the midst of the Depression. They worked around the clock to finish the dam by 1942.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Seventy-Two Years Ago A pool or “tailrace” at the bottom of the spillway now absorbs the impact of the falling waters, without which the river water would find its own way, with destructive effects on the river channel. This trough measures 30 feet deep, 90 feet wide and 1650 feet long.
How many dams are on the Columbia River?
How big is Grand Coulee Dam?
Altogether, a total of 11 dams have been built on the river in the United States as it winds its way from the Canadian border toward the Pacific Ocean; Grand Coulee Dam is the keystone of the Columbia River system dams. Five other dams in the Big Bend region of the river also offer facilities for visitors — Chief Joseph Dam on Highway 17 in Bridgeport; Wells Dam south of Brewster on Highway 97; Rocky Reach Dam north of Wenatchee on Highway 97; Wanapum Dam six miles south of the I-90 crossing of the Columbia; and Priest Rapids Dam on Highway 243.
Grand Coulee Dam dwarfs the Great Pyramids of Egypt and generates more power than a million locomotives. An engineering wonder, it is also the country’s largest hydroelectric project. Grand Coulee Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world, containing almost 12 million cubic yards of concrete. It towers 550 feet above bedrock (as high as the Washington Monument) and is 500 feet wide at the base. There is enough concrete in the dam to build two standard six-foot wide sidewalks around the world at the equator. 11
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
What is the dam’s main purpose? Actually, Grand Coulee Dam has three important functions: irrigation, power production and flood control.Although electricity was not foreseen as a primary function when the dam was built, today the production of electrical energy is one of Grand Coulee Dam’s most important jobs.
How is the electricity produced? Electricity is generated by unseen torrents of water
rushing through the turbines within the dam’s hydro-electric plants. There are three powerhouses at Grand Coulee Dam with a total rated capacity of 6,809 megawatts, making this dam the largest hydro-electric producer in the United States.
How many acres does Grand Coulee Dam help irrigate? Water supplied by Grand Coulee Dam irrigates more than 600,000 acres of rich farmland in the Columbia Basin annually. Water from Lake Roosevelt (behind the dam) is lifted 280 feet up a hillside to flow into the Banks Lake reservoir, where it starts a journey that eventually covers an area more than twice the size of the state of Delaware. Each of the six conventional pumps in Grand Coulee’s PumpGenerator Plant is powered by a 65,000-horsepower motor and will pump 1,600 cubic feet of water per second, or 781,128 gallons per minute. In addition, six pump-generators, each having a 67,500-horsepower rating, can pump 1,948 cubic feet of water per second. One of these 12 units can fill the water needs of a city the size of Chicago.
Siam Palace
An explosion of flavor!
Chinese, Thai & American Family Dining
509.633.2839
37 West Coulee Blvd., Electric City, WA e-mail - birdsbodyshop@qwestoffice.net
Foisy & Kennedy
(509) 633-2921
213 Main St., Grand Coulee
Foisy & Kennedy, Inc.
Realty, Inc.
Merle Kennedy, Broker
Dine in or Take Out Banquet Room Available
Insurance
Listings available on our website: www.foisykennedy.com
Jerry Kennedy, CIC
309 Midway Ave., Grand Coulee
(509) 633-0410 • (877) 613-4192 Laurie Hilton, agent Patti Tufts, agent Lindi Haag, agent
12
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
HOMETOWN PIZZA Dine In Take Out H Dreyer’s Hard Ice Cream H Take & Bake Pizza H Gourmet Hot Dogs H Soup & Sandwiches H Salads H Burgers H Hot Pretzels H Tacos & Nachos H Take & Bake or HOT Pizza
Daily Specials
Spaghetti - Sandwiches - Cold Beer & Wine
& Much More
on the Bridgeport Highway Near 4 Corners Grand Coulee
509.633.6577 (mjss)
509.633.3393
on Highway 155 by the Skydeck Motel in Electric City
Ever wonder why so many people drive Ford Cars & Trucks? Food • Pull Tabs • Daily Specials FREE POOL & DARTS
Come in for a test drive on the Ford of your choice.
BAR & GRILL Hrs: 1 p.m. - 2 a.m. Daily Visa, MC Accepted • ATM on Premises
JESS FORD on the Midway, Grand Coulee (509) 633-0110 • www.jessford.com
Three Convenient Locations To Serve You!
4 Corners Coulee View Food & Fuel 76
Where SR 174/155 meet
Food Market • Mechanical Get Ur Done Oil Change Car Wash
EXXON
2 Okanogan Ave. Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee
633-2472
633-2951
Spring Canyon EXXON 2 mi. west of Spring Canyon
311 Grand Coulee Ave. Grand Coulee
633-3073 13
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Your Senses… • Authentic Mexican Food • Margaritas • Daquiries • Beer & Wine
We Now Offer FREE WIRELESS INTERNET!
• Daily Specials • Banquet Room • Catering • Take-Out Orders Open Monday thru Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
515 E. Grand Coulee Ave., Grand Coulee ORDERS TO GO - Call 509-633-3173 Also - 13308 W. Sunset Highway, Airway Heights • (509) 244-7001
MBIA
DAKOTA COLU
NS
ACATIO HOUSEBOAT V
LAKE ROOSEVELT
PORCUPIN E BAY CAMPGRO UND
• Marinas • Events & Festivals • Golf Courses • Museums • Fishing & Hunting • Lodging • And More 14
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
A hike to the top of Steamboat Rock rewards you with a great view of the Grand Coulee.
Is medical care available in the area ?
Coulee Medical Center is open seven days a week with the emergency room open 24 hours a day. It is located in Grand Coulee. Take SR174 toward Bridgeport, watch for road signs. The center is on the right quickly as you head toward Bridgeport.
(800) 633-6421
www.columbiariverinn.com info@columbiariverinn.com • Two Diamond AAA Rated Motel • Located next to Grand Coulee Dam & it's Laser Light Show (www.grandcouleedam.com)
Where can I buy hunting & fishing licenses?
• In Room: Refrigerator, Microwave, Coffee Maker, Fiber Optic Internet connection • Iron & Board • Outdoor Pool/Hot Tub
• Fitness Center with Sauna • Business Center/ Conference Room • Corporate and Government Rates
• FEMA Hotel/Motel Master List Lodging
• Coulee Playland
Where can I wash clothes?
• King’s Court RV Park, SR174 heading to Wilbur, in Grand Coulee. 10 Lincoln St., Coulee Dam, WA 99116 Fax: (509) 633-2100 15
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
How does Grand Coulee Dam help in flood control?
Each spring the water level of Lake Roosevelt, behind Grand Coulee Dam, is lowered to make space for massive amounts of water that will flow down the Columbia River in late spring and summer as rising temperatures melt snow in the Rocky Mountains.The water is “captured” in the lake to prevent flooding downstream and to provide a steady flow of water for the whole year.
How big is Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam?
The dam’s blocking of the Columbia River has created Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, which extends 151 miles upstream to the Canadian border. The reservoir has a shoreline of 660 miles, a surface area of 82,000 acres, and a total storage capacity of 9,562,000 acre-feet of water.
How is Lake Roosevelt managed for public recreation?
How do I take a tour of Grand Coulee Dam?
This 50-minute guided tour is free of charge and available only on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour begins at the tour building where you will board a van to be taken to the PumpGenerating Plant. Highlights include a look at the large pumps used for transporting water from Lake Roosevelt to the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project concluding with a van ride across the top of the dam. Accessible tours are available with advanced notice by calling (509) 633-9265.
The Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam offers great interactive and fun displays, plus knowledgeable guides to help you learn about the dam and its role in our past and present.
Recreation on the lake is managed cooperatively by three federal agencies and two Indian tribes. The National Park Service has authority for the portion of the lake and adjacent shoreland comprising the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LRNRA). The Colville Confederated Tribes and the Spokane Tribe manage public recreation along the areas of
16
the lake and shoreline that fall within their reservation boundaries. Other partners cooperating in the lake’s management are the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Each year, more than a million visitors enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
All tour participants are required to pass through a metal detector prior to beginning the tour. Weapons, purses, bags, backpacks, fanny packs, and packages are not permitted on the tour. Cameras, but not camera cases, are allowed on the tour. Onsite storage for personal belongings is not available. Be sure to lock your car.A federally armed security officer will escort all public tours.
Tour times: • April 1 - May 23: 10 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. • May 24 - September 14: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. • September 15 October 3: 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. Tour times are subject to change without notice. Please call the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center at (509) 633-9265 for the latest information.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Where can I camp? At a private campground
Coulee Playland Resort , SR155, 509-633-2671. King’s Court RV Park, SR174 (East), Grand Coulee, 509-633-3655, with laundry and more. Grand Coulee RV Park, SR174 toward Bridgeport. 509-633-0750.
At a State Park
• Steamboat Rock State Park — One of the most popular attractions along Banks Lake, this park is a 900-acre camping, swimming, hiking and boating mecca. One of more than 100 state parks, Steamboat Rock is among Washington’s best. It has a sandy beach and sheltered swim area (no lifeguards), plus a modern bath house and a concession stand. The wide grassy picnic area contains playground equipment and a truly unique view of Banks Lake and Steamboat Rock. For overnight camping, this state park offers 100 campsites with full hookups.Water, electricity, sewer, tables and stoves are on each site, and 26 standard sites with table, stove, and tent pad, plus 12 boat-in campsites located on the north end of Steamboat Rock. The restrooms have hot showers. The park also offers 80 primitive sites at Jones Bay and Osborn Bay Campgrounds,with tables and stoves and vault toilets, but no running water. Steamboat Rock State Park is part of the state’s reservation camping system. Reservations can be made year round by going online at www.parks.wa.gov or by calling 888-226-7688. The popular campground fills up fast and early reservations are recommended. The park is open for camping year round. Please Note: A permit is required at all state parks for boat launching, and trailer dumping. Permits may be obtained at the park office or from the Washington State Parks Commission in Olympia, Washington.
At one of the NPS Campgrounds
beaches and interpretive programs,to primitive boatin campgrounds. • Spring Canyon on SR174 is the closest NPS campground; turn left approximately three miles east of the town of Grand Coulee. There are 87 campsites including RV (dump station but no hookups), tent and group camping sites. Fee is charged.Reservations are available by going online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Other major NPS campgrounds are located at: Keller Ferry, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Kettle Falls. • Keller Ferry is about 14 miles from Spring Canyon by boat, or 15 miles overland from the Highway 2 cut-off near Wilbur.This area includes a marina, store, and free ferry across the lake to the Colville reservation. • Fort Spokane, built in 1880 and used by the US Army until 1898, it became an Indian agency, boarding school and tuberculosis hospital until the late 1920s. It’s about 50 miles up the lake from Spring Canyon at the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers. To see Fort Spokane, take SR174 to Highway 2, east, watch for road signs and turn north at Miles-Creston road, just east of Creston. • The Fort Spokane campground is the second largest in the recreation area. Picnic area, historic trail, swim beach and boat launch are available, also. • Kettle Falls at the north end of the lake is enjoyed for its beautiful setting and good boating. It has a houseboat rental operation.
Indian Reservation Camping
There are several campsites on the Colville Indian Reservation open to non-members. Various permits and random camp fees (for boats along the lake) can be purchased for one day, three days, seven days and seasonal. If a ranger sells a permit in the field, there will be an additional fee. Look for reservation camping guidelines at area camping outlets, or call 509-634-3145.
There are 35 campgrounds located along the 660 miles of shoreline around Lake Roosevelt. Five of these are maintained by the Colville Confederated Tribes, two others by the Spokane Tribes and 28 by the National Park Service. These facilities are available for camping, picnicking, boating, swimming and fishing. NPS camping sites along the lake vary from fee campgrounds with major facilities, picnic areas, swim 17
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center Hours ofTaking Operation the tour
A tour bus stops to let out passengers on a stop on the top of Grand Coulee Dam. Such stops are a scheduled part of each tour.
Grand C Hours o
The Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam is full of interactive, engaging exhibits, and is the best place to get information. But tours of the dam actually start across the river, where you'll board a bus or van staffed with a knowledgeable guide to take you first to the pumpgenerating plant. The 50-minute tour is free and offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. Visitors are first screened through a metal detector and cannot take bags of any kind on the tour, including camera, diaper bags, or purses. In addition to the tour, ask at the award-winning Visitor Center about their Geocache Challenge.
Dates
May 24 – July 31, 2014 August 1 – 31, 2014
John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant Guided Tour
John W.
This 50-minute guided tour is free of charge and available only on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour begins at the tour parking lot on Visitor Laser Show theCenter east sideHours of the dam where youLight will board a bus to be taken to the Pump-Generating Plant. The tour concludes with a bus ride across the 8:30 a.m. 11:00 10:00 p.m. with advanced notice by top of- the dam.p.m. Accessible tours are available calling (509) 633-9265.
This 50-m first-come Date the east sid Pump-Gen July top of 31, the calling (50
All tour participants to pass through a metal detector prior 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.are required 9:30 p.m.
September 1 – 30, 2014
8:30
October 1, 2014 – May 22, 2015
9:00
to beginning the tour. Weapons, purses, bags, backpacks, fanny packs, and packages are not permitted on the tour. Cameras, but not camera a.m. 9:30 p.m.on the tour. Onsite 8:30 p.m. cases,-are allowed storage for personal belongings is not available. Be sure to lock your car. Call (509) 633-9265 to inquire about -tour availability. a.m. 5:00 p.m. For More Information
18 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of Reclamation Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center PO Box 620 Grand Coulee, WA 99133-0620 (509) 633-9265 http://www.usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/
May 24 –
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Bureau of Grand Cou PO Box 62 U.S. Department Grand Cou Bureau of (509) Reclam 633http://www
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Interactive exhibits offer fun at Visitor Center Redesigned and installed in 2006, exhibits at the Grand Coulee Dam VisitorCenter aren't just to look at. From a highdef video game that lets you fly through the dam as you learn, to the hands-on experience of touching the tools used to Specializing in Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels, Additions, Tile, Windows & Decks
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Are the fish biting? Is fishing good in the GCD area?
The three largest reservoirs in the state of Washington are within 10 miles of Grand Coulee Dam — Roosevelt, Banks and Rufus Woods all offer excellent year-round fishing. McGinnis and Buffalo lakes on the Colville Confederated Tribes‘ reservation can also be fished. Many changes have occurred to the warmwater fisheries on Banks Lake and Lake Roosevelt. Increased smallmouth bass and walleye limits and reduced size restrictions should keep you out on the lake all day! Make sure you measure your fish and keep only what you can eat.
What kind of fish are found locally?
There are over 14 species of game fish found in nearby Franklin D.Roosevelt Lake,Rufus Woods Lake and Banks Lake. These include: largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, kokanee, perch, crappie, whitefish, ling cod, sunfish and sturgeon. The sturgeon is by far the largest, and has been known to measure over 13 feet and weigh over 1,000 pounds. For fishing information contact Coulee Playland Resort at 509-633-2671.
When can I fish Lake Roosevelt?
This major waterway is a year-round fishery in Washington state. Fishermen are reminded to adhere to the state and tribal fishing regulations. Copies are available where fishing licenses are sold. Rainbow and kokanee are the stars of the lake, with walleye and smallmouth bass in supporting roles. In the summer months, trolling is the most popular way to fish the lake. During the cooler months, bank fishing is popular where fishermen can stand by a fire or sit in their rigs while waiting for the fish to strike. Still fishing is popular above Grand Coulee Dam during the winter and spring. A tribal license is required on the north side of the reservation on Colville Reservation and above the Third Powerhouse.
What kind of fishery is Banks Lake?
The sprawling Banks Lake reservoir covers 30,000 acres 20
Catch bass on Banks and Lake Roosevelt.
and is regarded as one of the finest fishing lakes in the state for bass, perch and walleye. In spring, summer and fall, it provides plenty of room for fishermen, both along its shores and from boats. In winter, ice fishing is popular and, depending on the winter, can last as long as four months. Banks Lake has a growing reputation and is becoming increasingly attractive to bass organizations hosting tournaments. For more information on these tournaments, stop by or call the Coulee Playland Resort 509-633-2671.
Where are some tribal lakes?
Rufus Woods Lake - 52-mile reservoir stretching from Grand Coulee Dam to Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport, is an excellent fishery too. In the dam area, a boat launch is located near Elmer City on the Lower River Road. Heading north, turn left onto the Lower River Road just past Lake Roosevelt High School on SR155. Or ask one of the friendly folks in Elmer City. Boating is prohibited between the SR155 bridge and Grand Coulee Dam. McGinnis Lake - Take SR155 north from Coulee Dam toward Nespelem.Approximately one mile past Elmer City (three miles from Coulee Dam) turn right on the Peter Dan Road. Drive about three miles, then watch for a sign which indicates a left turn toward McGinnis and Buffalo lakes. Three or four miles after this turnoff, the road comes to a “T.” Take the right turn and the lake is a quarter mile away.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
In dog heaven, a lucky canine explores Banks Lake near Steamboat Rock.
Buffalo Lake - Follow the same directions to McGinnis Lake, but turn left at the “T” instead of right. Buffalo Lake lies another three to four miles beyond, on a good dirt road.
A unique way to ice fish on this lake is at night using a gas lantern with the prey being whitefish. The best ice fishing spots on Banks Lake is the causeway area west of Electric City—for perch.
Can you fish on the reservation?
Many anglers fish the shoreline of Lake Roosevelt for large rainbow by parking their vehicle next to the lake.(Caution: unattended poles warrant a $100 fine.) A two-rod endorsement may be purchased - check the fishing regulations.
Fishing is permitted on the waters of Rufus Woods Lake or within the Colville Confederated Tribes "designated fish area" with either a tribal permit or state license. More designated areas will be added later. For updates, you can call the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at 509-754-4624. Non-members of the Colville Tribes must purchase a special permit for all other reservation waters. These can be purchased at certain local businesses such as Coulee Playland Resort in Electric City. Please note, a state license is required when fishing from the shoreline of Douglas County on Rufus Woods Lake. Also, anglers fishing the Spokane Arm (Lake Roosevelt) must have a Spokane tribal permit when they fish from the reservation shore out to the midpoint of the Spokane Arm’s channel. Anglers wishing to fish the Sanpoil River arm of Lake Roosevelt would do well to check with tribal authorities for permits.
Monthly Fishing Guide
January: Ice fishing attracts its own special following in the coulee. Some years, Banks Lake has safe ice for four months; other years, for only two weeks, and at times, no ice at all. Ice may form as early as December and run through February, or be available only for a fortnight in January.
February: Walleye fishing now comes into its own, with boat fishermen launching their boats at the Elmer City ramp (below the dam; check on accessibility) and fishing either upstream to the Highway 155 bridge or downstream to Chief Joseph Dam, a distance of approximately 50 miles. Shore fishing continues along Lake Roosevelt for large rainbow and kokanee (silvers or landlocked sockeye salmon). March: During the month of March, the ice is about gone from Banks Lake and now the big walleye are caught. Fishing is good not only from a boat on Lake Roosevelt but also from the shore. Crescent Bay Lake, midway between Grand Coulee and the dam, offers spiny ray fishing from the bank. Boats with motors are not permitted on the lake. The fishing is also good for walleye and trout in the Columbia River below Grand Coulee Dam. April: A continuation of March fishing patterns, with a few additions. The lakes on the Colville Indian Reservation open to fishing. McGinnis and Buffalo lakes provide excellent trout fishing.McGinnis Lake has only eastern brook with some exceeding three pounds. Buffalo carries “brookies”, rainbow and kokanee. Weekend bass tournaments are scheduled April through October on Banks Lake. Bass tournament headquarters are usually at Coulee Playland Resort
21
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
(between Grand Coulee and Electric City). May: Many area fishermen head for Grand Coulee Dam in May, where they fish directly upstream or downstream from the dam. Rainbow and walleye are caught not only early in the evening but during the pre-dawn hours. A major bass tournament is held on Banks Lake over the Memorial Day weekend. June: In Banks Lake, the walleye are taking jigs and spinners, just about anything tipped with a nightcrawler. Lake Roosevelt is dotted with boats fishing for rainbow and silvers.Some fishermen use“hardware”(Pop Geer and Ford Fenders) while others use small spoons fished from either leaded line or with a downrigger 30 to 50 feet below the surface. July/August:Lake Roosevelt is usually warm enough by the end of July that the water is tolerable for swimming close to shore. During these warm months, however, fish will seek the cooler deep waters of the lake. Other spiny rays that offer fishing all summer long are perch and “slab” crappie in the small coves along Banks Lake. September/October:While the fishing is still exceptional in September, hunting season arrives.With the emphasis now on hunting, sportsmen taper off their fishing during October. November/December: If the month of November has been cold, Banks Lake is beginning to freeze and ice fishing comes to mind. The small bays freeze first and offer fishing for yellow perch. By December, the lake is often ice-bound and holes are being cut in the ice. FISHING REGULATIONS KEEP CHANGING. PLEASE REFER TO THE CURRENT STATE AND TRIBAL FISHING REGULATIONS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Hunting the Coulee What’s it like?
To the outdoorsman who likes to hunt, the Grand Coulee Dam area offers unparalleled hunting pleasure. No matter if the hunter is in pursuit of fur, feathers or horns, the coulee has much to offer to the sportsman. Beginning in September with the opening of dove season,through the middle of March when the rabbit season ends, the hunter will find a variety of animals, birds and waterfowl to test his or her skills. Weather extremes are also a factor. The dove sea-
22
Turkey hunting has become very popular around the area.
son opener usually brings the warmest weather of the year. A goose hunter in December and January may experience sub-zero temperatures, while the March rabbit hunter will encounter weather comparable to late October and early November. The mourning doves arrive in July and by the first of September, the normal opening day, this migratory buzz-bomb is ready to test the mettle of the best wing shooter. They always fly fast. Then add a tail wind and they will appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. These birds can be found in stubble fields on both sides of the coulee walls and can also be found in sagebrush and scab land surrounding some stubble fields. With the end of dove season, usually around the middle of September, the hunter waits for the opening of the general hunting season in which upland birds, deer and waterfowl open on one glorious October Saturday. Mule deer can be found in sagebrush-covered flatland and draws surrounding the coulee as can a few whitetail close to timber. Special archery hunting seasons can also be found in the area. Opening day also sees the upland bird hunter,with his flushing and pointing dogs, hunting the brushy draws for quail, the rugged hills for chukkar and the stubble fields for Hungarian partridge or more commonly known as “huns”. At the same time, the waterfowl hunter, with his retriever, is scouring the small potholes and lakes for ducks and the stubble fields for geese. As any bird and waterfowl sportsman knows, the birds soon become wary.Quail, chukkar,“hun”and the occasional Chinese pheasant flush as the 4x4 stops
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Trophy mulies and white tail deer can be found in the area.
and it is only the skillful hunter who can put birds in the game bag during this period. The ducks cannot be found as they spend most of their days out of harm’s way on the waters of the big reservoirs. The goose hunter spends the days when he is not hunting, driving the miles of back roads in the coulee looking for feeding geese. Once the birds are spotted and found to be using a particular field, the hunters dig their pit long before daylight the following morning. (They have been careful to obtain permission from the landowner first.) Once the pit is dug, they wait in hope that the geese will return to the same field as they did the morning before. By the middle of November, the deer season is usually over, except for a few special hunts and the only quarry to be bagged are the upland birds and waterfowl. By the end of December, the dedicated goose hunter becomes a solitary figure in the fields, as most seasons usually end the first of January. When the goose season ends in the middle of January, a few hunters will begin hunting the cottontail rabbit until the end of February. And then there is always fishing if a hunter gets tired and wants a change of pace during the day. Coulee country encompasses many acres of state and federal land that offer free hunting. Write to the Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, for information and maps of the area. Or visit one of the local businesses advertising hunting licenses.
The Sky Deck Motel Electric City
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(509) 633-0290 23
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Lake Roosevelt begins its 133-mile stretch north at the city of Grand Coulee. Even when the lake is lowered to make room for spring runoff, as seen here, it still offers plenty of water, beauty and big beaches to explore.
Lake Roosevelt facts:
When was Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake formed?
When construction of the Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1941, the waters of the mighty Columbia River began to backfill behind this enormous concrete structure. As a result, the waters of the once untamed river now swelled to create a 151-mile long reservoir named Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake in honor of the 32nd President of the United States.
How many campgrounds are there in the LRNRA?
There are 35 campgrounds which are located along the 660 miles of shoreline around Lake Roosevelt. Five are maintained by the Colville Confederated Tribes, two by the Spokane Indian Tribe and 28 by the National Park Service.The facilities provide opporunities for camping, picnicking, boating, swimming and fishing.
What is the Lake Roosevelt Is there a fee for camping? Camping sites along the lake vary from fee campgrounds National Recreation Area? with major facilities, picnic areas, swim beaches and Lake Roosevelt is a federally-owned reservoir which is administered by the Bureau of Reclamation. However, recreation on the lake is managed cooperatively by three federal agencies and two Indian tribes. The National Park Service (NPS) has recreation authority for that portion of the lake and adjacent shoreland comprising the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LRNRA). The Colville Confederated Tribes and the Spokane Tribe manage recreation along those areas of the lake and shoreline that fall within their reservation boundaries.The two other partners in the management agreement are Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 24
interpretive programs, to primitive boat-in campgrounds.
Which campground is closest?
The closest NPS campground is located at Spring Canyon on SR174; turn left approximately three miles east of the town of Grand Coulee. There are 87 campsites including RV (dump station but no hookups), tent and group camping sites. Reservations are available online at www.recreation.gov or at 877-444-6777. A fee is charged.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Maintaining the giant
Bureau of Reclamation employees tackle maintenance on the big "drum gates" atop the dam. The gates, here completely lowered, float in water reservoirs that are controlled by operators. When you see the water spill before the laser light show, these big gates have been lowered slightly.
What else is at Spring Canyon?
Spring Canyon has a beautiful sandy beach and adjacent shaded picnic area including grills and playground equipment. There are restrooms plus boat launching. A fee is charged.
Where can I hike in the LRNRA?
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area consists mainly of Lake Roosevelt and has very little land base. As a result, there are few hiking trails within the park. There is a self-guided nature trail at Spring Canyon, which starts at the campground.There are also trails at Fort Spokane, and Kettle Falls. When the lake level is low, you can walk many miles of interesting shoreline.
Does the NPS offer programs? The National Park Service often offers ranger-conducted canoe trips on Crescent Lake, below the city of Grand Coulee. All canoeing equipment (canoes, paddles, life vests) is provided. First come, first served. Visitors often see beavers,deer, muskrats, great blue herons, Canada geese, turtles, frogs and nesting cliff swallows. Other NPS-conducted activities at Spring Canyon include: • campfire programs at the amphitheater • hikes on the Bunchgrass Prairie Trail • night sky astronomy tours • Contact NPS before making plans. All programs are
subject to change. Call 509-754-7843 or check campground bulletin boards.
Where are the other major NPS campgrounds?
Major campgrounds are located at: Keller Ferry, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Kettle Falls. Keller Ferry is about 14 miles from Spring Canyon by boat, or 15 miles overland from the Highway 2 cutoff near Wilbur. This area includes a marina, store, and free ferry across the lake to the Colville Reservation. Fort Spokane, built in 1880 and used by the US Army until 1898, became an Indian agency, boarding school and tuberculosis hospital until the late 1920s. It’s about 50 miles up the lake from Spring Canyon at the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers. To see Fort Spokane, take SR174 to Highway 2, east, watch for road signs and turn north at Davenport on SR25. Besides some of the original outposts, there is a visitor center and a trail. The Fort Spokane campground is the second largest in the recreation area. Picnic area, swim beach and boat launch are available, also. Kettle Falls at the north end of the lake is enjoyed for its beautiful setting and good boating.It has a houseboat rental operation. St. Paul’s Mission includes the original site of Fort Colvile, once the second largest center for fur trading in the Northwest, and a rustic log missionary church. Close by are Sherman Pass and the Kettle River where hiking and canoeing are popular.
25
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Enjoy a cold one in our beer garden! Beer • Wine • Well Drinks Sandwiches • Hamburgers • Daily Specials Broasted Chicken "Try Our Famous Chicken Ceasar Salad"
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26
401 Coulee Blvd. E. (509) 633-2671 Box 457, Electric City, WA 99123
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Dancers at the annual Fourth of July Celebration powwow at the Colville Indian Agency compete in categories such as "traditional," "fancy" and "grass" dancing, using supple and subtle moves and beautiful "regalia." At center is a fancy dancer; a grass dancer is at left.
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27
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Parks and Viewpoints What are the local choices for a picnic, viewing, easy hike or bike trail?
park, is located one block ahead on the west side of the river next to the Coulee Dam Credit Union. It is a pleasant area shaded by large trees and offers, tennis, handball, horseshoes and basketball courts. • Mason City Memorial Park - a Coulee Dam town park, is located in east Coulee Dam adjacent to the shopping center and post office. It contains picnic • North Dam Park – the upper half, maintained by table, grills and play equipment in a shaded setting. the Bureau of Reclamation, is located on SR155, Mason City was the early name of a portion of the just 0.3 miles south of its junction with SR174. It town now called Coulee Dam. overlooks Banks Lake and has picnic areas, water The town of Coulee Dam constructed a new park and rest rooms. with provisions for viewing the laser show at Grand • North Dam Park Coulee Dam. Freeoffers a shady picnic dom Point Plaza is area, tennis courts adjacent to the Cosoftball fields, amlumbia River Bridge, phitheater, horseacross the street from shoe pits, a covered the shopping area, grill,picnic areas and and features live perplayground equipformances from time ment for children. to time. A novelty of the park, • Downriver Trail the Gehrke Winda 6.7 mile hiking/ mills are a frequent jogging/biking trail tourist stop. Built along the Columbia by a local resident, River (Rufus Woods who made over 680 Lake) below Grand before his death Coulee Dam was conseveral years ago, structed by the U.S. the windmills are Bureau of Reclamaconstructed of casttion in late 1989. away iron pieces and The landscaped trail, painted in bright part of a road that is colors. Emil Gehrke’s A parking lot and viewpoint at the Visitor Center provides used by the U.S.B.R. windmills are recog- ample parking a great photo ops. for maintenance purnized as "folk art" poses, is open to the treasures and have been given media coverage on public. No motorized vehicles are allowed. A foot television, and in National Geographic and Sunset and bicycle bridge connects the system to the town magazines. of Coulee Dam across from the Coulee House Motel. • Grand Coulee City Park - located on SR174 east. A This compact-gravel pathway is an excellent way to children’s play area and an adjacent picnic section view the river and enjoy a peaceful respite morning, are found in this tree-shaded park.A large basalt rock noon or night. in the center is typical of the natural landscape of the Grand Coulee. Restrooms and water are available. • Douglas Park - found on SR155 in the town of Coulee Dam. This well-manicured park just below Grand Coulee Dam has large evergreen trees shading its picnic tables. A paved sidewalk takes the visitor to a scenic spot along the river providing an excellent view of the dam. • Cole Park - also maintained by Coulee Dam, affords You will find special delight in seeing the Grand Coulee a variety of recreational activities.It is located just off Dam and surrounding countryside from this hilltop. SR155, five minutes north of the Visitor Center (VC). Take SR174 two miles west of Grand Coulee (toward Do not cross the Columbia River Bridge but continue Bridgeport) and watch for signs. north onto Columbia Avenue past the bridge. The
Try Crown Point for a bird’s-eye view of the dam!
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
“Coulee” Facts
Is Banks Lake a natural lake?
Banks Lake is a 31-mile long reservoir, which was filled by the Bureau of Reclamation in the 1950s to provide irrigation water to the Columbia Basin. The reservoir starts just east of the city of Grand Coulee and extends to Coulee City.
What the heck is a “coulee”?
As a geological term, coulee means a ravine or deep gully, usually dry, which has been cut by water. The Grand Coulee of eastern Washington was formed over millions of years by eruption of lava which solidified and was later swept away by Even dogs appreciate the fact that big beaches on Banks Lake massive and tumultuous Ice Age floods. get bigger in August as the Bureau of Reclamation draws the Forty million to 60 million years ago, a lake down a little further to accomodate irrigation needs in the large inland sea covered the Columbia Columbia Basin Irrigation project. The lake is the reservoir Basin. The basin was formed as a result that waters more than 600,000 acres of farmland in eastern of uplift in the surrounding territory. Ten Washington. All the water is pumped up 280 feet from Lake million to 15 million years ago, volcanic Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam. eruptions began to occur and many layers of lava flowed over the basin forming the is located across the highway from Steamboat Rock Columbia Plateau. Today, these layers can be seen as State Park and is open to hikers. they erode, exposing the different lava flows. Approximately two million years ago, the Ice Age began. Several times the ice pushed south and then retreated. Glaciers covered some of this area. It was during the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 years ago, that an ice dam holding the waters of Lake Mis- Yes, campgrounds can be found at each end of the soula (Montana) broke and massive floods swept Grand Coulee and in the very heart of the coulee. through the area. Evidence suggests that one of the last floods had waters that were over 800 feet high. • Coulee Playland Resort — In Electric City, it's two It is these successive floods that carved and shaped miles from Grand Coulee and two miles from the the coulees and other landforms that are so prominent golf course. It features 40 sites with full hookups, 25 throughout the area. primitive and 10 tent sites.showers,restrooms,laundry, mini-store, dump station and playground equipment, boat launch, marine fuel, boat rental and overnight docking. Campers also will find a swimming area (no lifeguard). Open all year round.
Can I camp in the Grand Coulee?
What will I find in the Grand Coulee?
Besides the geological wonder of the Grand Coulee and the Banks Lake reservoir, there are some surprises hidden here, too. It is a wonderful wildlife habitat for dozens of species of birds, as well as for deer and coyote.The only natural forest in Grant County is located in a canyon of the coulee. Called Northrup Canyon, it
• Steamboat Rock State Park — One of the most popular attractions along Banks Lake,this park is a 900acre camp for swimming, hiking and boating. It has a sandy beach and sheltered swim area (no lifeguards), plus a bath house, a concession stand, a grassy picnic area with playground equipment, and a truly unique 29
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
essary safety equipment—flotation devices for each view of Banks Lake and Steamboat Rock. It offers over 100 campsites with full hookups.Water, passenger, a bell or whistle and a fire extinguisher. electricity, sewer, tables and stoves are located at each site, and 26 standard sites with table, stove, and tent pad, plus 12 boat-in campsites located on the north end of Steamboat Rock. The restrooms have Adventurous hikers should try Steamboat Rock. hot showers. At Jones Bay and Osborn Bay are 80 Head toward the saddle of the monolith, which can primitive sites with be seen from the park table, stove, a vault roadway. There are toilet, but no runsteep spots, but they ning water. are not difficult for Steamboat Rock most hikers. The panState Park is part of oramic view from the the state’s reservatop is wonderful.There tion camping sysare approximately 640 tem. Reservations acres at the summit. for camping can Hikers may also venbe made online at ture into Northrup www.parks.wa.gov Canyon where they or by calling 888will find 3,120 acres of 226-7688. The popforested ravines tucked ular campground away between coulee fills up fast and walls.The area harbors early reservations the only natural forest are recommended. in Grant County and The park is open is a nesting ground for camping year for the bald eagle and round. a peaceful home for Please Note: A other wildlife. To hike permit is rethe area, contact the quired for boat rangers at Steamboat launching , and Rock State Park. trailer dumping A few cautions: Do at the park. A not wander too near boat launching the edge of the rock. annual pass may Basalt is not stable be obtained at rock upon which to dethe park office or pend for sound footing from the Washwhen approaching the Banks Lake Golf Course ington State edges. Stand a respectParks Commission in Olympia, Washington. able distance from the edge. Be aware also that this is rattlesnake country. Rattlesnakes are generally not lethal, but they should be avoided. You will find them around most of the local trails during summer months. While not particularly aggressive, they have been known to bite. If bitten, seek medical attention. Boat launching ramps can be found at Steamboat Finally, if you plan to hike an hour or more, carry water Rock State Park, 11 miles south of Grand Coulee on to quench your thirst and help avoid leg cramps. SR155, and at Coulee Playland Resort in Electric City. There are two other launching sites found about midway along the lake. One is at Barker Canyon on the west side of the lake, and the other is on the small peninsula that juts out toward Steamboat Rock from the east side of the lake, just off the SR155. Yes, the public may golf at Banks Lake Golf and While boating is great fun on Banks Lake, navigators Country Club located approximately 1.5 miles west of are cautioned that the lake can become rough very Electric City and about five miles from Grand Coulee quickly.Keep an eye on the weather,and carry the nec- Dam on SR155.
What about hiking?
Where can I launch my boat?
Is there golfing in the coulee?
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
N
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Four-Town Map The Grand Coulee dam community is made up of four towns and more than a dozen unincorporated areas between and around those towns. Electric City is the farthest south on SR 155. Next, heading north, is Grand Coulee, then Coulee Dam, which straddles the Coloumbia River, then Elmer City. Heading north toward Omak as you cross the river in Coulee Dam, you enter the Colville Indian Reservation.
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Colvilles — Native People
Who are the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation?
For hundreds of years before explorers and settlers reached the lands of the Columbia Plateau, numerous tribes of native people occupied the territory of eastern Washington. Up to the mid 1850s, the ancestors of the Colville Confederated Tribes were nomadic, but life changed for them with the coming The new exhibits at the Colville Tribal Museum in Coulee Dam offer a full perpsective of settlers in the 1800s. of all aspects of Indian life from early days until the present. Today, the Colville Confederated Tribes is made up of 12 different bands of at Kettle Falls by a man named Simpson. Indians. Eleven bands are from eastern Washington The new post was to be called Fort Colvile, after the state, and one band, the Nez Perce, is from northeast leading member of the committee of directors in Oregon. The 12 bands are: Wenatchi, Entiat, Chelan, London,Andrew Wedderburn Colvile.Andrew Colvile, Methow, Okanogan, Nespelem, San Poil, Lakes, Moses, who was in the rum and molasses business, never set foot in America. He had, however, advanced Simpson Palus, Nez Perce and Sweelpoo. to his position of leadership. Trading took place at Fort Colvile almost daily. From 1826 to 1887, Indians traded beaver, brown or black bear, grizzly, muskrat, fisher, fox, lynx, martin, mink, otter, raccoon, wolverine, badger and wolf. Beaver As nomadic peoples, the different bands followed the and otter were most important, but martin and bear seasons and their sources of food. became popular after the 1840s. As many as 20,000 Deer and other big game, plus dried salmon were pelts a year went out of Fort Colvile. the primary food of winter. Small groups lived in the The word “Colville” was used by government officials mountains and hunted the abundant game. not the aboriginal Indians, who never met Andrew In the spring,the native people congregated in slightly Colvile. As time went on, and for convenience, the larger groups to gather camas and other roots in term “Colville” came more and more to be used as a the lower valleys. Through the summer and fall the designation for the native people of this area. Because Columbia River provided abundant salmon and other of Fort Colvile, all neighboring bands were eventually fish which encouraged large concentrations of Salish- confederated as Colville Indians. speaking Colville people. By executive order of President Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1872, the Colville Indian Reservation was formed and became the permanent home to the 12 bands. St. Paul’s Mission, near Kettle Falls, today includes the original site of Fort Colvile, once the second largest center for fur trading in the Northwest,and a rustic log missionary church.Nearby is the Kettle Falls Historical Many different tribes fished and traded goods with Center Building which features native American crafts, each other in the area of Kettle Falls, Washington. In history and a retail shop.The exhibit is open weekends the 1820s, non-native people learned that the Indians in May and Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00am to excelled at trapping and stalking game for the large 5:00pm from June 1 through LaborDay. fur trade. For this purpose, a new fort was established
How did these native Americans live?
How did the different bands come to be called the “Colville” Tribes?
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
When were the boundaries of the Colville reservation established?
Indian Shaker religions as well as the Indian Winter Chinook Dances, the annual spring thanksgiving Root Feasts, and the memorial give-aways in honor of the deceased. Today, many of the young and elder tribal members continue to celebrate seasonal The original reservation was in exisevents such as the annual Suntence for less than three months of flower Festival at the Paschal 1872 when other executive orders Sherman Indian School, Omak, and agreements began to take porthe July 4th Powwow Celebration tions of the reservation for public domain. Over a 10-year period the at Nespelem, the powwow at the Colville Indian Reservation was reOmak Stampede in August and duced to its present size, less than other traditional gatherings. At half the original. these events, and at a number of locations on the reservation, members display traditional bead and buckskin items often Powwow in Nespelem done in designs handed down for generations. In Nespelem, the powwow takes place in the Tribes’ “Circle,” a traditional gathering place. Indians arrive The Colville Indian reservation is 2,300 square miles from reservations in Montana,Idaho,Washington and — about 1.3 million acres. It is bigger than the state Oregon to join in the festivities.Authentic ceremonial of Rhode Island. dress, stick games, dozens of teepees and a longestablished rodeo make the celebration memorable. This Annual Fourth of July Celebration lasts for 10 days. The public is invited to attend the powwows and other tribal-sponsored activities, including a meal of traditional foods. More than 9,000 people are members of the Colville Confederated Tribes.
How big is the Colville reservation?
How many Colvilles are there today?
How is the reservation governed today?
Today’s Colvilles, an enterprising and progressive community of people, are a sovereign nation governed by their own administrative and judicial branches within the boundaries of the reservation. Leading the tribal membership is a 14-member business council elected from the four reservation districts of Omak, Nespelem, Keller and Inchelium.
Where is the tribal government located? Tribal headquarters are located on the Colville Indian Agency campus near the town of Nespelem.
What are some of the cultural/religious practices on the reservation?
Proud of their heritage, the Indian culture and religions are very much alive and active on the Colville reservation. There are the Seven Drums and the
Celebrate Grant County's History!
A walk thru the past… in Grant County's Historical Museum, situated on 3-3/4 acres, a complex of 38 buildings preserving the historical legacy of Grant County. The Historical Village comes to life at the Annual Living Museum & Pioneer Day. New buildings - Big Barn and Old-Time Gas Station
LIVING MUSEUM • Saturday, June 14th PIONEER DAY • Saturday, September 27th • Grant County Historical Society was Chartered 64 Years Ago • Grant County Museum Celebrates its 45 Year Anniversary Museum Opens Saturday, May 3 for 2014 Season
742 Basin Street NW, Ephrata
(509) 754-3334
Museum Closes For Season September 30, 2013 Paid for by Grant County Tourism
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Is there an Indian museum?
From Nespelem take Cache Creek road over a quiet and picturesque mountain pass to Keller on the San Poil arm of Lake Roosevelt. There is a free ferry The Colville Tribal Museum has opened its doors to across Lake Roosevelt here, which has been in operation since 1948. Farther east over another forested the newly renovated museum and exhibits. mountain pass is The museum is the scenic comopen from 8:30munity of Inche5 p.m., Monday lium. If traveling through Sunday west, continue until Labor Day, from Nespelem then on Monday on Highway 155 through Friday over beautiful 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. D i s a u t e l Pa s s for fall and winto Omak in the sunny Okanogan ter. Valley. The museum first There are 18 wellopened in 1995, stocked lakes on and is located in the reservation Coulee Dam at with limited fish512 Mead Way. ing as well as During 2009, the The museum includes displays that offer insight into many hunting for nonexhibit gallery aspects of Indian life, including gathering food, something members. Inforwas closed for for which this horse stands ready. mation ab out renovation. In these sporting March, 2011, the activities is available from the Tribal Fish and Wildlife Grand Opening became a reality for the 12 bands of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, representing the Okanogan,Nespelem, Sanpoil, Chief Joseph Band of the Nez Perce, Chelan, Wenatchi, Entiat, Methow, Lakes, Colville, Palus and Moses peoples.
NEW
What is sold in the gift shop? The Museum Gift Shop features such items as traditional clothing, beaded items, books, silver and turquoise jewelry and Pendleton Woolen Mills items, such as bags, cups and coats and blankets. The inventory includes tribal members’ artwork, beaded items and items with the tribal seal. The museum merchandise is always changing to include new items and art work. The public is invited to the free museum. Donations are accepted.
What can visitors see and do on the reservation?
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While traveling through the Colville Reservation, visitors are invited to visit the tribal headquarters near Nespelem or the other reservation communities.Just another two miles north, in the town of Nespelem, is a memorial to Chief Joseph who was sent to the reservation in 1884 with 150 of his band of Nez Perce Indians. Joseph, famous for his intelligence and peacekeeping efforts, is best remembered for the heroic march by his people in the late 1800s in an effort to resist the gradual and painful takeover of Indian land by non-Indians.
Reopen May Close After Labor Day
Hours of Operation:
SPRING/SUMMER
Mon. - Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
FALL/WINTER
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 512 Mead Way • Coulee Dam 509.633.0751/FAX 509.633.2320 e-mail - ctmuseum@couleedam.net
Welcome Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
You're Here — Now Visit us at any of our business locations INCHELIUM COMMUNITY STORE 38 Shortcut Road, Inchelium
(509) 722-3305
RAINBOW BEACH RESORT 18 N,. Twin Lakes Road, Inchelium
COLUMBIA RIVER DISTRIBUTING
Highway 155, Agency Campus, 23 Lakes St., Nespelem
(509) 634-2771
(509) 722-5901
TRADING POST STORE
BARNEY'S QWIK STOP
(509) 634-2700
Highway 155, Agency Campus, 23 Lakes St., Nespelem
34291 S. Highway 20, Kettle Falls
(509) 738-2983
KELLER COMMUNITY STORE 116111 S. Highway 21, Keller
(509) 634-4632
TRIBAL TRAILS
29078 Highway 27, Omak
(509) 422-7459
MILL BAY SMOKE SHOP 455 Wapato Lake Road, Manson
(509) 687-GOLD
515 Birch St., Coulee Dam
(509) 633-3200
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Lake Chelan Valley
Near the center of Washington state, about 150 miles from Seattle or Spokane, you will find the deepest gorge in North America – at Lake Chelan. Just over 50 miles long, the lake is fed by the Stehekin River at its head, and over 27 glaciers of the Cascade range. At its deepest point the lake is 1486 feet deep, which puts the bottom 386 feet below sea level, and this depth occurs in the narrowest area of the lake, where it is less than a mile wide.
Surrounding the Lake Chelan Lakeside Park Valley are portions of a national park, two national forest wilderness areas, and a national recreation area. Water sports are abundant in the lower basin of the lake, where the water is warmer and the lake wider, near the resort community of Chelan. Lake Chelan is known throughout the Pacific Northwest as a premier destination for sun-seekers, and snow-goers alike. The warm summer days and crisp, cool evenings create perfect growing conditions for fruit. Chelan’s apples have been known throughout the country since the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. In recent years, vineyards have replaced some apple orchards, and the Lake Chelan AVA was established to reflect the unique qualities of the wine grapes grown in the valley. In the resort community of Chelan, visitors will find abundant lodging options and dining choices to fit every budget and palate. Chelan has been a destination for family vacations for generations, many returning to the same hotels year after year. Water sports abound from jet-skiing and pleasure boating, to fishing and splashing around at one of the parks or resorts along the water’s edge. Another great way to enjoy a refreshing splash is at Slidwaters Waterpark, with a variety of slides, many designed for adults to ride with small children, a Lazy River, Thunder Rapids tube slide where you can group with friends, and even side-by-side racing, concession stand and more! Seven miles from Chelan is the village of Manson, around which the majority of wineries and tasting rooms in the valley can 38
Slidewaters Waterpark
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
be found. Downtown Manson sits on the edge of the lake, and a scenic drive through the vineyards and orchards surrounding the town offers views of not only Lake Chelan, but Dry, Roses, Antilon, and Wapato Lakes, (great fishing locations) as well. At the head of Lake Chelan is the remote community of Stehekin, accessible only by float plane or passenger ferry. The Lady of the Lake II and the Lady Express offer daily service to Stehekin in the summer, and regular scheduled service all year. Choose a one-hour layover, or a three-hour layover in Stehekin, and enjoy the serenity of this quiet mountain valley with a visit to the small shops at the landing, or take the shuttle to view 312’ Rainbow Falls and Stehekin’s One-Room Schoolhouse. The longer layover allows time to rent a bicycle and take your own tour, with a stop at the bakery, and a visit to Historic Buckner Orchard, or hike one of the trails for a grand view overlooking Lake Chelan and the Stehekin River. For information about the Lake Chelan Boat Company and their fleet of passenger ferries, call (509) 682-4584 or visit www.ladyofthelake.com
Stehekin Landing 39
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Other great day tours
Cruise North America’s Deepest Gorge Any trip to NCW is not complete without a tour of “North America’s Deepest Gorge” and the mountain community of Stehekin at the headwaters of Lake Chelan. Just a little over an hour from Grand Coulee, Lake Chelan is an easy jaunt, though the far end of the lake is only accessible by boat or float plane as there are no roads to the upper half of the lake. Not to worry, the “Lady of the Lake” provides year-round service and tours to the far end of this lake. The boat trip takes you from the lower basin deep into the Cascades.The ultimate destination
is the small isolated community of Stehekin which sits at the head of the ancient lake, and at the foot of a mountain pass once used by Indians traveling on foot over the mountains. Stehekin is an old Indian word meaning “the way through.” During your layover in Stehekin, make sure to enjoy one of the several valley tours offered. Reservations can be made in advance with the Lady of the Lake to ensure availability. The new “Lady Cat“ cuts the travel time to the other end, with speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
Would you like to be in next year’s Visitors' Guide? BRAND NEW LAZY RIVER!
Located on a butte overlooking Lake Chelan, Slidewaters is one of the Northwest’s largest and most popular waterslide parks.
9 Waterslides 2 Tube Rides 60 Person Hot Tub Swimming Sunbathing 3-Lane Downhill Racer
Concessions Arcade Gift Shop Picnic Area Volleyball Fun for all…
Open Daily 10 a.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day
(509) 682-5751 www.slidewaters.com
Tickets NowAvailable at www.slidewaters.com
Call 1-888-633-1350 or email to
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Welcome to Wilbur
If it is outdoor recreation you’re after,Wilbur is the place to be! Visitors are always welcome to stop by the semiprivate Big Bend Golf and Country Club at the west end of town to enjoy a round or two on the challenging ninehole golf course. The course features wellmaintained greens on a relatively level course with a few sand traps. Rental clubs and carts are available and lessons can be provided for a novice golfer. The clubhouse gives visitors a place to relax and enjoy a cool drink or a bite to eat. Emerson Park at the east end of town belongs to the school district, but is available for public use. You can enjoy a jog around the track, a fast-paced game of tennis, or bring a group of family or friends for a game of baseball or touch football. Downtown, you can relax in the shade of one of the most beautiful city parks around. The well-kept lawns are framed with splendid old trees and a rustic footbridge crosses Goose Creek, which flows through the center of the park. The Centennial Pavilion at the south side of the park is available for public use. Across from the creek is the public swimming pool. The Wilbur pool is open throughout the summer months, and for a small fee, local residents and visitors can take advantage of the opportunity for a refreshing swim. The west end features a diving board, and a wading pool for younger children is available at the east end of the facility. A couple of blocks to the west of the pool, you can find an outdoor rink for in-line or roller skating. Hockey has become a year-round activity at this site. Extensive recreational opportunities are available within a short distance of town. Hunting, fishing, boating, camping and water skiing are among the most popular of these activities. If you decide to stay around for a few days at
Wheat fields near Wilbur.
one of the town’s RV parks or motels, be sure to take advantage of the Hesseltine Public Library, located at city hall, a block north of Highway 2 on Division Street. More than 1,000 books are just waiting to be read and enjoyed. The Big Bend Historical Society Museum, located in a former church building a block north of Sandy’s Thrift, allows the visitor to step back into Wilbur’s past.Among the many items on display is the gun taken from the hand of Wilbur’s founding father,Samuel Wilbur Condon, after he was killed in a shootout over a woman in January 1895.
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Welcome to Okanogan County You have just discovered Washington State’s best-kept secret — Okanogan. Okanogan is the heart of the scenic, historic and fruitful Okanogan Valley. Located in north central Washington, 50 miles from the Canadian border, Okanogan residents enjoy a quality of life characterized by extraordinary scenic beauty,low taxes,recreation,low cost of living and four distinct seasons each year. Okanogan has become a magnet for young families, retirees, businesses, tourists, light industry and recreation enthusiasts looking for a pristine environment. The Okanogan Valley is one of the few remaining locations where individual boldness and enterprise are rewarded, and where past, present and future are viewed with enthusiasm and promise. Okanogan is a Salish Indian word meaning “Rendezvous.” Sometimes called “The Late Frontier,” the Okanogan Valley saw habitation by Native Americans for thousands of years, and — belatedly, compared to other regions of the country — saw a succession of explorers, prospectors, miners, trappers, cattlemen, settlers, loggers, farmers, missionaries and orchardists, providing in every respect a colorful history that carries forward to the present day. The history of the region is ably depicted in the acclaimed Okanogan County Historical Museum in Okanogan. Part of that history now includes a replica of the old Okanogan fire department building in Legion Park. It’s an exact replica of the old fire station building. It is used as a fire department museum, as well as a research center for the Okanogan County Historical Society and the Okanogan County Genealogical Society. A refurbished,early model fire truck is displayed,along with other interesting items. With first-rate schools, medical facilities and other amenities, Okanogan is a great place to visit, live, work, establish a business, locate an industry, enjoy recreation and more. Okanogan is served by rail, highway and air, and is home to first-class motel and restaurant services. Okanogan is home to Okanogan Public Utility District, which provides Okanogan County with reliable, inexpensive electrical power.Infrastructure is in place or in development for commercial and industrial expansion. A lively retail business district provides a complete range of goods and services for visitors and residents alike. 42
A replica old fire hall in Okanogan
Distinguishing Okanogan in the Okanogan Valley region is one of the most precious commodities in the area — water! Okanogan has plenty of pure, clean water for residential and industrial use. Okanogan enjoys more than 300 sunny days per year. The area has four distinct seasons during the year with hot summers, snow in the winter, and perfect spring and autumn seasons. Conditions in the Okanogan area have produced the finest location in the world for orchards including apples, pears, peaches, cherries, nuts and others. Okanogan is the center of the Okanogan Valley fruit industry. The scenic Okanogan River winds its way through the center of the city. Each year, thousands of Canada geese and other waterfowl migrate throughout the Okanogan Valley following the river. Visitors can hike, camp, fish, hunt, swim, boat, ski, snowmobile, golf, climb, sight-see, as well as enjoy clean air, clean water and all the amenities of an urban locale with a hometown feeling.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
The Okanogan River winds through the Okanogan Valley, here seen from an overlook above east Omak, through the cleft of what geologists say is the meeting point of two ancient subcontinents once separated by a sea.
Center of the Okanogan Valley Omak
The busy hub of the Okanogan features year-round entertainment for tourists from all walks of life. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation full of camping and recreation activities or you want to attend a play, go to a rodeo or play some softball, you can do it all in Omak. Visiting Omak is like taking some good medicine. At least that’s what some of the Indians thought when they traveled across the vastness of what is now called Okanogan County. The center of the county is Omak, which means“good medicine,”because of its dry, healthful climate.Warm summers and mild winters lead to an average of over 300 days of sunshine a year. Located in the fertile Okanogan River Valley near the pristine Pasayten National Wilderness, this lumber town is the largest in the north central part of the state and is known for its production of apples and its many orchards. Visitors are encouraged to make the Tourist Information Center their first stop. A friendly staff will provide updated information for all areas of Okanogan County, the state of Washington and neighboring British Columbia, including available tourist attractions, facilities and services. As the hub of the“all season”Okanogan vacationland, Omak offers vacationers a wide range of recreational opportunities. The city-operated Eastside Park offers full camping, R.V. facilities and showers, a new swimming pool, a golf course and bowling.
Conconully State Park
Conconully State Park, located in a side valley above Omak, is a cool, restful oasis on the banks of the Conconully reservoir, developed in the 1900s for irrigation. The park features standard and primitive campsites, and an expansive picnic area, complete with enormous shade trees, a picnic shelter, and a wading pool and play structure for youthful visitors. Near the park entrance, a replica of the first county courthouse stands. It features a sod roof and is typical of many of the ranch cabins that dotted this landscape in the early years of white settlement in Okanogan County.
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
See if you can spot this Virgil Marchand sculpture of Sasquatch high above SR-155 on the way to Omak at Disautel Pass.
To reach the park, take the Riverside cut-off road from Highway 97, 5.2 miles north of Omak.The cut-off road will intersect Highway 215, follow this highway 10 miles to Conconully and follow signs to the park.
Bridgeport State Park
Bridgeport State Park is located near the enormous hydroelectric facility at Chief Joseph Dam. The green, fertile lawns of the park form a welcome relief from the brown, barren desert surroundings. The park features standard, RV hookups and handicap-accessible campsites, picnic sites and shelters, a children’s play facility, swimming beach, trailer camp and a nine-hole golf course. To escape from the summer heat, cottonwood and aspen trees are scattered throughout the campground. Wildlife that can be seen in the park include marmots, coyotes, rabbits, quail and (watch your step) rattlesnakes. The park is located near the town of Bridgeport on a spur road off Highway 17.
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Alta Lake State Park
On a forested side canyon, above the arid valley near Pateros, is lovely Alta Lake State Park. Elevation, foliage and the cool waters of Alta Lake make this park a popular summertime attraction.Boating,trout fishing, camping and hiking are some of the many activities available here. Campers can find standard, RV hookups and primitive sites, plus a group camp for clubs and organized groups. Nearby attractions include a golf course, guided horseback rides and boat rentals. To find the park, drive 1.8 miles west on Highway 153 from Pateros, turn left on Alta Lake Road and follow the signs to the park. After a busy day, tourists wishing for a little relaxation and entertainment combination are urged to attend a program at Omak’s Performing Arts Center. The organization's ultimate goal is to bring the world’s great performers to Okanogan County in its stateof-the-art theater. The center presents live music,dance,and serious adult theater. Stand-up and clap aloud as family entertainment abounds from the 564-seat center.
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Racers in the famous Omak Stampede plunge down the steep hill to the Okanogan River. The event, the second weekend in August, also features a rodeo, trade fair and powwow.
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
1950 Ridge Riders Trail Ride across Grand Coulee Dam
2014 Going 2012and and Still Still Going
RIDING CLINIC - March 30, 31, April 1 & 2, Banquet & Auction - March 22, 2014
Riding Clinic - March 31 through April111RACING CLINIC - April 3,4 BARREL Chute Dogging is a new event this year. Local businesses Banquet and Auction - April COLORAMA 2, 2012 RODEO ACTIVITIES will put together teams that will start out in the bucking Colorama Rodeo Activities Rodeo Bull Riding - May 24across chuteMemorial with a steer wrestling steer. They must get Rodeo - May 11- &May 12 9-10 • Cleatis Lacy the line in front of the chutes before attempting to throw RanchBull Rodeo Cleatis Lacy Memorial Riding-- June May 13 28 • Junior Rodeo July 19, 20 the steer. The fastest time will win. 2 Ranch Rodeos - June 30 & September 22
1953 Team Penning
Ranch Rodeos consist of a four member team, one of which must be a cowgirl. There is lots of action in the arena as the teams participate in normal ranch life activities. Team Branding - Team Mugging/Pasture Gathering, Trailer Loading and good ole Ranch Bronc Riding. There is a catch, contestants cannot run their horses. Come join us for this fast paced
2009 1964 Colorama Rodeo Grand Entry 46
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Enjoy the convenience of 24-hour fueling service With a Pacific Pride fueling card you can stop at any Pacific Pride station nationwide any hour of the day or night. Travel with confidence and enjoy the convenience. For more information, please call,
Whitley Fuel LLC
An Independent Franchise of Pacific Pride
PACIFIC PRIDE
Commercial Fueling
1-800-955-FUEL Locally located on the Midway in Grand Coulee
whitleyfuel.com/
Spectacular View Of Grand Coulee Dam
Come Stay With Us!
Bull riding is one featured event at the annual Colorama Rodeo on Mother’s Day weekend at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds in Grand Coulee. The saddle club will also offer bull riding and a “ranch rodeo” in June.
110 Roosevelt Way, Coulee Dam 509.633.1101 info@couleehouse,.com 800.715.7765 Couleehouse.com
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
AD INDEX AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING Silver Creek Systems........................... 41 AUTO SALES & RENTALS Jess Ford................................................. 13 BODY SHOP Bird's Auto Glass & Body Shop........ 12 BOWLING Riverview Lanes................................... 19 CASINOS Coulee Dam Casino............................ 52 CLOTHING Coulee Playland................................... 26 Harvest Foods..........................................4 CONSTRUCTION Coulee Construction.......................... 19 FARM TOURS D&M Gardens Spring Canyon Alpacas..................... 19 FRUIT STANDS Shaw's.........................................................9 FISHING SUPPLIES Bentz Tackle........................................... 19 Coulee Playland................................... 26 H&H Grocery......................................... 26
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GASOLINE/MECHANICS Jack's Service......................................... 13 MPH Auto & Marine............................ 21 Trading Post........................................... 37 Whitley Fuel........................................... 47 GROCERY STORES/MINI MARTS Barney's Qwik Stop............................. 37 Coulee Playland................................... 26 H&H Grocery......................................... 26 Harvest Foods..........................................4 Inchelium Community Store........... 37 Jack's Service......................................... 13 Keller Community Store.................... 37 Rainbow Beach Resort....................... 37 Trading Post........................................... 37 LAUNDROMAT King's Court RV Park........................... 27 MEDICAL FACILITIES Coulee Medical Center...................... 47 INSURANCE Foisy & Kennedy Inc............................ 12 State Farm.............................................. 26 INFORMATION CENTERS Grand Coulee Chamber...................2-3 Grant County Tourism........................ 14 GCD Visitor Arrival Center................ 18
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
AD INDEX MOTELS/CAMPING Columbia River Inn............................. 15 Coulee Playland................................... 26 Grand Coulee Center Lodge............ 51 Grand Coulee RV Park........................ 19 King’s Court RV Park........................... 27 Rainbow Beach Resort....................... 37 Sunbanks Lake Resort........................ 51 Sky Deck Motel..................................... 23 Trailwest.....................................................9 Willows Motel....................................... 41
SOUVENIRS Colville Tribal Museum...................... 36 Coulee Dam Casino............................ 52 Coulee Playland................................... 26 Funzee's.................................................. 26 Grand Coulee Center Lodge............ 51 GCD Chamber......................................2-3 Grant County Historical Museum.................................................. 35 H&H Grocery......................................... 26 Harvest Foods..........................................4 Jack's Service......................................... 13 MUSEUMS Shaw's Fruit...............................................9 Colville Tribal Museum...................... 36 Sunbanks Lake Resort........................ 51 Grant County Trading Post........................................... 37 Historical Museum.............................. 35 TIRES/BRAKES REAL ESTATE Jess Ford................................................. 13 Foisy & Kennedy Inc............................ 12 Les Schwab............................................ 27 RESTAURANTS/BARS/BISTROS DRIVE-INS/ESPRESSO STANDS Coulee Dam Casino............................ 52 Electric City Bar & Grill....................... 26 Grand Grindz......................................... 19 Hometown Pizza.................................. 13 Jack's Service......................................... 13 La Presa................................................... 14 MJ's........................................................... 13 Melody Restaurant.............................. 27 Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille.....................5 R&A Café....................................................9 Siam Palace............................................ 12 Sunbanks Lake Resort........................ 51 TeePee Drive-In.......................................9 Tropical Pig...............................................9 Wolf's Den.............................................. 13
TOUR BOATS Lady of the Lake................................... 39 TOWING Jack's Service......................................... 13 WATERSLIDES Slide Waters........................................... 40
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Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Laser Show Facts
A pattern of the first laser show competes with the moon May 25, 2013. An entirely new laser show, the first in 25 years, debuted in May, 2014.
How long is the laser show?
The laser light show lasts approximately 28 minutes, during which time colorful images created by the lasers move back and forth across the huge surface of the dam.
How are the lasers used at Grand Coulee Dam?
As one of the largest entertainment laser projection systems in the world, and certainly the 2014 Laser Show Times Where can I view largest outdoor laser show in Nightly at Grand Coulee Dam North America, the lasers at the show? Grand Coulee Dam tell the The best locations are the seatMay 24 to July 31 at 10:00 p.m. story of the Columbia River and ing area at the Visitor Center and Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 at 9:30 p.m. how its power was harnessed from the park below the Visitor Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. to provide multiple benefits to Center. These areas provide an mankind, including electrical outdoor sound system. power, irrigation for farming The town of Coulee Dam has a and exciting recreational oppark — terraced and grassy for viewing the laser show — portunities. As a result of the open process of scripting adjacent to the east end of the Columbia River bridge. the show new in 2014, viewers will also understand the Other viewing spots: from Douglas Park in Coulee Dam; from Crown Point atop the granite cliffs above Lake Rufus costs of building the dam — cost to wildlife, and to native peoples whose way of life was dependent on that wildlife, Woods, access from SR174 towards Bridgeport. The USBR broadcasts the audio portion of the laser light in particular, the salmon that no longer could continue upstream to spawn. show nightly at 90.1 FM.
What is a laser?
Lasers are intense beams of light commonly used in medicine and science, but they've also found a niche as a high-tech, fast-moving form of entertainment. They are controlled by computers which, at Grand Coulee Dam, are in the Visitor Center. Although a single dot of light, lasers can trace an image so rapidly it appears as a solid figure to the human eye. The term laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is so commonly used now that the tradition of using capital letters for an acronym has been dropped.
How much did the lasers cost?
With the original equipment in use since 1989, the Bureau of Reclamation commissioned a new show and new equipment.The equipment began operation in May of 2013, but projecting the new show began in May, 2014. Lumalaser, of Oregon, bid the project at $1.6 million.
How big are the laser images?
Pictures are beamed at the awesome height of nearly 300 feet.
How far do the lasers project?
During shows, the laser lights are beamed between 2,000 and 4,000 feet to the surface of the dam. 50
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
Enjoy the fun and sun at Sunbanks Lake Resort on Banks Lake, one of the biggest & warmest lakes in Washington State!
BOATING • CAMPING • VILLA RENTALS • EVENTS and so much more, we just can’t list it all here!
For more information or to make a reservation please call or go online:
1.888.822.7195 www.SunbanksResort.com 51
Visitors’ Guide • Grand Coulee Dam Area • 2014-2015
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Okanogan Casino
Over 450 Slot Machines · Live Poker · Great Deli Lounge Rendezvous 41 Appleway Road, Okanogan, WA 800-559-4643
Coulee Dam Casino
Over 160 Slot Machines · Video Poker Spillway Lounge · Great Deli Food 515 Birch Street, Coulee Dam, WA 800-556-7492
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