Lake Tapps

Breathe in the scent of freshly cut grass and drive past the occasional grazing cow as you head home to Prairie Heights. While the atmosphere feels lightyears from city limits, many people who call the neighborhood home commute into the city every day. “People are coming down our way now and really enjoying that slower, more country-style living—and then they can drive to those bigger areas to work,” explains Kelly Heap of Terrafin, an award-winning Realtor with decades of experience in the area. “We are getting expansions, but it hasn’t lost that small-town flavor.” Just over 40 miles south of Seattle, the neighborhood is home to about 5,000 people. Some yards feature decorative shrubbery and wooden fences, while others include vast patches of grass interrupted only by towering trees. Find manufactured homes with covered decks in Shiloh Park and contemporary-style homes with stone accents in gated communities like Winter Pond. While streets in homeowner associations veer off main roads and lead to quaint cul-de-sacs with several homes along the rounded edges, others lead to dirt roads and apparent countryside. Mobile and manufactured homes begin at around $175,000, while three-bedroom homes on at least 1-acre lots range from $400,000 to $1,000,000, with price impacted by year of construction and home features. Though the neighborhood shares many traits and amenities with Buckley, students in Prairie Heights attend different schools within the White River School District, the 6th-best school district in Pierce County, according to Niche. Students begin at Foothills Elementary, a B-plus-rated school walkable from home. From here, students transition to Glacier Middle and ultimately graduate from White River High, both of which earn a B rating. White River High also includes after-school activities like Knowledge Bowl, Diversity Club, and Future Business Leaders of America. Surrounded by parks, the neighborhood bubbles over with recreational opportunities. “There’s a smaller lake, Bonney Lake, but Lake Tapps is the big draw,” Heap says. Within 6 miles, reach the shores of Lake Tapps and gain access to an array of activities when the weather is right, usually from June through October. “It has fishing, it has swimming, but people can also ski on the lake and do fun stuff like that,” Heap expands. You can also enjoy the sound of local bands and the buzz of an outdoor marketplace throughout July and August at Allan Yorke, a small park at the lake’s southern edge. On the other hand, you can take advantage of the state park surrounding the lake, which includes over 100 acres of beaches, picnic areas and scenic trails. When you’re looking for a place to hit the green, Tapps Island Golf Course provides an option right at the center of the lake, allowing captivating waterside and mountain views to accompany your every swing. If gazing at Mount Rainier as you play beckons you to climb to its peak, reach the mountains in less than 50 miles. During the winter months, build your strength to prepare for the big climb at Gordon Family YMCA, less than 7 miles away, or drive into Tacoma to access multiple climbing gyms. While you won’t find retailers right in the neighborhood, the nearest commercial corridor is only 3 miles away. To pick up the basics, browse Safeway or Fred Meyer, or, for bulk shopping, ride another mile down Route 410 and gather everything you need at Costco. Along the same road are urgent cares, coffee shops and several restaurants as well. Slide into a booth at Hungry Dawg’s Diner for brunch or enjoy chimichangas and margaritas at Mazatlan for dinner. Though Prairie Heights has no public transit, Route 410 borders the neighborhood to the north, allowing a simple commute into the surrounding cities. “We have people that commute to Seattle, to the east side, which is where a lot of our tech companies reside,” Heap explains. As you drive, enjoy pastoral views for about 30 miles of the trip. If traveling to Tacoma instead, reach Thea Foss Waterway in 20 miles and Point Defiance within 30 miles. For travels beyond Washington state limits, drive less than 35 miles to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Experience the convergence of commuter-friendly living and peaceful rural life in Prairie Heights.