Rural living in Ahtanum, with proximity to Yakima’s urban amenities
Ahtanum is a rural community that embraces Yakima on its southwestern side, with residential streets carving through what is otherwise farmland. “It seems like post-COVID-19, there was more of an allure to rural or semi-rural areas,” says Jon Ehlers, the owner of Jon and Jen Ehlers Real Estate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, who grew up in the Yakima Valley and has over 15 years of experience. “There’s still the market in the city, but there is more popularity with getting out of town and having more acreage. You have the freedom to have chickens, and the laws for ADUs on the property are more forgiving.”
Guests enjoy outdoor seating at Ahtanum Berry Patch & Bakery.
Apple Tree Resort near Ahtanum features golf and pickleball leagues.
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Cattle graze between a variety of home styles with acreage in Ahtanum
A lack of sidewalks contributes to Ahtanum’s rural feel, and homes are sometimes interspersed with fields and grazing cattle. “It’s interesting because you have such an array. Everything from manufactured homes to new development to some of the older homes,” Ehlers says. Styles include cottages from the first half of the 20th century, ranch-style homes from the second half, New Traditional builds from the early 2000s and new constructions with Craftsman features. Ranging from $290,000 to $675,000, homes come on lots up to 2 acres in size with room for recreational vehicle parking and other hobbies. Manufactured homes are sold with up to 8 acres of land, going for $300,000 to $425,000.
Properties located along the various creeks in Ahtanum may be at an increased risk of flooding. Much of the area is surrounded by farms and open landscape, as such, Ahtanum may be at a heightened risk for wildfires as well.
Ranch-style home in Ahtanum includes a garage and spacious lot.
New Traditional duplex homes are part of Ahtanum’s recent development
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Berry patches and a local winery offer summer activities and events
Local businesses that take advantage of their location in the fertile Columbia Valley are scattered around the small residential pockets that make up Ahtanum. Ahtanum Berry Patch & Bakery invites guests to pick their own raspberries, blackberries and strawberries throughout the warmer months. Those that stay on the vines are incorporated into handmade pies, cobblers and scones, while the bakery’s cinnamon rolls are a customer favorite. Wine flows in Gilbert Cellars’ barn-style tasting room, though the winery’s outdoor seating area offers views of apple orchards and fields of French lavender. The winery has hosted its Music in the Vines summer concert series for almost 15 years on Friday nights, when guests can enjoy local musicians and the vineyard’s pastoral surroundings. Wray’s Marketfresh IGA and a Walmart Supermarket are north of the area for grocery runs.
This sign marks the entrance to Ahtanum Berry Patch & Bakery.
Grape fields surround Gilbert Cellars near Ahtanum.
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Athletic amenities at West Valley Community Park, golf at Apple Tree
The West Valley Community Park sits directly north of the middle school campus, sprawling across more than 25 acres. The green space includes a basketball court, a soccer field, a volleyball court and horseshoe pits. Trails and short bridges fashioned from wooden planks navigate Wide Hollow Creek, which snakes along the north side of the park. Golf enthusiasts can join men’s or women’s leagues at the Apple Tree Resort, a nearby community built around a golf course that also offers three lighted championship pickleball courts.
Wooden bridges and trails follow Wide Hollow Creek in West Valley Park.
West Valley Community Park includes a basketball court and other athletic features.
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Wide selection of science and CTE courses at West Valley High School
Most children in the community are zoned for Ahtanum Valley Elementary School, which receives a B-plus grade from Niche. Those living in the northern portion of Ahtanum may attend Cottonwood Elementary School, which earns an A-minus. They may then attend classes at the B-rated West Valley Mid-Level Campus before moving forward to West Valley High School, which also earns an A-minus. Students with an interest in science have a wide variety of classes to choose from, including zoology, forensic science, microbiology and horticulture. The school’s dual credit program partners with three Washington universities and one college so students can earn early college credit, while career technical education courses at West Valley High include those in welding, graphic design and computer science, among other disciplines.
Ahtanum Valley Elementary School prioritizes student success and engagement.
West Valley Middle School offers a welcoming environment for students.
West Valley High School features a designated student drop-off area.
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Interstate 90, and flights from Yakima Airport to Seattle
Ahtanum Road runs through the community, leading to Union Gap in the east and roads that connect to the center of Yakima, about 12 miles away. Though no public transportation serves Ahtanum directly, Yakima Transit buses run nearby. Daily flights to Seattle and Spokane take off from Yakima Airport, which lies between Yakima and Ahtanum. Interstate 82 travels southeast toward the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland; it also merges with Interstate 90, which travels about 150 miles northwest to Seattle.
Written By
Julia Straka
Photography Contributed By
Becky Gaskill
Video By
Anne Sheridan
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