Deer Park's farmland transformed by post-pandemic development
Deer Park is a community just north of Spokane that has experienced a massive surge in growth since 2020. “Deer Park was a sleepy farming community when I was growing up,” says Realtor Michael Schmidt of John L. Scott Real Estate. “Then, either when Covid hit or just ahead of it, things really started moving. Because it was all flat farmland, it was easy to build on, so one new neighborhood became three and four very quickly – maybe a little too quickly. It’s become an interesting blend of rural farm community and city living, which comes with some challenges, but with some cool things as well.”
Home numbers in Deer Park have rapidly expanded
While many homes near Main Street are Craftsman bungalows and cottages built between 1900 and 1980, numerous Modern Traditional houses have been constructed since 2020. “Once the pandemic hit, development really blew up there,” Schmidt says. “Several thousand homes have been added there in the last few years, and people have really taken notice of it, given that it’s more affordable to buy there than in Spokane.” The older checkerboard streets near the main drag of town give way to loping residential streets and cul-de-sacs further east and north. “One nice thing is that pretty much none of the homes feel out-of-place or resort-like,” Schmidt adds. “Although given the pace of the construction, the city infrastructure is still playing catch-up. Some homes on the outskirts are still on septic rather than sewer.” Prices range from $150,000 to almost $600,000, depending on build year, number of bedrooms and square footage.
Riverside High helps accommodate growing student population
Children in Deer Park attend schools in the Deer Park School District, which earns an overall B from Niche. Deer Park Elementary School, which educates children from kindergarten through grade 2, and Arcadia Elementary, which serves students from grades 3 through 5, both receive Bs. Deer Park Middle and Deer Park High are both rated B-plus. “Because of the population boom since 2020, the schools have had to find ways to accommodate all the students,” Schmidt says. “Some of them will actually go to high school at Riverside High, which is just down the road, but is in a different district.” Riverside High scores a B-minus.
Deer Park Golf Club offers year-round opportunities for play
At Swinyard Park, children can play on the small playground or swim at the Deer Park City Kids Pool. The town skate park is also here. Golfers will enjoy proximity to the public Deer Park Golf Club. “The course there is a pretty good one,” Schmidt says. “They also have an indoor simulator for people who want to learn, practice, or just play when it’s too cold outside in the winter.” Deer Park is just under 10 miles south of Loon Lake, a destination popular with boaters and local fishermen.
Main Street shops and restaurants cater to a growing population
Much of Deer Park’s commercial footprint is concentrated around the Main Street stretch downtown, where residents can shop for groceries at Yoke’s Fresh Market and household items at Bi-Mart. “The little Main Street district has some shops and restaurants, but it’s still playing catch-up to the town’s surge in popularity and population,” Schmidt says. Most of the businesses are in the south stretch of the road, including coffee shop Rozy’s Hot Shots and Masters BrewHouse, a pub and restaurant. Salty Dog Eatery, a classic American diner, has been a family-owned community staple for over 20 years.
U.S. 395 allows quick commute to Spokane
U.S. Route 395 is the main thoroughfare, passing by the west side of Deer Park and heading south to Spokane. “The commute down to the city is pretty simple. It usually takes less than 20 minutes,” Schmidt says. “And you have to make the trip to get to Providence Holy Family Hospital and to Spokane International Airport. Deer Park has its own airport, but it doesn’t offer commercial flights. They sometimes land firefighting planes there, but those are the largest planes the runways can accommodate.”
