A quiet atmosphere and ample recreation in Goldendale
A short drive north of the Columbia River Gorge, Goldendale is a rural Klickitat County community within an hour of The Dalles and the peaks of the Cascade Range. The city began as an agriculture town and is still surrounded by farmland. “A lot of people move to Goldendale to retire or to start a family,” says Teja Finch with the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have a quiet atmosphere and a slower pace compared to other nearby cities. We also have a ton of recreation nearby, with hikes throughout town and north in the Mount Adams area.”
Historic homes and spacious lots
Most of the homes in Goldendale were built between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, from Craftsman-style bungalows and ranch-style homes to multi-story farmhouses and Victorian Revivals. Near the center of the community, properties range from 4,000 square feet to around a quarter acre while, on the outskirts of town, lots can reach over 5 acres. Manufactured homes and fixer-uppers range from $60,000 to $200,000, while move-in-ready single-family homes can go for $210,000 to $535,000.
School pride in Goldendale
Kindergarten through fourth-grade students may attend Goldendale Primary School, which earns a C-minus overall grade from Niche. Also with a C-minus, Goldendale Middle School serves fifth through eighth graders. Goldendale High School receives a C-plus grade and has a variety of career and technical education courses, including applied psychology, digital communications and animal biology. “Our community has a lot of pride in its schools,” Finch says. “Most of the parents I’ve spoken to are involved in the school with fundraising and events. The community is invested in the success of local kids.” Goldendale Community Library hosts a wide range of free programs and events, from tabletop gaming and tech help to language workshops and book clubs.
Main Street shops and eateries
Main Street is lined with dozens of small businesses, from thrift stores to family-owned restaurants. Bake My Day Cafe offers coffee, baked goods, breakfast bites and grilled sandwiches. Across the street, The HonkyTonk Bar and Restaurant serves burgers and locally sourced, farm-to-table steak along with draft brews and signature cocktails. Apollonia Books sells used and rare reads, while Aunt Jane’s Closet has antiques and collectibles from art to glassware. Holcomb’s Market is the go-to spot for groceries. On Saturdays from May to September, the Goldendale Farmers’ Market comes to Broadway Street, with dozens of vendors selling produce, flowers, baked goods and hand-crafted decor. The city of The Dalles, Oregon is around 32 miles southwest and has a wide variety of shops, eateries and supermarkets.
Goldendale annual events bring community together
Each spring, the Goldendale Home and Garden Show has educational gardening workshops, food vendors, live music and a raffle event. In July, Goldendale Community Days is a weekend festival full of events ranging from a car show and parade to a scavenger hunt and a stunt team demonstration. “A lot of people who grew up in Goldendale come back to town for Community Days,” Finch says. “Folks gather for class reunions and get to know other community members.”
Outdoor recreation, from stargazing to riverside trails
The 5-acre Goldendale Observatory State Park lies just north of town and is home to one of the largest public telescopes in the United States. Visitors can reserve a free ticket to peer through the telescope and view star clusters, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. The park also has around one and a half miles of hiking trails. Ekone Park has softball fields, picnic tables and a playground. Nearby, Central Klickitat County Parks and Recreation District operates and maintains the local swimming pool and the Little Klickitat River Trail. The larger Klickitat Trail winds for over 30 miles along an old rail line from Lyle to Goldendale. Mount Adams Recreation Area is around an hour and a half from town, encompassing over 20,000 acres of protected forests, meadows and lakes, and is a popular destination for backpacking, boating and camping.
Traveling on US-97
U.S. Route 97 lies just east of Goldendale and can take drivers around 13 miles south to Maryhill along the Colorado River or 50 miles north to Toppenish. Vancouver is roughly 120 miles west, just north of Portland International Airport.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
