Granger is a valley community known for its dinosaurs
Granger is a farming community along the Yakima River. Like many cities in the Lower Yakima Valley, homes, schools and small businesses line its central streets, and a system of irrigation canals brings water to the farms, vineyards and orchards along its edges. “Some new people come to the area because they want to get out of bigger cities, and they like the laid-back valley atmosphere,” says Dan Churchill, a broker with DK Bain Real Estate, who was born and raised in the Lower Yakima Valley.
To distinguish itself from other valley communities, Granger began rebranding itself as a hot spot for dinosaur statues in the 1990s. The first one, a brontosaurus, was added in 1994, and each year, residents work together to help construct or refresh a statue. Today, this collection has grown to more than 30 dinosaurs, and there’s even a map available for visitors who wish to see them all.
Hisey Park recreation, a splash pad and golf
Hisey Park is on the waterfront and is the city’s largest green space. It has a playground, an amphitheater and several dinosaur statues, including a dimetrodon in the center of its pond. A boat ramp beside the park leads to a relatively flat stretch of the Yakima, which is a popular area to float fish for smallmouth bass and channel catfish.
Other community recreation includes a splash park at the corner of Main Street and East Third Street. The Granger Community Library regularly hosts lotería and other games. Anytime Fitness has cardio equipment and weights, and the nine-hole Cherry Hill Golf Course is open to the public.
Midcentury homes and some newer builds
Along the gridded streets in the center of the city, mid-1900s cottages and ranch-style houses are relatively common, and there are also a few manufactured homes. In more recent years, some of the outlying farmland has been converted into residential developments with curving streets and ranch-style homes with front-facing garages. Sales tend to fall between $190,000 and $410,000. Properties at the edge of the Yakima River may be prone to flooding, and lenders may require flood insurance.
Some concerns over nitrates and brush fires
Some Granger area wells and groundwater contain high levels of nitrates, but the majority of homes are connected to city water. The region is also at risk of brush fires and poor air quality, particularly during the dry summer months.
Learning through Granger schools
Children can begin learning at Roosevelt Elementary School, which earns a C-minus rating on Niche. Granger Middle School also gets a C-minus, and Granger High School earns a C. The high school offers dual-credit courses through Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University.
A few businesses in Granger, and more shopping in Sunnyside
Granger has a few dining spots, including Los Primos Carniceria y Restaurante, which offers marinated meats and chorizo for at-home barbecuing, as well as tacos and grilled chicken for takeout. Spartan Pizza, near Interstate 82, has a small dining area.
Carniceria el Sol, along Main Street, stocks produce, meats and some dry goods. During the growing season, locals can buy fresh produce and flowers from the Thursday farmers market in front of the radio station. There’s a Safeway in Toppenish, less than 10 miles west, but many people do their shopping in Sunnyside, about 10 miles east, where there’s a Walmart Supercenter, several grocery chains and the Mid Valley Mall.
Lions Club events, keeping up the dinos and the Cherry Festival
The Granger Lions Club organizes community get-togethers throughout the year, including Turkey Bingo and a pre-Christmas parade. In spring, locals gather for the annual Granger Cherry Festival. “Like any country fair, it’s got a parade, some carnival rides and as much fried food as you want,” Churchill says. “They usually time it so it takes place when cherry trees are in bloom.” Each June, the Dino-n-a-Day event is an opportunity for locals to help build a new dinosaur or give one of the existing statues a fresh coat of paint.
Transportation and nearby services for Granger residents
People For People offers limited bus service around the valley, but most residents travel by car. I-82 runs through the community and links drivers with Sunnyside, around 10 miles east, which is home to the Astria Sunnyside Hospital. The closest airport with commercial flights is the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field, about 30 miles away in Yakima.
