Grangeville offers recreation access and a strong sense of community
Grangeville is a Central Idaho city known for its access to outdoor recreation. “We are surrounded by some pretty amazing rivers, and we have forest land all around,” says Bernadette Edwards, a Realtor with Professional Realty Services Idaho who has lived in Grangeville for more than 20 years. “Most people camp, hunt and fish. They’re always outside.”
Although the city’s 3,000-plus residents spend much of their free time exploring the nearby wilderness areas, there is still a strong sense of community. “Everybody supports each other," Edwards says. "If you couldn’t pick up your kid from sports, somebody would bring them home and they’d be safe.”
From forests and rivers to city parks
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests border Grangeville to the south and east. They cover more than 4 million acres of wilderness, providing opportunities for backcountry camping and hunting. With five rivers close by, kayaking, rafting and fishing are also popular. “In the Salmon River, some of the sturgeon are as big as people. They’re like dinosaurs,” Edwards says. “You don’t take them out of the water, but they’re a fun catch because they’re so strong and smart.”
The city also has its own share of recreation spaces, including Grangeville Lions Park, which has a playground, ballfields and skate ramps. At Pioneer Park, there are shaded picnic tables and an outdoor pool. Locals can also take their kids to Jungle Gym's Indoor Play Center & Café or watch first-run movies at the Blue Fox Cinema on Main Street. From May through September, the Sunset Autovue drive-in theater screens movies as well. During the winter, community members head to the city-run Snowhaven Ski & Tubing Area, around 7 miles south of Grangeville.
Grangeville housing options
Sidewalks line most streets, and tall willows and pines shade grassy lawns. Some properties at the edges of the city span almost an acre of land, but most lots are a quarter of an acre or less. Buyers may find late 1800s farmhouses and early 1900s Craftsman bungalows, as well as more recently built ranch-style houses. Manufactured homes tend to sell between $90,000 and $240,000, and site-built residences may run from $160,000 to $550,000. Properties that border creeks and waterways are prone to occasional flooding, and lenders might require flood insurance.
The city’s public and private schools
Children may begin their education at Grangeville Elementary/Middle School, which gets a B rating on Niche. Grangeville High School also holds a B rating, and it offers dual-credit courses through Lewis-Clark State College or the University of Idaho. Some families opt for private or online school, and they can offset the cost with the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit. Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, on South B Street, serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students.
Locally owned restaurants and stores along Main Street
Restaurants, local offices and stores line Main Street. Larson’s Department Store carries jeans and workwear. Across from it, Your Best Friends Quilt Shop stocks sewing supplies and fabric. There are two full-service grocery stores, Cloninger’s Marketplace and Cash & Carry Market, as well as The Health Food Store. Some people also make periodic trips to Lewiston, where there are national chains like Costco and T.J. Maxx.
Dining options include Seasons Restaurant, a casual sit-down spot serving American fare. “They have great waitstaff, and you can always count on good service and consistent food,” Edwards says. Jungle Gym's Indoor Play Center & Café offers burgers and pizza, as well as a large selection of beers on tap. At Crema Café, Bakery & Mercantile, patrons can stop in for a latte or shop for home décor and clothing.
Grangeville Border Days and events in Pioneer Park
The city’s largest celebration is Grangeville Border Days, a festival and rodeo that takes place at the beginning of July. Events include barrel racing, parades and street sports. “Every morning at 9 a.m., we have an egg toss, and there are hundreds of people throwing eggs,” Edwards says. “There are also kids' races from one end of the street to the other.” Pioneer Park hosts some city events as well, including the summer Music in the Park concert series and a Saturday morning farmers market.
City amenities are close, but car travel is common
Locals can walk to some community amenities, including grocery stores and the Syringa Hospital & Clinics on West Main Street, but most residents rely on cars for daily travel. Main Street connects with U.S. Route 95 on the edge of the city, providing a route to Lewiston, about 75 miles away. Lewiston is home to the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, which offers direct flights to Seattle and Salt Lake City.
Seasonal weather patterns and wildfire risks
Grangeville tends to have snowy winters and mild, dry summers. Toward the end of summer, the risk of forest fires increases. To combat potential wildfires, teams of wilderness firefighters, known as smokejumpers, train at the Grangeville Smokejumpers Base. They work throughout the dry season, fighting fires throughout Idaho, Montana and other nearby states.
