Agriculture and river recreation shape life in Heyburn
Heyburn is a small town of around 3,700 residents in Idaho’s agricultural heartland. It's surrounded by irrigated fields of sugar beets, potatoes, wheat and hay that stretch out toward the horizon. The town sits along a bend in the Snake River, directly across from the village of Burley, backed by sweeping views of the Albion Mountains. “People ask me why I never go on vacation. Why would I go on vacation?” says Realtor Melody Evans of Century 21 Riverside Realty, who has lived in the area for nearly 30 years. “There’s so much outdoor recreation and so much to do within an hour or two hours’ drive. There’s no reason to leave.”
Many locals are employed in agriculture and manufacturing. The town is home to a large potato processing plant and a farming equipment manufacturer. “The town’s roots are in farming. It’s still mostly agricultural, but now there are some manufacturing jobs as well,” Evans says.
Mix of older homes and new builds in subdivisions
Heyburn offers mostly single-family homes, ranging from mid-20th century to new construction. New builds — especially in new subdivisions like Biscotti Estates and River Run Estates — offer spacious, contemporary layouts and attached garages. Older housing stock is typically modest, with smaller ranch-style homes and split-level homes available. The streetscape is split between a traditional grid and newer cul-de-sac subdivisions at the edges of town. Prices range from around $250,000 to $650,000, depending on the size and age of the home. Some luxury riverfront properties sell for between $800,000 and $1.4 million, although those listings are few and far between. “Anything by the river is going to be very expensive,” Evans says.
Riverfront parks offer fishing, boating and scenic views
A handful of community parks are available in the area. Lex Kunau Park has several boat launches on the riverbank, making it a popular spot for windsurfing, boating, water skiing and fishing. Riverside Park offers a playground, picnic area and gorgeous views of the river and the surrounding landscape. It’s also an access point for the Riverfront Trail. “The river is the focus during the summertime for boating and fishing. The views are spectacular,” Evans says. Larger parks and recreation facilities in Burley are found less than a mile away. At 82 acres, Freedom Park is one of the area’s most significant. It has two large, stocked fishing ponds, a floating dock known as Dockzilla, a small botanical garden and eight ball fields. It’s next door to River’s Edge Golf Club, a public course where pristine fairways skirt the waterfront.
Annual boat regatta draws crowds to the Snake River
Residents can take advantage of plenty of annual events in the area, from riverside regattas to local musical festivals. Among the best known is the Idaho Boat Regatta held on the Snake River during the last weekend of June. For 50 years, the regatta has brought out thousands of visitors and competitors for speed boat races, vendors and food trucks. Across the river, Burley hosts the annual Magic Valley Folk Festival and the Spudman Triathlon every July.
Local favorites include Morey’s Steakhouse and Stevo’s
The town’s shopping and dining options are mostly centered around Overland Avenue, about a mile west of most homes. Residents can shop at Walmart, watch a movie at Century Stadium 5 or take the kids bowling at Snake River Bowl. Restaurants include everything from fast-food chains and fast-casual dining to beloved local eateries. Morey’s Steakhouse is a perennial favorite with patio seating by the riverside, while Taqueria El Patron offers Mexican classics inside a renovated school bus. Stevo’s is a family restaurant that’s regionally famous for its fresh French fries made with potatoes that come straight off the farm.
Mt. Harrison High improves graduation rate
Students start their education close to home at Heyburn Elementary School, which gets a C-minus from Niche. The following steps are West Minico Middle and Mt. Harrison High, which both get C ratings. Once known for persistently low graduation rates, Mt. Harrison High has significantly improved in recent years. Thanks to new initiatives launched by school administrators, the graduation rate more than doubled from 15% in 2015 to 53% in 2022.
No public transit, but walkable streets and highway access
Heyburn is car centric and has no public transportation system, so residents will need a vehicle. Residential streets are walkable and bikeable, however. Interstate 84 runs along the town’s northern edge, providing residents easy access to nearby cities and towns like Twin Falls and American Falls. Intermountain Health Cassia Regional Hospital is the nearest major medical center, about 2 miles away in Burley. Magic Valley Regional Airport is about 44 miles away in Twin Falls.
