May Creek has views of the Cascade Foothills
May Creek, a residential area with mountain views and natural scenery, is in the small Snohomish County city of Gold Bar. Villages of the Skykomish tribe once lived here, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. As expected, Gold Bar's name is related to its history. In the late 19th century, gold was found in the Skykomish River. An influx of prospectors contributed to the development of the area. As it turned out, the amount of gold uncovered was not lucrative enough to sustain that mining effort; other industries had more significance in building the region's towns. "Gold Bar was mining, Sulton was logging, Index had a granite quarry," says Melody Dazey, economic development and tourism manager for the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce.
What homebuyers in May Creek should know
May Creek Mountain View Tracts is a development of over 350 lots located off Pickle Farm Road, just east of downtown Gold Bar. There are ramblers, contemporaries and manufactured homes. Log and cedar homes fit in with the woodland ambiance. Many homes have lots of a quarter-acre or more. Prices typically range from the $300,000s to the $500,000s. "People are willing to live here and commute because house prices are so much less here," says Candace Tornay-Gonzalez, a resident of Gold Bar, an artist and owner of Bella Luna Mosaics and Garden Art. "Though with prices going up, who knows? It seems like my house jumped from the $300,000s to the $500,000s just over a couple of years."
A creek of the same name runs through the southern section of May Creek, potentially threatening the area with flooding. Gold Bar has an ordinance that established areas of "special flood hazard," and flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) are available. Additionally, the National Weather Service warnings help residents stay aware.
Maintenance and meetings with the May Creek Club
The May Creek Club maintains the roads and parks and holds monthly meetings online and semi-annual meetings in July and February. The annual dues are $200. Per Snohomish County noise ordinances, May Creek Club emphasizes that quiet time is weekdays from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and weekends from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Community parks, Wallace Falls State Park is nearby
Two community parks are part of May Creek: the upper park and the lower park, the latter of which includes part of the creek. Pets are not permitted in these parks. Priscilla Park is an off-leash dog park at the end of Mountain View Place East. The drive to Wallace Falls State Park is about 5 miles. Dazey says it's one of the most popular of the state parks. "The parking lot fills up. There are three different layers to the waterfall." Dazey adds that most people take the hike to the Middle Falls. The Skykomish River is a destination for white-water rafters. Alpine Adventures operates rafting trips from Gold Bar. Spot hikers and rock climbers like to visit is Reiter Foothills State Forest.
Gold Bar Elementary and Sultan secondary schools
Gold Bar Elementary School earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Sultan Middle School and Sultan High School both receive C grades and are roughly a 9-mile drive from May Creek. The elementary school is about a mile from May Creek homes; the middle school and high school are about 8 miles away.
Businesses and restaurants on U.S. 2, Gold Bar Family Grocer
Gold Bar's small business area is around state Route 2. There is Gold Bar RV Storage, a couple of motels, and the seasonal Stevens Pass Snowboard Shop, which has been in business since 1969. "There are a few restaurants, so people coming from the slopes or Lake Chelan will stop to get a meal," Tornay-Gonzalez says. There are a couple of Mexican restaurants, plus Thai food and pizza. Mountain View Diner's selection of traditional comfort food includes homemade pies. The Woodshed Espresso & Ice Cream is a stop for dessert or firewood. Gold Bar Family Grocer on Croft Avenue has been in the community for over two decades. "It's small but a nice little grocery store," Tornay-Gonzalez says. "It's a half hour to Monroe, so instead of wasting time and gas, I'll pay a little extra to shop in Gold Bar."
Gold Dust Day, Salmon in Sultan, The Evergreen State Fair
The area's history is celebrated during the Gold Dust Days Heritage Festival, held the last weekend in July. A popular part of Gold Dust Day is the miner's cart race, which is similar to soap box derby or outhouse and bed races.
The Return of the Salmon Celebration is in late September in Sultan, about 6 miles west of Gold Bar. The event is held in honor of the spawning of salmon in the Snohomish River System. Due to increased numbers of fish, there can be an obvious odor. Dazey says the pink salmon usually come through during "pink years," typically odd-numbered years. "But sometimes we have pinks that are just confused." In August, there's also The Evergreen State Fair, about 15 miles west, in Monroe.
Traffic on U.S. Route 2, a bus to Everett Station
People coming to the area are taking U.S. 2 to outdoor attractions, like the mountains and Stevens Pass Ski Resort, about 35 miles east of Gold Bar. "We are only about an hour or so from the slopes, depending on the weather and the traffic," says Tornay-Gonzalez says, going on to say that traffic along the highway can sometimes become unbearable. "During the summer, on a Sunday, you don't go out of your house if you're going to go somewhere because you'll be stuck in traffic. It would be locals that work in Gold Bar. Probably a lot commute to Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and Bellevue." When there isn't traffic, the close access to the highway is an advantage, as Bothell and Everett are within a 30-mile drive, and Seattle and Bellevue are both within 45 miles. Buses on Community Transit Route 271 go from Gold Bar to Everett Station.
According to May Creek Club's bylaws, exceeding the 15-mph speed limit on residential streets can result in immediate fines without a warning letter. Dangerous driving and illegal discharge of fireworks or other explosives should be reported to the Snohomish County Sheriff.
