Moxee knows how to celebrate with fireworks and beer
Moxee is a small, recently developed community about 8 miles from Yakima with a culture of celebration. “When you think of Moxee, you think fireworks. Fireworks are super popular come Fourth of July,” says Jon Ehlers, the owner of Jon and Jen Ehlers Real Estate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, who grew up in the Yakima Valley and has over 15 years of experience. “I’ve had [clients] say, ‘Oh, yeah, we can see the fireworks from here.’ They close the streets and throw block parties, and it’s all community driven.” In addition to fireworks, Moxee is known for the fields of hops — one of the main ingredients in beer — that surround its suburban pockets.
Recently developed subdivisions surrounded by farmland and hop fields
“It has spectacular views toward the west,” Ehlers says. “You can see both mountains — Mount Adams and Mount Rainier — and it’s really pretty when the hops are growing.” Surrounded by farmland and fields of hops, Moxee’s recently developed residential streets have wide, neatly maintained sidewalks that lead past driveways and protruding garages. New Traditional homes built throughout the early 2000s, and more recent constructions from the 2020s, range from $250,000 to $530,000. Lots can stretch over half an acre of land, leaving room for recreational vehicle parking and storage sheds.
Moxee has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Casual eateries, the Bale Breaker Brew Company and its hop farm
Gridded residential streets surround Moxee's commercial core, which is home to no-fuss eateries easily accessible by most residents. New York Teriyaki Moxee serves artistically plated sushi, teriyaki, fried rice and other Asian dishes in a casual setting, while Mugshotz Café helps guests start their day with coffee, breakfast sandwiches, pastries and smoothies. Moxee Market is nearby, though larger, chain grocers — like Safeway and Fred Meyer — are northwest in Yakima. Farther west, Bale Breaker Brew Company is a 30-barrel brewhouse that grows its own hops on a fourth-generation farm. Its taphouse offers 16 beers on tap, rotating food trucks and lawn games in a dog-friendly outdoor area.
The Moxee Hop Festival
“Growing up in a small town, you wouldn’t think Yakima would really make it on a map, but it’s insane in the beer scene,” Ehlers says. The Yakima Valley is home to about 75% of the total hop acreage in the country. To celebrate, the Moxee Hop Festival takes place during the first full weekend of every August in Moxee City Park. A beer garden is naturally one of the main attractions, and other events include live music performances, a 5K run, a volleyball tournament and a parade.
Moxee City Park, Loftus Fields and the Yakima Country Club
Outdoor enthusiasts can gather at the skatepark, the public pool or the shaded picnic tables in Moxee City Park, on the south side of the city. Five baseball diamonds make up the Loftus Fields, where both the East Valley Youth Baseball Little League and the high school varsity team practice. Yakima Country Club, the first in Central Washington, was established in 1916. Spanning more than 110 acres, its golf course offers sweeping views of both Mount Adams and Mount Rainier. Golfers can compete in various championship games, while other members take advantage of the club’s pool and the adjacent splash pad and snack bar.
International Baccalaureate, dual credit classes at East Valley High
Students living near the center of the city may start their K-12 journeys at Moxee Elementary School, while those living on the outskirts may attend East Valley Elementary School, both of which receive B grades from Niche. Students from both elementary schools may come together at East Valley Central Middle School and East Valley High School, both scoring B-minuses. High school students may earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma or dual credit through the Running Start program, a partnership between the high school and Yakima Valley College. Career and technical education pathway options include agriculture, computer science, business education and health science, among others.
Highway access to Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Seattle
Moxee sits along Washington state Route 24, which runs west toward Yakima, about 8 miles away, and intersects with Interstate 82. The interstate travels southeast toward the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland. North of Yakima, it connects with Interstate 90, which drivers can follow to Seattle, about 150 miles away. The Yakima Airport offers daily flights to Spokane and Seattle, where travelers will find more domestic and international service.
