Shelley is a small town with a love of Russets in eastern Idaho
Idaho is famous around the country for its potatoes, growing approximately one-third of the nation’s supply each year. Few communities within the state embrace that heritage as well as Shelley. “They have the best Spud Days in September. They have a big parade, and the whole community comes out. It’s a popular event every fall,” says Jim Windmiller, an eastern Idaho native and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. The festival isn’t the only way this small city southwest of Idaho Falls celebrates its agriculture. The high school’s athletic teams are known as the Russets, and the district gives students two weeks off every September to participate in the harvest. Besides its love of root vegetables, homebuyers come to Shelley for its peaceful atmosphere and affordable living. “It’s kind of a bedroom community. It’s in an area between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot in Bingham County, which has the lowest taxes for homeowners, so it’s a little cheaper.”
A century of housing options available in eastern Idaho
The established homes in Shelley include cottages, bungalows and farmhouses around the downtown area, often from the early to mid-1900s. Like many communities around Idaho Falls, Shelley is seeing significant growth, leading to new construction. Builders are bringing in 21st-century New Traditional homes, typically in subdivisions and featuring prominent attached garages. While much of Shelley is suburban, buyers can find properties on 1 to 3 acres. The median sales price in the area is around $475,000, which is higher than larger nearby cities like Blackfoot and Idaho Falls.
Neighbors gather to celebrate Idaho potatoes every September
Spud Day takes place on the third Saturday in September every year and includes several events to bring the community together. A 5K Spud Run, Spud Days Parade and spud picking contest are just some ways neighbors celebrate the festival. The annual Miss Russet pageant is also held the week of the celebration. The winner leads the parade down State Street and hands out free baked potatoes to eventgoers.
High school students prepare for careers with CTE classes
Shelley School District serves the community and gets a B-minus rating from Niche. Shelley High School also receives a B-minus and offers several career and technical education courses, including agriculture, business, computer science and welding. The school also provides clubs that support students’ professional development, such as Future Farmers of America and Business Professionals of America. Shelley High boasts an average graduation rate of 99%.
State Street hosts locally owned shops and restaurants
Most businesses in Shelley are located on State Street in the heart of town. Windmiller says Mick’s Home Cooking is the best restaurant in the community. This casual diner is known for its pies but serves a full menu of standard American fare. El Jaliciense #3 Mexican American Restaurant offers classic Mexican dishes like burritos, fajitas and chimichangas. Groceries are available at stores like Broulim’s Fresh Foods or El Chuy, a Mexican market on State Street. Other shops in the area include Ace Hardware, Family Dollar and Hidden Treasures, a large furniture warehouse. Big-box stores like Target, Walmart and Costco are in Idaho Falls.
Fishing, boating and sports are the main recreation in Shelley
Multiple parks around the city offer plenty of recreation. North Bingham County Park is just west of Shelley on the Snake River and has picnic tables, campsites, and basketball and tennis courts. Visitors can launch a kayak from the boat ramp or cast a line from the riverbank. Pillsbury Park has a playground, picnic shelters and the community pool open from June through September. Curt Brinkman Park is the place to be for sports, with tennis, basketball and a skate park. About 5 miles north, a boat ramp near Gem State Dam offers another spot for fishing and launching kayaks or motorboats.
Idaho Falls is a quick commute away
State Street, also known as U.S. Route 91, leads about 9 miles northeast to Idaho Falls or 18 miles southwest to Blackfoot. Shelley is about 11 miles from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and 12 miles from Idaho National Laboratory, one of the area’s largest employers. Interstate 15 is about 4 miles west of Shelley and provides a north-south highway through the state.
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Written By
Matthew Atkins
