Soda Springs is a unique town with a lot of history
Soda Springs is a small, mostly rural town situated along Alexander Reservoir and the headwaters of the Bear River. The community's history stretches back to the Oregon Trail era, when pioneers stopped to rest at the area's naturally carbonated springs. The town is still known for its unique springs, but these days its economy centers around phosphate mining—4 of the 11 active phosphate mines in the U.S. are found around Soda Springs. "It's basically a quiet little town with a lot of nature around it," says broker and area native Devin Skinner of Property PROS Realty. "You've got national forest on all sides; there's tons of hiking and hunting. And the town's big enough that you can pick up groceries and essentials."
Midcentury homes are common
The local housing market reflects the development of the town itself over the decades. Turn-of-the-century cottages and bungalows can be found near the center of town, along with a wide array of midcentury ranch-style properties that sprang up alongside the phosphate industry. More modern homes have been built in recent years, including contemporary cabins around the outskirts of town. It's also fairly common for incoming residents to buy a plot of land and build their own home. Most homes in Soda Springs sell for between $250,000 and $450,000, while 5-acre lots go for $100,000 to $200,000, depending on how close to town they are.
The town is known for its hourly geyser
The town's most famous natural feature is the captive Soda Springs Geyser. The geyser was unintentionally created in 1937 during a well-drilling operation meant to create a heated, carbonated swimming pool. The geyser is capped and runs on a timer that opens the geyser once every hour, shooting water 100 feet into the air. Kelly Park, just west of the geyser, includes tennis courts, a bike park and a disc golf course. There are also a number of smaller springs and parks scattered in and around town. The Alexander Reservoir and Bear River are just south of town, providing opportunities for fishing and kayaking. Caribou-Targhee National Forest lies a few miles to the east and south of town and offers hiking, snowmobiling, and hunting. "There's really just natural beauty everywhere you look," says Skinner. "You can basically get into the mountains whenever you want."
Route 30 is the local retail corridor
Shopping and dining in Soda Springs is concentrated along U.S. Route 30, which runs through the center of town. The community's two supermarkets, Broulim's Fresh Foods and Lallatin Food Town, sit right next to each other in the heart of town. There are a couple of hardware stores and other small shops nearby. The nearest major shopping centers are about an hour away in Pocatello. The town does have its own hospital and emergency room, the Caribou Medical Center. While Soda Springs' restaurant scene isn't quite as diverse as some of the resort towns to the south, the city is home to a few highly rated local eateries, including Caribou Jack's BBQ and the longstanding Main Street Diner.
Soda Springs public schools
The local public schools are run by the Soda Springs Joint School District. Thirkill Primary School has a B rating on Niche, as does Tigert Middle School. Soda Springs High School has a B-minus and is known for its standout girls' cross-country team, which won 14 straight 2A state championships from 2006 to 2019.
The annual Fourth of July parade
Soda Springs' annual Fourth of July celebration includes a parade, a fireworks show near the high school, and games in the city park.
A bit of a drive to the nearest airports
U.S. Highway 30 runs through town and connects Soda Springs to Montpelier to the southeast and Lava Hot Springs and Pocatello to the west. Soda Springs doesn't have any regular bus routes, so most residents rely on private vehicles to get around. It's a 60-mile drive to Pocatello, which is home to the nearest commercial airport. However, Pocatello Regional Airport currently only offers flights to Salt Lake City International Airport, and residents often skip the middleman and book flights directly out of Salt Lake, which is a little over 170 miles away by car.
