A small town off the highway at the foot of the Cascades
Startup, at the foot of the Cascade Mountains, is one in a series of small Snohomish County towns located off U.S. Route 2. "It's kind of a unique little town; it started out as a logging camp," says Mike Kuhlman, a broker and the owner of Kuhlman Properties. The community sees a decent amount of traffic as people pass through searching for mountain scenery, skiing and other outdoor recreation. To the west, U.S. 2 starts in Everett before continuing eastward, passing Monroe and Sultan before reaching Startup and heading into the mountains.
Startup is named for a man, not a business venture
Members of the Skykomish tribe inhabited the general area before it was developed in the late 19th century. Homesteading, logging and railroads brought newcomers, and prospectors showed up after gold was found in the Skykomish River in 1869. The town is named after George G. Startup, an early 20th-century businessman in the lumber industry. "He was an early car owner and enthusiast and was on a coalition to improve the roadways. That coalition is part of the reason we have a paved Stevens Pass," says Melody Dazey, the economic development and tourism manager for the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Rivers, a reduced flood risk and Wallace Falls State Park
The Skykomish River, at the southern edge of Startup and neighboring towns, is popular for swimming, fishing and kayaking. The narrower and shorter Wallace River runs parallel to Route 2 and is also enjoyed for recreational activities. Though Startup had significant flooding in the past, the risk was mitigated after a levee road was built. "The flood plain is actually on the outskirts of Startup," says Robert Sackman, operations manager for the Startup Water District. "It's never flooded at my house." The flooding is mainly a result of melting snow, but it does rain about half of the year here, averaging more than 60 inches a year. On the other hand, he says it can get very windy, which can result in property damage.
Besides the riversides, there's plenty of forest to explore. Many people go to Wallace Falls State Park, about 4 miles from Startup, to hike to the lower, middle and upper falls.
Skykomish River provides endless amounts of outdoor activities for Startup residents.
Wallace Falls State Park, several miles away from Startup, is a popular hiking destination.
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Brand new subdivision homes, but otherwise a limited market
The number of pre-owned homes on the market is limited because few people are selling. As a result, overall pricing trend data is not available. "Most of the houses in this town are pretty old: 1920s or older," Sackman says, adding that some were built from the 1980s on.
Some of the newest area homes are found in the Wyndham Highlands Classic Series subdivision, which is west of the neighborhood. The planned development features 2020s single-family homes of about 1,600 to 2,700 square feet, with built-in two-car garages. In late 2024, these were the only homes listed for sale, and some were at to-be-built status. Prices range from the $500,000s to $600,000s.
Newly constructed homes in Startup adorn the streets with a touch of magic.
Wake up to the sound of nature's symphony in this newly constructed Startup home.
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Some businesses in Startup; more in nearby towns like Sultan
Startup's businesses include The Haystack Company, which sells antiques, art and garden accessories, some made from recycled materials. Startup Roots is known for local goods and farm produce. Opened in the 1960s, Alpen Drive-in could be termed a hamburger hut but is also known for its milkshakes and secret recipe dipping sauce. Sky River Pub & Eatery has karaoke nights, live music performances and pool tournaments.
Other stores and restaurants are found in Sultan. Though Startup and Sultan are associated in many ways, they are referred to as separate towns. Sultan, which is a few miles west, has a small downtown area, locally owned shops, a seasonal Saturday farmers market and Sultan Red Apple Market for groceries. Gold Bar and Monroe are other places people go to shop.
Sky River Pub & Eatery in Startup has live entertainment, pool tables, and more.
Shop for antiques and find a hidden gem at The Haystack Company in Startup.
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The Sultan Public Schools district enrolls Startup students
Public schools include those in the Sultan School District. Sultan Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche. Sultan Middle School and Sultan High School both receive C-plus grades. The schools are less than a mile from each other.
Sultan Middle School provides excellent education and sports programs.
Sultan Senior High School prepares students for graduation and beyond.
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Events at the Startup Event Center or in nearby towns
The Startup Event Center, also known as Startup Gym, is a renovated 1930s gymnasium. It hosts a holiday market, dances and community fairs and offers private rentals. Sultan is the setting for some big events, like the Salmon Celebration in late September and the Sultan Shindig, a multiday street fair in July. The Evergreen State Fair, held in Monroe at the end of the summer, draws hundreds of thousands to the region. . Startup itself experience low crime, it has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, half the national average.
Osprey Park holds the annual Return of the Salmon Celebration event near Startup.
The Startup Event Center hosts many Startup events throughout the year.
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Commuting distances and the Community Transit bus
If they aren't working from home or in smaller towns nearby, people might commute to Everett, about 27 miles away. Bellevue and Redmond are within a 37-mile drive; Seattle is slightly farther. Though Startup is primarily car-dependent, there are some alternatives for at least part of a trip. Community Transit's Route 271 bus goes from Gold Bar to Everett Station, with a stop at Sultan Park & Ride. People in need of transportation assistance might use Dial-A-Ride-Transportation (DART). The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is more than 60 miles away. EvergreenHealth Monroe is the closest hospital, about 12 miles west.
Written By
Robin Silberman
Photography Contributed By
Jake Chaplin
Video By
Bill Jennings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mark Gallagher,
an experienced agent in this area.
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