Sultan is a Skykomish Valley community by two rivers
Sultan is in Snohomish County at the convergence of the Sultan and Skykomish rivers. The Cascade Mountains backdrop adds to the ambiance. "People that live there enjoy a quiet, rural lifestyle that's laid back," says Tim Fenner, a Realtor with Keller Williams Western Realty, who has also worked in the construction industry. The area became attractive to prospectors during the 1880s when traces of gold were found. It was a logging community and a supply station for the Burlington Northern Railroad during the 1890s and was incorporated in 1905. Today, the population is about 6,000 people, according to U.S. Census estimates.
Craftsmans, ranch-style homes and contemporaries
The southwest section of Sultan, close to where the two rivers meet, includes a downtown area and has some of the oldest homes. Some of the Craftsman bungalows here date to the early 20th century. Ranch-style homes, split-levels and some townhomes were added later. The newest homes, contemporaries from the 2020s, tend to be concentrated north of Bryant Road. There are a few suburban-style subdivisions with HOAs in the area; Skyride Estates is one of the newest and northernmost developments.
Prices typically range from about $300,000 to $830,000, though some are over $1 million. Riverside lots are sought after, and multiacre properties, often toward the outer reaches of Sultan, can include farms and equestrian amenities. Mobile and manufactured homes are about $80,000 to $320,000.
Community parks and regional outdoor attractions
Sultan's community parks include Sultan Osprey Park, which has a dog park, a basketball court, trails and a playground with a zipline. Reese Park has trails, river access and fields for baseball and soccer.
Fenner says activities on the Skykomish River are popular: "People swim and fish and go white water rafting and kayaking east of Sultan." Wallace Falls State Park has an entry point and parking lot about 7 miles from Sultan via U.S. Route 2. Spada Lake and the Sultan River Canyon Trail are each about 20 miles northeast of town via Sultan Basin Road. Stevens Pass, a ski resort of over 1,000 acres named for a route created across the Cascades, is about 42 miles away.
Sultan School District schools are within a mile of each other
Kids may attend public schools in the Sultan School District. Sultan Elementary earns a B grade from Niche. Sultan Middle and Sultan High both receive C-plus grades. The three schools are less than a mile from each other. Sultan High has a variety of career and technical education classes, including welding, agriculture technology, and construction and carpentry.
Downtown Sultan focuses on locally owned stores
Downtown Sultan’s small-town charm is evident in its focus on locally owned businesses. In addition to reading materials, Kiss the Sky Books offers art, open mics and live performances. "It's always a hunt, but it has everything you want in a bookstore, piles of used books, coffee, all the things," says Melody Dazey, the economic development and tourism manager for the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce. Flat Iron Gallery is a boutique that has an eclectic selection of goods. "It's like Hallmark on steroids. Definitely the place to go around the holidays if you need anything," Dazey says.
Places to eat, drink and get groceries around Sultan
Sultan Bakery, known for its fresh pastries, also serves traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. Locals line up to order through the window at Vick's Burger Shack, and Dazey says it has the best onion rings. Bubba's Roadhouse Bar & Grill is a family and biker-friendly bar and grill with live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. For more beverage choices, there's Good Brewing Sultan, a family-friendly microbrewery with daily taproom hours. Curtson Distillery, a producer of artisan spirits, has tastings on Fridays and Saturdays.
For a variety of produce and general supplies, there's Sultan Red Apple Market. Monroe, about 8 miles to the west, has more extensive shopping options, including a Safeway and a Grocery Outlet. The Sultan Farmers Market is held on Saturdays in River Park from mid-May to late September.
Events like the Salmon Celebration and the Sultan Shindig
Special events include the Return of the Salmon Celebration in Sultan Osprey Park in late September. "It celebrates the annual event of salmon coming into the system, which is vital to the community," Dazey says. "The pink salmon, also called 'humpy' salmon, run every other year, primarily on odd years." In one spawning season, 600,000 pink salmon hit the Snohomish River System. "When they are spawning, they smell really bad. It's definitely noticeable," Dazey says.
In July, it's time for the Sultan Shindig, a multiday street fair with a parade, fireworks and a car show. Competitors wield chainsaws and axes during the logging show, which includes an obstacle course. Another popular area event is The Evergreen State Fair, held in Monroe at the end of the summer.
U.S. Route 2, Community Transit buses and a park and ride
Around the turn of the 20th century, Sultan had a small river steamship for transportation. "The roads were dirt, and it was easier to travel the river than the roadways," Dazey says. Nowadays, there's no steamship, the roads are paved and there is convenient access to U.S. Route 2. The closest hospital is EvergreenHealth Monroe Medical Center.
Seattle, Everett and Bothell are each within a 45-mile drive. Community Transit buses travel from Gold Bar, east of Sultan, to Everett Station, about 23 miles northwest of Sultan. Everett is also the location of the Seattle Paine Field International Airport, also called Paine Field and Snohomish County Airport. Dial-A-Ride-Transportation (DART) is available for those who need assistance with local trips, and Sultan has a park and ride.
Written By
Robin Silberman
