Sumner blends small-town charm with rhubarb pride and views
Amidst the lush beauty of the Pacific Northwest is Sumner, Washington—not just a charming town, it proudly holds the title of the Rhubarb Pie capital of the world. “Rhubarb is huge here,” says Skyline Properties’ Bobbie Jo Roth, Auburn’s Best Realtor 2023. “When I drive through rhubarb fields on the outskirts of town, I know I’m almost home.” Bite into local heritage with Sumner’s stunning mountain views, walkable downtown and public green spaces. “This is the kind of community where people grow up here, stay in town and raise families here,” says Roth. “The kind of place where a quick stop at the grocery store turns into an hour because you run into old friends and neighbors for a chat.”
Craftsman and colonial homes with porches and fenced yards
Gridded streets and well-maintained sidewalks set the stage for Sumner’s multiple house styles, including colonials, cottages, ranches and bungalows. “There are many Craftsman homes here since it is a historical area, and lots of three and four-bedroom houses,” says Roth. Most houses are single-story, and many have covered front porches, perfect for sipping coffee in the morning or enjoying a respite from a rainy day. Houses range in price from $400,000 to $600,000 and many houses come with privacy fencing.
Annual parades and football games build school connections
Students in Sumner attend the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District public schools, rated B-plus by Niche and ranked the fifth-best school district in Pierce County. A student may attend Maple Lawn Elementary School, Sumner Middle School and Sumner High School. “Sumner locals are really into hometown pride and school spirit,” says Roth. “There’s the annual Homecoming Parade, where SHS alumni line the streets to celebrate the current students in the parade. And every Friday during football season is Friday Night Lights, where we cheer on our Spartans at the stadium.”
Trails, parks and indoor rec centers offer year-round activities
The Sumner Link trail provides 5.5 miles of paved walking trails along and across the White River, and Loyalty Park, Sumner’s oldest park, offers horseshoe pits, pickleball courts, a playground area and picnic tables. In April, enjoy fresh flowers at Sumner’s annual Daffodil Parade, founded in 1926 and the third-largest floral festival in the United States. When rainy days arrive, the Bonney Lake-Sumner Recreation Program at the Robert Miller Gym gives kids a place to play indoor flag football, basketball and soccer, or take dance, gymnastics, or karate classes year-round. There’s also the local YMCA for indoor swimming, racquetball and weightlifting. Plus, Seattle is only a half-hour train ride from downtown Sumner. “The Sounder Train makes getting into Seattle a breeze,” Roth says, “so it’s easy to stop in for a meal or to visit a museum, then head home by dinnertime.”
Rhubarb recipes and fresh produce reflect Sumner’s heritage
Locals head downtown for dinner at the Windmill Bistro, where you’ll find semi-formal dining, including local fish and seasonal specials. There are also vegetarian options that the whole family can appreciate, plus a full bar menu complete with happy-hour drink deals. Enjoy an afternoon tea at The Secret Garden, a local favorite serving savory sandwiches and sweet treats on vintage American Farm-style porcelain and antique glassware during warm months. For those who would rather cook, Fred Meyer Groceries is just a quick drive from home. Be sure to head to nearby Knutson Farms to pick up freshly grown rhubarb for a rhubarb pie— as the rhubarb capital, Sumner offers recipes on the town website so you can feature this delectable local crop in all your seasonal meals.
Photography Contributed By
Perry Cucinotta
