The Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center (VIC) celebrates 10 years of serving visitors to the Yakima Valley in 2013. Built in 2003, with the vision to promote the Yakima Valley’s growing wine country, the Visitor Center has become the first stop for information on lodging, restaurants, activities and events.
One of the events during this year long celebration, “Sneak Peek to Spring Barrel,” will be April 11, 2013, at Le Chateau. Wine Diva’s will be hosting this event. Come enjoy local wine tasting, live music, Hors D’Oeuvers, Spring fashions, shopping, raffle prizes and more. This is an all lady, 21 and over event. The Visitor Center will be offering a Gift Bag valued at $25 with every ticket. The gift bag will include 4 wine tasting coupons, to be used anytime during the evening, a glass of wine, a lite-up wine glass, Washington Wine Country Coasters; It’s All about the Pretzels, Spring Barrel Wine Tasting winery information, coupons and so much more. Tickets to the event are $30. Visit the Yakima Valley’s beautiful Tuscan style Visitor Center for your tickets.
The Yakima Valley Visitor Center provides information covering the Yakima Valley, most cities in Washington State, plus Oregon, Idaho, Montana. In 2006 the gift shop was added featuring local Yakima Valley made products and artwork, souvenirs plus specialty gift items. In 2011 the gift shop expanded its selection of local wines for purchase and began offering wine tasting 4 premiums Yakima Valley wines with the purchase of a $5.00 Govino wine glass.
The Yakima Valley Visitor Center is located across the street from Target Store at 101 North Fair Ave. Exit 33 off I-82. (map)
Come celebrate with us.
The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michelle Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.
The City of Union Gap was originally settled by wagon train led by Dr. L. H. Goodwin* in 1865. The wagon train was on its way to the Puget Sound, when the Goodwin’s decided to settle by the Yakima River, near the gap between two hills, known as Spring Creek Homestead. The original home and barn which was built in 1911, are still standing. The home features hand crafted wood gutters along the eve, a massive stone fireplace with cast iron cooking pot, and numerous historical photo graphs.Spring Creek Homesteadand the beautiful grounds are now used as an event facility perfect for weddings, reunions, or music festivals. This settlement became “Yakima City” in 1869, the first municipality in Yakima County. Dr. Lewis H. Goodwin’s wife died soon after arriving in 1865 and was buried on a cliff by the Yakima River. Dr. Goodwin donated the land to the city which is now known as the *Pioneer Graveyard. Mrs. Goodwin was the first white woman to be buried in Yakima County. Located at the east end of the Ahtanum Road in Union Gap, this cemetery houses the grave-sites of many of the Yakima Valley original settlers.
Yakima City was granted it’s Territorial Charter rights in 1883.
In 1884 Northern Pacific Railway Company* came to the valley looking for a place to locate the train station. Deciding on land 4 miles north of Yakima City, they moved over 100 buildings including stores and residents homes. The stores were open for business as they were rolled on logs pulled by horse teams to what is now Downtown Yakima. That new city became North Yakima, then Yakima, and the original Yakima City was changed to its present name, Union Gap.
The settlers came to the Yakima Valley for the rich farm land. The Central Washington Agriculture Museum houses the antique hand tools used by early settlers, as well as horse drawn and early mechanical farm machinery, a working sawmill, apple packing line, and the Lindeman tractor, which was invented in the Yakima Valley and sold to John Deere. The museum covers over 17 acres with displays and farm equipment in 29 covered buildings and holds annual events at the site. The Central Washington Antique Farm Equipment Expo features a large display of antique farm equipment, demonstrating wheat threshing, blacksmithing, a working sawmill, with a parade of antique tractors, farm equipment, and trucks. The Old Steel Club Car Show, American Historical Truck Society Show, Lawn Tractor Pull Competition are a few of the other events. In addition the Ag Museum is a staging area for the Kittitas Valley Early Iron Club Threshing Bee & Antique Farm Show & Tractor Run through the Yakima River Canyon to Olmstead Place State Park near Ellensburg, Washington.
The Central Washington Agricultural Museum operating hours are; Open to walk through daily from dawn to dusk all year. Building Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday 1pm-4pm April – October 31.
Union Gap celebrates its status as being the first municipality in Yakima County during Old Town Days in mid June. This community celebration will include and idol competition, live music, food and craft vendors and children activities. Located in the beautiful 74 acre Ahtanum Park that was once a Department of Agriculture farm labor camp, this is a beautiful shaded park with areas for picnicking, soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball and horseshoes.
Today Union Gap is the center of shopping in the Yakima Valley with over 55 specialty stores in the Valley Mall. Real Deals on Home Decor is located nearby, where you will find the perfect piece for that hard-to-decorate spot in your home. There are accommodations within walking distance of the mall, the Best Western Plus Ahtanum Inn and Super 8. These are pet friendly hotels, also check the Winedoggies website for other recreational opportunities with your pets. On the other side of 1-82, from either hotel, is the beginning of the Yakima Greenway, a 10 mile paved walking path along the Yakima River, where you will find an off leash dog park and children”s playground equipment. If you are bringing the children, there is an indoor roller skating rink, Skateland, close by as well as the Majestic Movie Theater.
There are many restaurants to choose from located around the Valley Mall and hotels. Old Town Station specializes in home-style cooking, the famous Miners burgers has been in the valley for over 40 years, IHOP, Old Country Buffet , Outback SteakHouse and more.
The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.
The Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center (VIC) celebrates 10 years of serving visitors to the Yakima Valley in 2013. Built in 2003, with the vision to promote the Yakima Valley’s growing wine country, the Visitor Center has become the first stop for information on lodging, restaurants, activities and events.
long celebration, “Sneak Peek to Spring Barrel,” will be April 11, 2013, at Le Chateau. Wine Diva’s will be hosting this event. Come enjoy local wine tasting, live music, Hors D’Oeuvers, Spring fashions, shopping, raffle prizes and more. This is an all lady, 21 and over event. The Visitor Center will be offering a Gift Bag valued at $25 with every ticket. The gift bag will include 4 wine tasting coupons, to be used anytime during the evening, a glass of wine, a lite-up wine glass, Washington Wine Country Coasters; It’s All about the Pretzels, Spring Barrel Wine Tasting winery information, coupons and so much more. Tickets to the event are $30. Visit the Yakima Valley’s beautiful Tuscan style Visitor Center for your tickets.
