Welcome to Eastern Washington Windermere

WALLA WALLA COUNTY
County Offices
314 West Main Street
Walla Walla 509-524-2505
https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
29 East Sumach Street
Walla Walla 509-525-0850
https://www.wwvchamber.com/

Beautiful Walla Walla County nestles in a valley of southeastern Washington State at edge of the picturesque Blue Mountains. In addition to the nationally protected areas of McNary National Wildlife Refuge and a portion of Umatilla National Forest, this water-rich region is traversed by the Columbia, Snake, Touchet, and Walla Walla rivers. Long known for its proud heritage of agricultural activity, modern Walla Walla County is famous for producing premier wines along with crops of sweet onions and wheat. More than 90 wineries and as many vineyards dot the landscape, each one dedicated to producing world-class wines that often earn international recognition. Many other cash crops add to the annual harvest, including barley, corn, potatoes, asparagus, peas, soft fruit, vegetables, and alfalfa. Two of the world’s largest farms are located in this region, one for apples and the other for Concord grapes.

Over the decades, continued development has added diversity and stability to the economic base, including important institutions for healthcare and higher education as well as the presence of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. As part of the Corps’ Northwestern Division, the Walla Walla District has constructed and operated major hydroelectric and flood control projects over nearly 50 years. Highlights include Lucky Peak Dam, Mill Creek Dam, and Dworshak Dam—the highest straight-axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. U.S. Highway 12 serves as the major thoroughfare for Walla Walla County businesses and residents, with commercial airline service available at Walla Walla Regional Airport. In addition to supporting general aviation needs, the airport offers flights to Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle.

Services

Students of all ages have easy access to outstanding educational opportunities in Walla Walla Valley, home to six private schools and a highly regarded public school district. Exceptional resources include the Walla Walla Center for Children and Families for services for children from birth through age five and the Carnegie Picture Lab, partnering with 13 schools in Washington and Oregon to deliver art education with the help of a passionate team of trained volunteers. Career training or an affordable start on a four-year degree is available close to home at Walla Walla Community College, an award-winning school on a picturesque 130-acre campus. Major areas of study include arts and sciences transfer programs, workforce education and workplace learning centers, pre-college, dual-credit and alternative high school programs, basic skills, and lifelong learning. Two private colleges also maintain campuses in the county. The Adventist-affiliated liberal arts school of Walla Walla University in the city of College Place offers more than 100 areas of study including preprofessional degrees and four graduate programs. With its 117-acre campus in downtown Walla Walla, the private institution of Whitman College features a wide range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences. Many notable alumni have walked the halls of Whitman College, including those recognized by a Nobel Prize in physics, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Rhodes Scholarships, Fulbright Fellowships, Watson Fellowships, and a Marshall Scholarship.

State-of-the-art healthcare from primary to highly advanced care is available close to home, anchored by Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla under the renowned Providence Health & Services Washington system. As a recognized leader in quality, safety, and service, the hospital has a reputation for some of the region’s top physicians and staff and the most advanced technologies. Providence St. Mary Medical Center provides a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient care including a family birth center, regional cancer center, rehabilitation center, cardiac care, women’s services, support groups, and wellness programs that serve the entire community. In addition to comprehensive primary care specialties, the hospital provides senior services, home health, home infusion, and hospice. The University of Health Clinic, a partnership between Walla Walla University and Providence St. Mary Medical Center, provides health services for WWU students, faculty, and staff. The city of Walla Walla is also home to Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, proudly improving the health of veterans in Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Western Idaho since 1921.

Lifestyle

Situated at the doorstep of the Blue Mountains, Walla Walla County is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. Mill Creek and Bennington Lake attract hikers, anglers, and birders to a wild-life rich landscape and 20 miles of trails. Just a few miles from the Oregon border, the small mountain town of Tollgate serves as a four-season recreational hub for summer hiking, camping at Jubilee Lake, and winter activities including snow sports. Lewis and Clark Trail State Park offers 36 acres for camping and 1,333 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Touchet River. Families will appreciate the amenities at Fort Walla Walla City Park, including play equipment, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball, and a 70-acre wildlife preserve with streams and a hiking trail. One of the favorite destinations in the warmer summer months is Joe Humbert Family Aquatic Park, inviting visitors of all ages to swim, splash, and play in a massive pool with a zero-depth gradual entry access. Golfers can perfect their backstroke on challenging courses, while public tennis courts invite friendly play or serious competition. Children of all ages will love the interactive opportunities at Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, where learning about art and science has never been so fun.

Opportunities for artistic expression and cultural appreciation are abundant in and near Walla Walla County. Across the Oregon border, Pendleton is home to Tamastslikt Cultural Center, where exhibits and videos interpret the impact of pioneer settlement on indigenous tribes. One of the local milestones in this history the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. The small city of Waitsburg draws visitors to the Bruce Memorial Museum, offering glimpses of 1883 luxury and hosting pioneer activities. Art lovers will enjoy the displays in Sheehan and Stevens galleries at Whitman College and the Clyde & Mary Harris Art Gallery at Walla Walla University. Great music has been celebrated in this region since 1907 with the founding of Walla Walla Symphony, just one of many performing arts groups that benefit from the acoustic excellence at Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College campus. Gesa Power House Theatre in Walla Walla offers an intimate experience and memorable productions, while Little Theatre of Walla Walla delivers the finest in community theater. Newcomers will want to take their time exploring all the hidden gems scattered throughout the county, from unique shopping experiences and local products to fine antiques and hand-crafted art. With its blend of rural charm, city conveniences, and attractive homes in country or neighborhood settings, Walla Walla County is an idyllic place to call home.

COMMUNITIES

College Place
Municipal Offices
509-529-1200
http://cpwa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
509-525-0850
https://www.wwvchamber.com/
“Where small-town living and learning meet” is an appropriate slogan for College Place, where country charm blends with high-rated educational opportunities and a growing business sector. This thriving community is well-named for having an unusually comprehensive educational system. Options are available for public, private, and faith-based education from preschool through post-graduate including the highly respected private school of Walla Walla University. Acres of well-managed parks add beauty and recreational opportunities including a municipal swimming pool. Surrounded by natural beauty and agricultural bounty, the city nestles at the foothills of the Blue Mountains in panoramic Walla Walla Valley with its vast fields, vineyards, and orchards. Residents enjoy a close-knit community spirit and the convenience of fully developed local services just minutes from the city of Walla Walla. Together, the two cities offer first-rate shopping, recreational amenities, three college campuses, a regional hospital, visual and performing arts venues, and a medley of attractive homes in welcoming neighborhoods.

Walla Walla
Municipal Offices
509-527-4423
https://www.wallawallawa.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
509-525-0850
https://www.wwvchamber.com/
The award-winning city of Walla Walla has long been recognized for the charm of its downtown district, ranked No. 4 in Fodor Travel Guide’s list of 25 Cutest Main Streets. The city has also been praised for its historic preservation, voted America’s Best Wine Region, Travelocity’s number one small-city road trip destination, and ranked among the best cities to live in Washington. Even the Veterans Memorial Pool in Walla Walla has earned Washington State’s Spotlight Program Excellence Award. Public recreational facilities that serve local residents and those from surrounding rural communities include 15 parks, an 18-hole municipal golf course, an aviary, swimming pool with slides and a splash feature, and an extensive recreation trail system. The entire city is a visual delight, graced by lovely gardens, beautiful old trees, modern development, and historic preservation. Walla Walla is home to Providence St. Mary Medical Center and the campuses for Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College. With three colleges and a comprehensive healthcare system, the city and its suburbs of College City and East Walla Walla serve as a hub of education, healthcare, business, and retail activity for the entire Walla Walla Valley.