Complete information for Olmstead Place

Park overview:

Olmstead Place State Park is a 217-acre day-use park that features a working pioneer farm. The park hosts tours and school field trips. Pioneer artifacts are plentiful in the park, and many can be seen in action in the work of maintaining the farm. Picnic space and walking trails interweave with interpretive activities.



Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

The park is open year round for day use. Call the park at (509) 925-1943 for appointments and information.

Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

The park has no camping.

Driving Directions

Located four miles east of Ellensburg, WA and three miles west of Kittitas, Wash. in Kittitas County.


Park address:
921 N. Ferguson Road
Ellensburg, WA 98926

From I-90:
Take exit #115 (Kittitas). Go north on Main Street to T-intersection. Turn left and go three miles. Turn left on North Ferguson Rd. Drive about 1/2 mile to park.

Park Maps

Olmstead Place downloadable pdf map #1


List of all downloadable Washington State Park maps.

Park Features

This working pioneer farm offers tours and elaborate school field trips. "Old-time" special events are sponsored by the park throughout the year. Viewing antique farm implements in action and enjoying the historic gardens are popular activities.

History

This area is the location of one of the first homesteads in the Kittitas valley. The Olmstead family arrived in 1875 and lived on the farm for about 100 years before donating it to Washington State Parks in 1968. Today, it continues to be a working farm, with some of the land still worked with old-fashioned equipment. The original 1875 log cabin and 1908 farmhouse (with the family's furnishings intact) are still standing, as are most of the outbuildings.

Interpretive opportunities

This pioneer working farm offers both elaborate school field trips and guided tours for the public. School field trips include a tour of an old log cabin and farmhouse plus butter-churning and pioneer games. Pioneer artifacts on display at the farm include tools, furniture, clothing, farm implements and machinery.

Free guided public tours take place weekends from noon to 4 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day. Group tours and school field trips are available for a fee. To book tours and field trips, call the park at (509) 925-1943.

Services/Supplies

	Available in the area
	• Auto repair • Airport • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Hospital • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • White gas • Wood • Swimming

Services are available in Ellensburg (four miles west of park). Some services are available in Kittitas (three miles east of park).

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 1 mi. Hiking Trails	• Fishing (freshwater)	• Interpretive Activities • Museum • Wildlife Viewing
Fishing season for Coleman Creek is June 1 to October 31. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website. School field trips, which include butter-churning and pioneer games, can be booked by calling the park office at (509) 925-1943. Garden weddings can also be booked by calling the office (wedding fee charged).

Events

Events
Date/time	Event description	State Park
Sept. 20 and 21 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.	Painting in the Parks – Olmstead Place: Celebrate the centennial of Washington State Parks by painting in the parks. Take a journey through a state park and find artistic inspiration. Then spend the day creating a work in Washington’s great outdoors. On Sept. 20 and 21, participants are welcome to paint at Olmstead Place State Park, a working pioneer farm in the heart of Kittitas Valley. A full schedule of Painting in the Parks days is available at www.pleinairwashington.com. Presented by the Plein Air Washington Artists.	Olmstead Place (509) 925-1943

Full list of events at Washington State Parks

Winter Recreation

• Cross-country Skiing
• Snowshoeing

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

There are 17 unsheltered picnic tables in the park, along with a restroom. To reserve tables, call the state park office at (509) 925-1943.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Deer or Elk • Marmots	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Eagles • Gulls • Hawks • Hummingbirds • Jays • Pheasants • Quail • Woodpeckers	• Trout

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
		• Ponderosa Pine • Apple • Cherry • Maple • Daisy • Rose • Berries • Thistle

Park photo gallery