Chehalis (pronounced she-HAY’-lees) offers small town living with plenty of opportunities available right at your fingertips. Situated midway between Portland and Seattle, Chehalis is home to approximately 7,000 residents who call Lewis County their home.
Stan Hedwell Park in particular is highly-preferred by families. With baseball fields, soccer fields, meadows and more all under one roof.
Beautiful Downtown Area
Downtown Lewiston boasts an idyllic downtown district filled with charming shops and eateries to discover. Admire a series of murals such as Wings on North Market Boulevard or Sunset’s #15 that shows an iconic locomotive passing through Chehalis River valley. Also, Lewis County Historical Museum provides insights into local logging and farming history and offers special events.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Chehalis Riverfront Walkway to experience its natural beauty and spot local wildlife. Fort Borst Park in Centralia boasts athletic facilities, 3 miles of trails, access to both Chehalis River and Borst Lake as well as other 121 acres for recreation and relaxation.
Visit The Pasta Bowl for authentic Italian fare in a locally and family-owned eatery, like grilled chicken fettuccine or spaghetti with meatballs paired with wine. Or visit Vicky’s Salvadorian Restaurant to try slow-cooked Pollo Guisado or Bistec Encebollado with Salvadorian herbs for something different!
Historic Sites
Chehalis, situated in western Lewis County, boasts an alluring, small town atmosphere filled with historic sites and buildings. There are three historic districts here as well as the Lewis County Historical Museum located in a 1912 Northern Pacific Railroad Depot.
Chehalis economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was heavily dependent upon timber products, agriculture and food processing, mineral extraction/production/sale/transaction, as well as commercial/civic buildings within its downtown business district bounded by Market, Main and Washington streets as well as on its outskirts.
Chehalis had an urban elite who commissioned prestigious residential architecture in Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles; most citizens lived in vernacular residences of one-story construction. Chehalis Downtown District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 – pick up your self-guided walking tour guide from Lewis County Historical Museum to explore this historic downtown district!
Family-Friendly Activities
Chehalis offers many activities suitable for families. Take part in the C to C Bike Ride, a seven-mile family bicycling event from Centralia to Chehalis that features pizza and games as part of an end of day celebration! Or take in Chehalis’ rich history at Lewis County Historical Museum with rotating and permanent exhibits.
Families can also explore local parks. Centralia’s city-owned Skate Park features the largest free skate park in the Northwest while Penny Playground and Fort Borst Park both provide swimming pools, picnic facilities and historic attractions for your entertainment.
Chehalis offers several aquatic facilities, including the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatic Center with its massive slide and wide array of water slides; Westside Park playground is being updated this year with new basketball court, picnic pavilion, and playground equipment; or you could check out Dobson and McFadden Park Trail, a trail that winds its way through residential neighborhoods surrounding it.
Dining
Chehalis offers many local culinary delights that residents and visitors alike enjoy, from classic Bearcat Burgers to Tarragon Chicken Toast. Market Boulevard in Chehalis serves as the epicenter for dining scene with many unique restaurants offering something for every palette.
Lewis County lumber industry flourished during its heyday, providing jobs to both residents and farms in the area. Other industries relied on forests as sources for other products like ferns, salal, and cascara bark (used as laxative). Logging suffered during the Panic of 1893 but rebounded when railroad opened new markets for Lewis County agricultural products as well as timber products.
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