Chelan
Community Description
Chelan residents pride themselves on their quality of life. And for good reason. Best known for its warm sun and clear and deep blue lake, Chelan is ideally situated where the Cascade Mountains meet the eastern Washington. The quintessential small town has lured boaters, swimmers and sunbathers for generations — and today more than 2 million visitors arrive annually. Chelan offers boutique shopping and plentiful dining, plus a burgeoning wine industry, several festivals, golf courses and mountain-biking and cross-country ski trails. There also is a thriving art scene, a community hospital and even some of semblance of suburbia — a Wal-Mart store is located just outside of town. Besides tourism, the other major industry is agriculture — about 9,000 acres in the surrounding hills are carpeted with apple, cherry, pear, apricot and peach trees, along with wine grapes. Harkening back to the community’s quality of life, an extensive public fiber network allows for smooth telecommuting. Indeed, Chelan is home to many current and retired executives
Community Strengths, Amenities, Highlights
Largest town on world-famous Lake Chelan; home of the legendary Lake Chelan apple; growing wine industry now totals more than 20 wineries; tourism is a $417-million industry; more than 200 health-care providers, including physicians, call the community home; low crime rate; warm climate with low humidity seven months of the year; good walkability around town; on-time high school graduation is 93 percent.
What Makes this Community Stand Out
The lake, the lake, the lake.
Outdoor Recreation Activities
Boating, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, water-skiing, jet-skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, mountain biking, road cycling, paragliding, trail running, running, hiking, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, golf.
