Eastern Washington

North Idaho

Western Montana

 

Cheney, Washington

 

Named for Benjamin Pierce Cheney, a Northern Pacific Railway  director who helped develop the eastern part of Washington state with a railroad line. He donated $10,000 towards the founding of a teachers’ college in 1882; this school evolved into Eastern Washington University.

Web site: www.WestPlainsFun.com


Major Events and Festivals

April

Easter Egg Hunt

Cheney Salnave Park. For more information, contact the Cheney Kiwanis at 509.498.9250.

Three-on-Three Basketball Tourney

Eastern Washington University. Contact Tournament Director Mike Campitelli at 509.359.7877 or MCampitelli@mail.ewu.edu.

May

American Cancer Society - Cheney Relay for Life

Woodward Stadium at Eastern Washington University. All money raised by the participating teams will be used by the American Cancer Society to continue its funding of cancer research, its state and national legislative advocacy, and its many educational and community service programs. For more information about the Cheney Relay For Life or to register a team, contact Stacey Davis, Community Relationship Manager for the American Cancer Society, at 509.455.4351.

May - September

Cheney Farmer's Market

The Cheney Friday Farmers' Market provides a wide variety of regionally grown and prepared products, pieces from local artisans, and hand crafted goods from the area. You will find most regional produce as well as eggs, sausage, and fresh-baked pastries. Live music, monthly special events, sitting areas, shaded vendor stalls, and professional management, all less than 20 minutes away from downtown Spokane.

Every Friday from 10 to 3 and the 1st and 3rd Saturday from 9 to 1. Located in historic downtown Cheney at 1st & College.

Contact: Historic Downtown Cheney Partnership. www.downtowncheney.org (509) 559-5818

http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M24155

Mayfest!

Join us in historic downtown Cheney for a day of fun. The car show and street fair open at 9 am, with bike races, multicultural performances, and a parade, along with live music, food, and street vendors. A downtown clean-up party finishes the day.

June

EWU Drive for Scholarships at The Creek at Qualchan

Every year the College of Business and Public Administration hosts a Drive for Scholarships Golf Tournament to raise funds to underwrite scholarships in the college.  Since 1998, the Drive for Scholarships has raised over $112,000.  It is the support of the donors, sponsors and volunteers that make this tournament a success every year.  If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer the day of the tournament, please call Sharlene Bozanich at 509.358.2242.

West Plains Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble

Held at Fairways Golf Course. Visit www.WestPlainsChamber.org or email Joelean at ChamberOffice@WestPlainsChamber.org.

Art Walk

The goal of the Cultural Arts Guild is to promote the Arts in the West Plains area by providing a forum for artisans to share information, support one another and to promote art-related activities in our communities. For more information about Cultural Arts Guild and the Annual Art Walk, please contact us at 509.217.2132 or 509.235.2922.

July

Cheney Rodeo Days

Friday, July 10, 2009 to Sunday, July 12, 2009. Held at the Cheney Rodeo Grounds. Sponsored by the Cheney Rodeo Association. Come see cowboys compete for upwards to $40,000. Features big bend stock seen at the National Finals. The Cheney Rodeo is the largest rodeo in Spokane County, and the 7th in the Columbia River Circuit. The Cheney Rodeo is part of the Columbia Pro Rodeo Circuit, and is a Professional Rodeo Association sanctioned event. The action kicks off Friday night with riding and roping competitions and culminates on Sunday with the finals. Stay after all the excitement for real barn dances on Friday and Saturday nights. And don’t forget the parade, street fair, and day long activities in downtown Cheney, where the heart of tradition still lives strong. 509.235.4848, www.CheneyRodeo.com.

Lilac Invitational Pro Am Golf Tournament 

Held at at Fairways Golf Course. The only thing better than watching golf's finest play in this fantastic venue, is actually playing in it. The only 72-hole golf tournaments offered in the Northwest, the Lilac Invitational attracts a strong field of competitors including PGA Professionals, Club Professionals, Mini-Tour Players, and amateur golfers. The Fairways makes this an attractive tournament by offering a variety of events which include a long drive competition and skins games. You are invited to watch this event as spectator, and if you are an 18 handicap or better, you can enter the Lilac as a competitor.

July & August

Concerts in the Park series

Sutton Park Gazebo, 6th & J streets. Contact Cheney Parks & Recreation department 509.498.9250.

August

West Plains Community Fair - August. Cheney Rodeo Grounds. For more information, please call 509.926.2176 or 509.979.5144.

September

Harvest Ball- The Prom You Always Wanted

Sept 12, 2009, Old Cheney High (Fisher Building). Flowers, photos, food, and fun are yours to enjoy. $30 per person, $50 per couple. Dance, sample local brews, and win prizes.  All proceeds benefit the Historic Downtown Cheney Partnership. www.DowntownCheney.org.

 

October

EWU Homecoming

This week is a great time to show your Eagle pride! The Office of  Student Activities encourages you to participate in a wide variety of events. Decorate your residence hall room or apartment, tackle the ROTC obstacle course and  watch the parade and bonfire. A pageant, formal dance and football game ersus. www.EWU.edu/Homecoming.

December

Christmas Tree Lighting

For more information, call Cheney Pathways to Progress 509.559.5818.

Holiday Hoopla

Saturday, December 5th

Each year, downtown Cheney hosts this one of a kind event with Breakfast with Santa, Holiday Craft Fair, Tree lighting, & Santa on a Fire Truck!  Kids sign up for the treasure hunt and search through downtown businesses looking for the greatest deals. Check out last year's poster to get an idea of what goes on.

 

Hundreds of Kids and their families explore downtown on the first Saturday in December.

For more information, call Cheney Pathways to Progress 509.559.5818.

Attractions

Cheney Historical Museum

Open May - September, Tuesday & Saturday,
1 p.m. - 3 pm, other times by appointment. The museum's mission is to gather, preserve, and present the history of the Amber, Cheney, Four Lakes, and Marshall districts from the time of the first white settlers around 1878 through the growth and development or our region. We have a diverse collection showing pioneer home life, a glimpse of a one room school, early farming, the tools of building our communities, and a look at the businesses that shaped our towns. The Tilicum Club organized in 1903 as a women’s service organization. In 1935, the club was asked by several pioneer families to help in preserving information and artifacts about settlers and history of our district. The museum has moved locations several times over the years, but settled into the 1935 school bus garage in Cheney in 1958. 614 3rd Street, CheneyMuseum@juno.com, 509.235.4466.

Collection of Victorian Homes

A collection of Victorian homes at Third and F St, as well as the Interurban Railway Depot at Second Street and College Avenue.

Stage West Community Theatre

Stage West community Theatre is a group of your friends and neighbors, dedicated to bringing quality theatre to the West Plains. You may see familiar faces in our cast, crew and staff. We are always looking for new members and are excited to bring more talent into our organization. Feel free to join us for our monthly meetings. These are held the second Wednesday at 7:00pm in the Cheney Care Center community room. 509.235.6552, www.StageWestCT.org.

Recreation

Area Lakes

Area lakes include Amber, Badger, Blackhorse, Chapman, Clear, Fish, Fishtrap, Hog, Kepple, Medical, Rock, Silver, West Medical, and Williams. Most of these lakes offer boat launches, fishing (several species of trout and bass, as well as kokanee salmon), tent and RV camping, and on-site stores. For more information, contact the City of Cheney at 2640 1st Street Suite B, Cheney, WA 99004, (509)498.9250, Fax: (509)498.9289, www.cityofcheney.org/recreation.

Cheney Parks & Recreation Department

For information about Cheney's Parks & Recreation, call 509.498.9250 or visit

www.CityOfCheney.org/Recreation.

Columbia Plateau Trail

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is a 4,109-acre, 130-mile-long rail-bed trail that traces the 1908 original path of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad. The route is most accessible at Cheney, with other less accessible points along the way. The route is steeped in history, re-told at interpretive kiosks on the trail. Scenic vistas reward the visitor who undertakes this sometimes challenging hike. Currently 23 miles of the trail between Lincoln County and Cheney are developed and open for public use. Activities include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, in-line skating, nature viewing, bird watching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

The park is open year round from 6:30 a.m. to dusk. North end is open year round. Located between Cheney, Wash. and the tri-cities area (Pasco, Richland and Kennewick) in Adams and Whitman Counties.

Columbia Plateau Trail may be accessed by several trailheads by following the signs after exiting I-90.
Westbound I-90: Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/Cheney) to access Fish Lake Trailhead (8.4 miles from I-90), Cheney Trailhead (7.5 miles from I-90), Amber Lake Trailhead (19.2 miles from I-90) and Martin Road Trailhead (29.5 miles from I-90).
Eastbound I-90: Take exit 245 (Sprague/Harrington) to access Martin Road Trailhead (8 miles from I-90) and Amber Lake Trailhead (21.1 miles from I-90). Take exit 257 (Cheney/Tyler) to access Cheney Trailhead (11.9 miles from I-90) and Fish Lake Trailhead (15 miles from I-90).

 

Fish Lake Park

Fish Lake sits on 52 acres. The park includes 43 parking spaces, play equipment, hiking trails, basketball court, swimming and BBQ area. Restrooms are available. There is a seasonal entry fee to the lake between mid- June and Labor Day is $2.00 per person. Boat Launch (non-motorized boats only), Swim Dock, Handicap Accessible, Paved Trailways, Lifeguards, and ¼ Basketball court are also available. Cheney-Spokane Road, 509.456.4730.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (15,600-acres), named after pioneer Cyrus Turnbull, was established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as a refuge, and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.  The area was preserved through the long, untiring efforts of countless people, including sportsmen, naturalists and community activists devoted to wildlife conservation. The refuge is open daily during daylight hours with an entrance fee of $3.00 per car required March 1 – October 31.  Wildlife observation is the major recreational use-but visitors also hike, ride bicycles and enjoy photography via an auto tour route and several walking trails. Cheney Plaza Road, 509.235.4723.