Goose Prairie, Washington

Goose Prairie is an unincorporated community in Yakima County, Washington, United States. Goose Prairie is 41 miles (66 km) northwest of Yakima. It was founded by Tom Fife in 1886 who named it after a goose that visited the meadow one evening and stayed the night.[3]

Goose Prairie, Washington
Unincorporated community
Goose Prairie, Washington
Goose Prairie, Washington
Coordinates: 46°53′42″N 121°16′01″W
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyYakima
Elevation
3,248 ft (990 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98937[1]
Area code(s)509
GNIS feature ID1520150[2]

Fife donated a portion of his homestead to the Boy Scouts; the Grand Columbia council operates Camp Fife, a summer camp named in Fife's honor.

Besides the camp the meadow contains a number of cabins and a diner only open on summer holiday weekends.[4]

Goose Prairie was the summer home of the 20th century United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.[5] Eric Sevareid interviewed Douglas in Goose Prairie for the CBS Reports documentary Mr. Justice Douglas broadcast Sept. 6, 1972.[6] The Yakima Valley Museum has a 16mm film of the program in its collection which can be viewed online.[7]

It is also where Kay Kershaw and Isabelle Lynn operated the Double K Mountain Ranch; they played a key role in the designation of the nearby William O. Douglas Wilderness area.[8]

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Goose Prairie has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[9]

References
  1. United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Goose Prairie, Washington
  3. Camp Fife History
  4. Lessons From Goose Prairie
  5. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  6. "Outdoor Location" Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Sept. 3, 1972.
  7. W.O.D. Interview (press "access this item" to view)
  8. Preliminary Guide to the Double K Mountain Ranch Records 1958-1972
  9. Climate Summary for Goose Prairie, Washington

Further reading
  • Kathleen Tresham Anderson. Birds, Bats & Bailing Wire. Lulu.com, 2009. ISBN 0-557-06178-4
  • William O. Douglas. Of Men and Mountains. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1950.
  • Bruce Allen Murphy. Wild Bill: The Legend and Life of William O. Douglas. New York: Random House, 2003. ISBN 0-394-57628-4
  • Jack Nelson. We Never Got Away. Yakima, WA: Franklin Press, 1965.
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