Club History

Area History

Located in the central part of Washington State the region was known at the turn of the 20th century for the great herds of wild horses that roamed the land. Horse trading was an important element of the local economy. The last grand horse round-up was held in Ephrata in 1906. Ephrata then developed as a trade and service center for cattle and sheep ranches until the development of the Columbia Basin Reclamation Project.

The Great Northern Railroad, now Burlington Santa Fe, ran through the area and stopped at the site where the town now stands to take on water for the steam locomotives. During one of these watering stops, it is said, a passenger climbed to the top of a nearby hill to get a good view of the surrounding area. In his diary he wrote that the place reminded him of a place called Ephrata mentioned in religious writings. The name stuck.

The terrain is desert and rolling hills with ancient volcanic and lava outcrops. The flat lands have an elevation of 1,275 feet above sea level. Average winter temperatures are 32 degrees F in January. Summer temperatures can reach over 90 degrees F in July. The surrounding area is barren land with scattered scrub . The town site not only had spring water, but also benefited from hot springs welling up from deep under ground

The city was the home of the Ephrata Army Air Base from 1942 - 1945. The airport continues to operate and is a popular location for gliders, aerobatic and recreational planes.

Northwards out of Ephrata the road winds through a string of connecting lakes following the prehistory course of the Columbia River. Soap Lake, Banks Lake, Steamboat Rock State Park and Dry Falls once the biggest falls in North America, then on to the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam.