Union Gap: Agricultural Museum, Parks, and Fall Activities

Union Gap offers a variety of ways to spend your stay, including agricultural history, green spaces, and seasonal fall attractions. The Central Washington Agricultural Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. It is located in Fullbright Park at the foot of Ahtanum Ridge.

Agriculture at the Museum

Admission to the Central Washington Agricultural Museum is free; donations are accepted. At the Keys Homestead, you can see a replica furnished with many items from Margaret Keys’ original home. The Farmstead offers a different perspective: it includes a children’s train, a train depot, a windmill, a corn crib, and numerous artifacts related to farming at the turn of the century. This view of a single home and items from its original household complements the broader display of agricultural buildings and objects.

Technology is also part of the museum’s offerings. The working sawmill dates back to the 1930s and is demonstrated at special events. If seeing this demonstration is important to your plans, check the event schedule in advance. Unlike a general museum visit, the demonstration is tied to a specific occasion.

Parks, Gardens, and Trails

In addition to the Agricultural Museum, there are covered picnic areas by the creek. Numerous hiking trails start at the museum grounds. For orientation, it helps to distinguish these trails from the other green spaces around the city: Union Gap’s park system includes Loudon, Cahalan, Fullbright, and Youth Activities parks, as well as 1.5 miles of walking paths and several connected green spaces throughout the city.

At Ahtanum Youth Activities Park, the WSU Yakima County Master Gardeners maintain the Demonstration Garden and the Heirloom Garden. Classes are held there in spring, summer, and fall. The classes therefore span three seasons; check specific dates when planning your visit.

Seasonal Fall Activities

Union Gap Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch is a seasonal October attraction. Activities include a 12-acre corn maze, hayrides, apple cannons, a pumpkin slingshot, a children’s corn maze, a straw maze, straw slides, and games. Pumpkins can be picked from the pumpkin patch or the barn. Here, the focus is on several activities and the harvest, while the museum showcases agricultural history, the Keys Homestead, and the sawmill. Dates and activities may change; check the current season’s schedule before your visit.

Getting to the Museum

When driving to the museum on I-82, the recommended exit depends on your direction of travel: if you are heading east, take Exit 37B to Main Street Union Gap. For westbound travel, Exit 38 to Main Street is recommended. This lets you plan your drive to the museum based on your direction of travel.

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