Discover Cheney: Nature, History, and Culture

Cheney combines impressive landscapes with a clearly discernible local history and a diverse cultural setting. Between wetlands, hiking trails, historic buildings, theater, and regional events, you can plan a variety of vacation days. When searching for a vacation rental in Cheney, it is therefore worth first deciding what you want to focus on: nature experiences, history, events, or a combination of these.

Nature and Trails Around Cheney

One particularly diverse natural area is the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. The protected area covers more than 23,000 acres and is characterized by the Channeled Scablands ecosystem, ponderosa pines, wetlands, meadow steppe, and riparian habitats. More than 200 different bird species have been recorded there. Those who enjoy exploring landscapes attentively will find numerous different impressions here instead of a uniform backdrop.

The public-use area of the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge has more than 10 miles of trails. These include three accessible trails and an accessible boardwalk at Blackhorse Lake. This information helps with day planning when you want to combine different trail lengths with nature observation. The Cheney Tertiary Wetlands are accessed via the Columbia Plateau State Park Cheney Trailhead, where accessible restrooms and covered picnic tables are available.

The Columbia Plateau Trail also offers a specific option for active days. At the Cheney Trailhead near mile marker 361.25, there is parking, including spaces for horse trailers, as well as restrooms, picnic shelters, tables, and an information kiosk. The 19.25-mile section to the Martin Road Trailhead has a gravel surface and can be used by horseback riders, mountain bikers, and hikers. This allows you to choose the focus of your trip based on whether you want to prioritize nature observation, hiking, or cycling.

Historic Cheney and Cultural Impressions

The Central Cheney Historic District is listed in both the Washington Heritage Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It lies between the campus of Eastern Washington University to the northwest and the former Northern Pacific Railroad tracks to the southeast. The original town of Cheney developed in this area. The district includes residential, educational, religious, commercial, and industrial properties and buildings. This makes it possible to explore local history not just through a single building, but through a variety of building types.

Another historic address is the Sterling-Moorman House, which is listed in the Cheney Register of Historic Places. It is considered the only surviving example of the Gothic Revival architectural style in Cheney. For visitors interested in architectural history and local identity, this building complements a tour of historic Cheney.

Eastern Washington University forms the center of Cheney’s academic and cultural setting. The University Theatre opened in 1972; EWU Theatre productions range from classical to contemporary plays and also include musicals. Depending on when you travel, cultural interests can therefore play just as important a role in planning as trails and landscapes.

Events and Varied Vacation Days

Cheney Rodeo Days is an event sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or PRCA. It takes place on the second weekend of July at the Bi-Mart Arena. The annual Cheney MayFest in downtown Cheney has a different character, featuring live entertainment, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. The program includes a car show, a petting zoo, a cornhole tournament, and a children’s zone. These events give a trip a clear seasonal or local focus without requiring every vacation day to be filled with activities.

For additional outdoor recreation, Cheney’s park system includes nine parks. Online registration for season passes and swimming lessons is available at the Cheney Aquatic Center. Eastern Washington University’s Sports and Recreation Center is accessible to students, faculty, staff, and community members. When choosing a vacation rental, you can therefore consider whether you primarily want to explore natural areas, take advantage of historic and cultural offerings, or flexibly combine different activities.

Choose More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also visit the following destinations: Mead, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Mica, Nine Mile Fls, Airway Heights and Liberty Lake.

For the higher-level travel overview: Spokane.