Leaving Yakima for Toppenish and Zillah. Where?

With a continuous snow storm and two kids down with the noro virus, we contemplated the situation. We can go back in the direction the storm had already passed, stay put and wait it out, or move forward. Neither option sounded right and check out time approached. A better, fourth option emerged to re-evaluate and set aside options 1, 2, and 3.

Aaron and I went out to pick up new chains since our old ones blew apart at the first turn. The city moved along just fine. We checked out and went to the Yakima Visitors Center. A gentleman there advised me about the road ahead. We left Yakima for Toppenish and Zillah up the road.

Toppenish is a small city located within the Yakima Indian Reservation aka Yakima Nation. The word Toppenish is an English transliteration of an Indian word. In the outskirts of town is the cultural center with a large meeting place built in the likeness of a giant tepee. That we had to see.

Toppenish is also known for its many murals. Murals again? These murals transform the downtown area into a thing of beauty. Without them, the city has many old buildings that give it character. But add murals and it gives new life to these stately structures. They tell a story about the history of the region and are visually stunning. At every turn there is a surprise mural of enormous size and detail. The family waits in the van while I roam.

Across the Yakima River is the small town of Zillah with one roadside curiosity. Its a gas station shaped like a tea pot built in 1922. Teapot-1922-Teapot Dome Scandal. The Teapot Dome scandal became the legacy of poor Warren G. Harding's administration. He died in office in 1923. The Teapot Dome Service Station continued to operate for many decades.