A new owner has undertaken a major renovation of the Smokiam RV Resort at Soap Lake in Eastern Washington with the goal of making it a major destination for relaxation and recreation.
Brad Ellis acquired the property in June and although the 16-acre park needed many improvements, it has always had the advantage of a superb location with 900 feet of beachfront on Soap Lake, which is renowned for its mineral-rich water.
The lake’s high mineral content and the unique properties of its creamy, black mud have long attracted people seeing relief from aches and pains. Native Americans called the lake Smokiam, meaning “healing waters,” because of their belief in its therapeutic value. At the beginning of the 20th century, people flocked to Soap Lake seeking cures for illnesses and ailments, much as they did at Saratoga Springs in New York and Hot Springs in Arkansas. People still come to Soap Lake today to bathe in the silky water and apply mudpacks.
As many as 23 different minerals have been detected in the water, giving Soap Lake one of the most diverse mineral assortments of any lake in the world.
With water on one side and a backdrop of basalt cliffs on the other, Smokiam RV Resort adds to the natural beauty of its location with large shade trees at every campsite. There are 81 RV sites in the park, all within steps to the lake, and each with a firepit and picnic table. There are pull-through, pull-in and back-in RV sites, some as large as 70 feet to accommodate big rigs. Full hookups offer 30-amp and 50-amp service.
The park is adding three log cabins and 20 tepees to serve additional guests.
Renovations include a revamped clubhouse with upgraded meeting spaces, new kitchens and a new recreation and game room; refurbished restrooms and showers; a new patio and firepit area where groups can socialize, and a remodeled restaurant and café with beer and wine service.
The resort has an Olympic swimming pool and hot tub. A splash pad water park will be installed to add to the family fun. Other amenities include a fitness center and a laundry facility. Plans call for a new playground area, an off-leash dog run and the addition of a second hot tub for adults.
Guests can rent paddleboards, kayaks and canoes, and there is a dock and swim platform at the water.
Besides recreation on the lake, a chance to bathe in the mineral waters and perhaps try a mudpack, a stay at Smokiam RV Resort puts guests within range of many other recreational opportunities. Soap Lake doesn’t offer fishing, but multiple lakes nearby do and within an hour’s drive are Grand Coulee Dam, Banks Lake, Lake Lenore Caves, Steamboat Rock State Park and the Gorge Amphitheater. There are opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, bird-watching, winery tours and more, all in an area that offers 300 days of sunshine a year.
For information on Smokiam RV Resort, visit smokiamrvresort.com or call (509) 246-0413.
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