Othello
The Heart of the Columbia Basin
About Othello
Othello stands as Adams County’s agricultural powerhouse and transportation hub, strategically positioned in the heart of the productive Columbia Basin. With established food processing industries, abundant water resources, and direct access to major highways and rail corridors, Othello offers businesses the infrastructure and workforce they need to thrive.
Why Choose Othello:
- Prime location with excellent transportation access via highways and rail
- Established agricultural and food processing industry cluster
- Abundant water resources and fertile agricultural land
- Growing population with skilled workforce
- Strong community amenities including quality schools and recreational facilities
Othello combines small-town values with big-business opportunities, making it an ideal location for companies in agriculture, food processing, logistics, and manufacturing sectors.
City Government
The City of Othello is a ‘strong-mayor/council’ type government. The city is led by a Mayor, full-time City Administrator, and a seven-member council. The council meets the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mondays, at 6:30 p.m. The council chamber is located in City Hall at 500 E Main Street.
City Services:
- Go here for:
- Building Permits
- Utilities – Water, Sewer and Garbage
- Parks and Recreation
- Police and Fire
- Codes
- City Council
Education and Schools
K-12 Education
K-12 education in Othello is served by the Othello School District under the Education Service District #123. OSD has four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative high school. Total enrollment was 4,765 (Oct 2022), with 300 classified staff and 306 certified staff. The Othello School District works to create and cultivate a safe environment of respect and rapport, where instruction is intentional, engaging, challenging, and accessible for all students.
Post-Secondary Education
Big Bend Community College is the primary community college serving Othello and Adams County. BBCC serves a population of 110,000 over a 4,600-square-mile service district, including all of Grant and Adams counties and a portion of Lincoln County. BBCC has an FTE enrollment of approximately 2,000, and an annual student headcount of approximately 4,000. BBCC is a comprehensive community college with programs for academic transfer, professional/technical, and developmental education. Approximately 60 percent of BBCC students receive need-based financial aid. The College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is a Hispanic Serving Institution as defined by Title V. BBCC offers over 60 different degrees and certificates, with an average class of 17 students.
Quality of Life
City of Othello Parks and Recreation
The City of Othello’s Parks and Recreation Department offers youth soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and flag football. The City of Othello maintains Kiwanis Park, Lions Park, Taggares Park, and Pioneer Park within city limits. Facilities at these parks are also available to rent to host parties and celebrations.
The Lions Park Athletic Complex serves as the recreational heart of the community. This largest park hosts the majority of the city’s athletic events and features a paved walk path, arboretum, street hockey rink, handball wall, large playground area with equipment for various ages, 4 lighted tennis courts, 2 full-sized lighted basketball courts, The Iron Horse Playground, and the Dan Dever Memorial Skate Park.
The skate park features 6,000 sq. ft. of functional yet aesthetically pleasing facilities comprised of numerous amenities including a double stair set, 7.5’ bowl, bank ramp, grind rail, and most notably, “Harvest Gold” colored concrete.
The Iron Horse Playground is arguably the best playground in Central Washington. Othello started as a railroad town and the new playground reflects the city’s history. Some of the climbing bars and platforms were designed to look like a train; one of the slides was designed to look like a barn. The playground has tire swings, rocking horses, multiple slides and climbing bars everywhere. Some tunnels and signs highlight Othello history. “The city of Othello playground has been recognized as a project of excellence that aligns with (PlayCore’s) evidence-based, design-based practices that meet the criteria to become a PlayCore National Demonstration Site,” Mayor Shawn Logan said. According to PlayCore’s website, National Demonstration Sites are spaces “designed to embrace inclusive play, youth fitness, adult fitness and/or nature play utilizing best practices and designs established by scholars and experts in their respective fields.” The playground was designed with individuals with disabilities, mobility issues and other limiting factors in mind.
Othello Community Pool
The community pool is currently under renovation and redevelopment, with community input and hearings taking place. Be part of the future of the community pool for Othello with the Othello Aquatics Taskforce.
Activities and Recreation
Golf
The Othello Golf Course is a challenging 9-hole course surrounded by a housing community and farmland. The course offers a unique experience for players of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, you will enjoy the perfect blend of nature and sport at Othello Golf Course. With an American-style restaurant and full bar, they are committed to making your experience a memorable one! With extremely affordable rates and membership options, this golf course may be the best value course in the state!
Community Character and Cultural Richness
Othello thrives as a vibrant cultural hub. The community celebrates its strong agricultural and Latino culture with festivals and events year-round.
Arts and Cultural Venues
At the heart of Othello’s cultural scene stands The Old Hotel Art Gallery, housed in a historic 1912 building that was originally the railroad hotel for the Milwaukee Road, the world’s largest electric railroad company. This community cultural hub promotes art and art education, featuring local and regional artists with a focus on Basin imagery that local people want to see. Families can enjoy monthly featured artists, rotating exhibits, and the “Taste of the Heart of the Basin” event featuring wine-tasting and local food sampling. The gallery also runs art contests during festivals, with students competing by age group across four different media, creating strong community engagement and celebrating young talent.
Community Events
Othello Sandhill Crane Festival
The crown jewel of Othello’s cultural calendar is the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, now in its 27th year. This major event draws 2,000+ people to town during the third weekend in March to witness more than 35,000 sandhill cranes migrating north from California’s Central Valley to Alaska. The festival has evolved far beyond birdwatching to include:
- Lectures by experts in photography, geology, botany and more
- Bus tours, boat tours from MarDon Resort on Potholes Reservoir, guided wetlands walks, and bike tours
- Activities at McFarland Middle School, Othello Nazarene Church, the Othello Community Museum, and Columbia National Wildlife Refuge
- Wine tastings and art contests at The Old Hotel Art Gallery
- Photography contests that draw dozens of entries from visitors
Othello Fair and PRCA Rodeo
The Othello Fair, held annually in September, provides a quality community event that promotes public education related to agricultural heritage while celebrating the vast cultural diversity of the area. This gathering truly is a community celebration, from the achievements of youth to the bounty of the agriculture industry, where residents see old friends in a familiar setting. Food vendors abound, as well as the carnival rides with attractions for all ages!
The fair is held in conjunction with the Othello PRCA Rodeo. The Othello PRCA rodeo is proud to be known as one of the best small rodeos around. With a focus on family entertainment, attendees look forward to the Wild Cow ride, a spectacular grand entry, and exciting rodeo action! The weekend kicks off with a demolition derby that is sure to have visitors on the edge of their seat. As their motto goes “We’re not the Biggest, Just One of the Best.”
PRCA Rodeo
4th of July Celebration
The Chamber of Commerce has been hosting the festivities for this day for as long as anyone can remember. They work with sponsors in the area to bring the community the largest event and celebration of the year! They start the morning with the annual 4th of July Parade and continue to Lion’s Park where they fill the park with food and merchandise vendors, as well as fun activities for the entire family to enjoy throughout the day. There are car shows, soccer, volleyball and basketball tournaments, as well as a cornhole tournament.
Recreation and Natural Beauty
Othello offers unparalleled access to outdoor recreation that rivals much larger communities. The city is surrounded by one of the most diverse recreation areas in Eastern Washington, with numerous nearby lakes providing water sports opportunities as well as great fishing, hunting and camping areas.
Potholes Reservoir
Potholes Reservoir is a 28,000-acre man-made lake contained by O’Sullivan Dam, which is the longest earthen-filled dam in the United States. Potholes State Park (7 miles from Othello) offers families a desert oasis experience. This 640-acre camping park features 6,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Potholes Reservoir, making it ideal for fishing, boating, swimming, and water-based activities. Anglers can catch bass, walleye, and crappie, while the park offers boat launches, a marina, hiking trails, and opportunities for bird watching and wildlife viewing. The park provides camping options including tent and RV sites, cabins, and yurts, with 73 unsheltered picnic tables in well-shaded areas. Families can enjoy waterskiing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and three miles of hiking trails during summer months. Adjacent Mardon Resort, on the sunny shores of Potholes Reservoir, is your recreational destination that provides an RV Park, Motel, Luxury Park Cottages, Tent Sites, Marina, Tackle and Gift Shop, and a Bar and Grill – all in a rural setting.
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge creates a natural wonderland right in Othello’s backyard. This 23,000-acre refuge in the famous Channeled Scablands features numerous small to medium-sized lakes surrounded by sagebrush and grassy uplands, canyons, and buttes, serving as a wintering area for more than 100,000 ducks and Canada geese. The refuge offers interpretive trails of 1.0, 1.8, and 3.0 miles that can be combined for up to 5.8 miles of hiking, with March and April being ideal for spotting thousands of migrating waterfowl. Families can enjoy peaceful days outdoors with opportunities for photography, kayaking, canoeing, and discovering hidden fishing spots.
Ready to Grow Your Business in Adams County?
Contact the Adams County Development Council today to learn more about available incentives, properties, and support services in Othello.
Contact [email protected]