Tehaleh, Washington facts for kids
Tehaleh is a special community built in Pierce County, Washington. It's located south of Bonney Lake. This area is called an unincorporated community, which means it's not officially a city or town.
Building Tehaleh started in 2005. The first plan was to finish it in about 20 years. A person named Patrick Kuo bought the land in 1991 and designed the community. It was first called Cascadia. The original idea was to build 6,500 homes, shops, businesses, schools, and parks. But building stopped in 2008 before any homes were built. Later, in 2010, a bank took over the land to find a new builder.
Contents
The Story of Tehaleh
A Fresh Start
In 2011, two companies, Newland Communities and North American Sekisui House, bought most of the land. They paid 49 million dollars for 4,200 acres. They decided to rename the community Tehaleh. This name comes from a language called Chinook jargon. It means "highlands" or "the land above."
The new plan for Tehaleh is to build about 5,900 homes. They also plan to create 4 million square feet of business space. This project is expected to take about 25 years to complete. The good news is that the new plan still includes many parks and trails for everyone to enjoy. The very first model homes in Tehaleh opened on September 26, 2012.
Staying Safe from Floods
Tehaleh is built on a high plateau. This means it's several hundred feet above the nearby Puyallup River valley. Because of its high location, Tehaleh is safe from floods that might come from the Puyallup River. Many other communities near Mount Rainier are not as safe from flooding.
Also, Tehaleh is not in the area that could be hit by mudslides from Mount Rainier. Mudslides are fast-moving flows of mud and debris. Because Tehaleh is so high up and safe, there's a plan for a special bridge. This bridge, called Bridge for Kids, would connect Orting to Tehaleh. It would give people in Orting a safe way to get to higher ground if there's an emergency.
Learning in Tehaleh
Tehaleh has two public elementary schools for younger students. They are Donald Eismann Elementary and Tehaleh Heights Elementary. Both schools are part of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.
For middle school students, Mountain View Middle School is used. It's about 3.2 miles north of Tehaleh. High school students attend Bonney Lake High School. This high school is right across the street from the middle school. Both the middle and high schools are also run by the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.
Getting Around and Eating
How to Get Around
Public Transportation Options
Right now, there isn't a direct bus or train service in Tehaleh. The closest bus stop is the Bonney Lake Park-and-Ride. This stop is about 5 miles north of Tehaleh. People who travel to Seattle for work or school often take a bus from here. They go to the Sumner Station and then catch the Sound Transit's Sounder train to Seattle.
Places to Eat
The Mantel
The Mantel is a special restaurant located inside the Seven Summits Lodge. This lodge is part of Trilogy, a community for people aged 55 and older in Tehaleh. The Mantel is only for members of the lodge. It is not open to the general public. A small number of dining memberships are available each year.
Post and Pour
Post & Pour is a cafe, bistro, and tap house. It's located within The Post building. This place aims to be a fun spot where people in the community can gather.
7-11
There's a 7-11 store at 19011 141st St Ct E. It's right across from Donald Eismann Elementary. This store offers a variety of snacks, pizza, coffee, and Slurpee drinks.
The Post Community Center
The Post is the main community and information center in Tehaleh. It's a great place for residents and visitors to learn about the community. You can also grab something to eat or drink, or just relax.
The Post has two outdoor seating areas. One is at the front of the building, and the other is at the back. The front outdoor area offers amazing views of Mount Rainier.
Parks and Trails for Fun
The plan for Tehaleh includes a lot of green space. There are 1,800 acres set aside for trails, parks, and open areas. Currently, Tehaleh has 12 parks and more than 10 miles of trails. Many more parks and trails are planned for the future.
