Monday April 1st: 2024 Opening Day
Open 9am-5pm. Tours at 10am and 2pm. Recreation Access Permits available online and in person.
Saturday April 27th: Wildflower and Wind Power Walk
Join us while we explore the beauty of the shrub steppe in bloom!
RSVP Required: Email or call with party size and which session you would like to attend (morning/afternoon, tour, presentation, or walk).
Schedule:
10:00 am |
Wind Turbine Tour |
11:30 am |
Wildflower and Wind Power Walk |
2:00 pm |
Wind Turbine Tour
|
3:00 pm |
Wildflower and Wind Power Presentation
|
3:30 pm |
Wildflower and Wind Power Walk
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Walks are around a half mile in length, but will be cross country in nature over rocky terrain. Participants will drive from the visitor center in their own vehicle to the hiking location (based on where flowers are blooming). Please wear long pants, hiking boots, and dress in layers for the sun, wind, and cool temperatures. Pack water, snacks, sunscreen, a camera, and anything else you will need to have an enjoyable and safe hike.
Wildflower walks by appointment are also available on weekdays.
Sunday April 28th: Run Like the Wind
Please join us for the Run Like The Wind at the Wild Horse Wind Facility!
Run for Good Racing Company puts on a great event, with 5K, 10K, and 10 Mile options, winding along the trails and dirt roads at Wild Horse. The race benefits the hard working volunteers of Kittitas County Search and Rescue, and helps fund the supplies for the program.
The courses are challenging, with a lot of elevation gain and tough trails, but feature gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and the Columbia Basin. Our race motto and promise is “Uphill, Into the Wind, Both Ways”, and we deliver! Music, refreshments, and great food awaits you at the finish line.
While at Wild Horse, you can also go on a wind turbine tour or wildflower walk, to further experience the awesome power of the wind and the beauty of the shrub steppe.
Space is limited to 200 participants, so sign up now at run-like-the-wind.com.
We also love volunteers! Aid stations, kid’s race, and kitchen volunteers needed.
Saturday May 11th: Get Intimate with the Shrub Steppe
Wild Horse staff will be at a booth answering wildflower and wind power questions at this great educational event just south of Ellensburg. You will not find a better collection of field trips to learn about the Shrub Steppe! You can register for the field trips at Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN).
Sunday May 12th: Mother’s Day Wildflower and Wind Power Walk
Join us while we explore the beauty of the shrub steppe in bloom!
RSVP Required: Email or call with party size, and which session you would like to attend (morning/afternoon, tour, presentation, or walk).
10:00 am |
Wind Turbine Tour |
11:00 am |
Wildflower and Wind Power Presentation
|
11:30 am |
Wildflower and Wind Power Walk |
1:00 pm |
Mother’s Day Refreshments (kitchen/conference room)
|
2:00 pm |
Wind Turbine Tour
|
3:00 pm |
Wildflower and Wind Power Presentation
|
3:30 pm |
Wildflower and Wind Power Walk
|
Walks are around a half mile in length, but will be cross country in nature over rocky terrain. Participants will drive from the visitor center in their own vehicle to the hiking location (based on where flowers are blooming). Please wear long pants, hiking boots, and dress in layers for the sun, wind, and cool temperatures. Pack water, snacks, sunscreen, a camera, and anything else you will need to have an enjoyable and safe hike.
Wildflower walks by appointment are also available on weekdays.
June 2: Wild & Whiskey History Tour
This ticketed event will be put in collaboration with the Kittitas County Historical Museum and Elk Heights Distillery. Begin your day with the Wild & Whiskey History Tour at Wild Horse, followed by a presentation at the museum on Prohibition and local moonshiners. End your tour at the Elk Heights Distillery, learning about the distilling process while enjoying a few samples. Once the date is set, tickets can be purchased directly from the Kittitas County Historical Museum.
June 8/9: EV Meetup and Behind the Scenes Tour
Date TBD
Summer Wild Horse Summer Kid’s Corral 1-3pm
Specific dates TBD
Science Sundays!
Join us for a weekly kid's activity followed by an interactive family friendly wind turbine tour. 1-3pm every Sunday, with the exception of the nighttime activity at our August 11th Perseid Meteor Shower Party!
July 7 |
Sail Cars - Build a wind powered racer to test in the wind! |
July 14 |
Friends of a Feather - Birds of the shrub steppe and handmade bird feeders!
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July 21 |
Sunprint Scenes - Use photosensitive paper to create a unique piece of solar art! |
July 28 |
Glacier Glitter Gak - Create a glacial goo and learn how glaciers carved the Cascades!
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Aug. 4 |
Stunning Suncatchers - Layer beautiful bright colors in a frame to catch the light from the sun!
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Aug. 11 |
Nighttime Nebula Jars at 8pm. Swirl paint with clouds of cotton balls to create an otherworldly nebula. *Must RSVP to the Perseid Meteor Shower Party for this activity.
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Aug. 18 |
Wind Socks - Create your own colorful wind sock, and learn how to measure the wind!
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Please RSVP via email or call us at 509-964-7815.
Closed toe shoes required for the tour.
Perseid Meteor Shower: Sunday Aug 11th
Limited space. RSVP required.
Looking for a laid back location to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower? Come on out to the Renewable Energy Center for an evening of twilight turbine tours, snacks, kid's activities, and star gazing.
RSVP REQUIRED: Email wildhorse@hwfj-art.com.
7:00 pm |
Doors open |
7:15 pm |
Twilight Tour
|
7:45 pm |
Twilight Tour |
8:00 pm |
Kid’s Activities
|
8:20 pm |
Sunset
|
9:00 pm |
Lights Out- Stargazing begins
|
12:00 am |
Building closes
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Please arrive no later than 9pm and park with your headlights facing away from the building. Bring a chair and blankets and stake out a spot on the east patio.
If you plan on staying after midnight, or star gazing from Beacon Ridge Road, please fill out an Access Permit to ensure that you understand our site rules.
Our parking lots along Beacon Ridge Road are great spots to watch the meteor shower if you want a quieter location. See the map on the Access Permit page of our website for the parking areas: Wild Horse Recreation Access Request.
*Wildfire smoke can limit visibility at times, along with the potential for cloudy weather. Please monitor weather conditions before attending. The event will be cancelled if visibility is severely limited due to clouds or smoke.
Friday January 17th, 2025: Renewable Energy Center Internship Opens
Paid Internship from late March through early November. Please send us email for information on how to apply.
Job Description:
The Renewable Energy Education Internship is a blend of public relations, tourism, education, and science. The internship will provide a broad understanding of the wind industry, wind turbine technology, and natural history, as well as an education and tourism experience.
- 7.5 month internship, late March through early November.
- Position is part time, approximately 7-31 hours a week. Hours are dependent on the tour schedule and staff availability. Additional hours may be available in the busier months (spring).
- The facility is open 9am-5pm, 7 days a week, from April-Oct 31st. Shifts are typically a full day.
- Greet visitors to the facility and answer questions regarding wind and solar technology.
- Give presentations and tours to businesses, schools, and other groups.
- Design and implement educational activities for school groups.
- Keep the visitor center clean, stocked, and set-up for conferences.
- Students can use this internship for credit in certain programs.
- Staff members are hired and contracted as Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce employees.
Requirements:
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College degree or student in pursuit of a degree.
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Must be available to work most weekends, and various weekdays. We can be flexible with weekday scheduling for students.
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A genuine interest in renewable energy.
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Must be a quick learner, able to memorize and effectively communicate information pertaining to energy production, the environment, and native plants and animals.
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Must have strong public speaking skills, and be able to project voice loudly and clearly.
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Must possess excellent people skills, be engaging and approachable, and willing to converse with all visitors. Tours and presentations of up to 2 hours in length are conducted throughout the day.
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Must be a self-starter who can recognize tasks and opportunities to improve the visitor center.
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Must have reliable transportation to the visitor center which is 20 miles east of Ellensburg.