Guide For MOVING To Ferndale, WA {2023}
Are You Thinking About Moving To Ferndale?
Ferndale, WA, is located just 13 minutes north of Bellingham. Despite being the third-largest city in Whatcom County, it has maintained its small-town charm. Its traditional Main Street will make you feel right at home.
The town is situated on the banks of the Nooksack River and hosts a delightful summer festival, Old Settlers Days, which usually takes place during the last weekend of July. It’s worth attending! Ferndale gained city status on March 19, 1907. Formerly known as Jam, it was named after a logjam on the river. Ferndale has a population of 15,048 people has some unique attractions like the Nooksack River, Hovander Park, and Lake Terrell. Ferndale covers 6.69 sq miles, with Downtown and industrial areas located east of the Nooksack River. Suburban neighborhoods are northwest, and the southeast boundary features Hovander Homestead Park and Tennant Lake.
Sandy Point, Ferndale
Living In Ferndale
If you’re considering moving to Ferndale, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about relocating to this community. Ferndale is also home to the BP Cherry Point Refinery, one of the top 10 employers in the county. And with acres of farmland and natural areas, many parks and outdoor spaces exist to explore.
Things To Do
Take advantage of the annual community celebration in Ferndale! Happening on the last weekend of July, it includes historic cabin tours, baseball tournaments, crafts, food vendors, musical entertainment, a car show, and a beer garden. The Grand and Junior Parade will be on Saturday from 11 AM to 12:30 PM. For a full list of activities, visit the Ferndale Heritage Society page. On Saturday evening, join the Adult Dance at the “Barr Red Barn” with music with live music. This is the longest continually running annual picnic in the state!
Parks
Pioneer Park, founded in 1901, is a significant tradition in the Pacific Northwest. The Old Settlers Association gradually moved abandoned pioneer structures to the park, preserving local pioneer history. The Ferndale Heritage Society now manages the cabins added to the Washington State Heritage Register in 1999. More information on the cabins can be found at www.whatcomoldsettlers.com.
Pioneer Park Buildings
The Pioneer Headquarters Building in Pioneer Park was built in 1925 and now houses the Ferndale Heritage Society, Old Settler’s Association, and registration booth for the annual Old Settlers Picnic.
Church
The Congregational Church, the first church in Whatcom County, was built in 1876 near Blaine by Reverend W.M. Stewart. The church was later moved to Pioneer Park in 1968 and is now used for meetings and small weddings.
Foster House
The Foster House, a cabin constructed in 1895 near Squalicum Lake, was the inaugural structure transported to Pioneer Park in 1935. The cabin boasted walls made of 24-inch thick logs and was generously donated by D. Ross. It was William Scrimsher who successfully relocated and rebuilt the cabin. Nowadays, the cabin is a repository of historical artifacts, photographs, and letters.During the mid-1980s, my 4-H group donated some wallpaper to a cabin. Interestingly, I believe it may still be there.
Shields House
The Shields House is a historic building built in 1885 by early pioneer Conrad Shields. It was moved to Pioneer Park in 1950 to honor the craftsmanship of early settlers. The house was built using cedar trees cut down and split by hand, with no nails required to hold them together. It is furnished to represent its historical period, including a dress belonging to Mrs. Cora Shields. Visit the Shields House Gallery for more pictures.
Parker House
The Parker House, built in 1879, served as a hotel for settlers and was later donated to the Whatcom County Parks Department. It was reassembled and now functions as a country store, selling surplus items among its supplies.
Grandview Rogers House
The Grandview Rogers House, built in 1877, was used as a dance hall, hotel, and Veterans Museum. In the 1970s, it faced the threat of being burned down and was moved to Pioneer Park. Today, the museum showcases military memorabilia, including two W.W.II Japanese flags. The hometown of the signatories of the flags has since become a sister city of Ferndale.
Post Office
The Van Buren Post Office operated from 1891 to 1918 with four postmasters. It was later reconstructed at Pioneer Park as the “First National Bank of Ferndale” and displays banking artifacts.
Hovander Homestead Park
Are you familiar with Hovander Homestead Park? It’s my top pick in Ferndale, and I think you’ll also appreciate it. This 350-acre county park situated alongside the Nooksack River provides a glimpse into the lives of 20th-century Northwest pioneers. The park was named after the Hovander family from Sweden in 1898 and featured the family’s farmhouse, barn, and other buildings. It’s fascinating to see how the family lived and worked during that period. Unfortunately, the house has been closed for several years, but I’m hopeful it’ll reopen soon.
Garden Area
The Hovander Demonstration Garden was created to represent what the original garden on the property may have looked like. It also serves as a landscaped area surrounding the farmhouse. Presently, the garden is managed by the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation, along with the Washington State University Extension Service and the Master Gardener Foundation. Its purpose is to serve as an experimental garden for teaching, and any produce grown is donated to the local food bank.
Tennant Lake
The Tennant Lake area of the park features a fragrance garden, wildlife viewing tower, interpretive center, and boardwalk with viewing platforms overlooking the wetlands near the lake. A support organization called Friends of Tennant Lake and Hovander Homestead Park has been established to keep the area well-maintained. The lake’s wildlife includes bald eagles, coots, ospreys, swallows, ducks, and great blue herons, all using the habitat.
Lake Terrell
Lake Terrell, located five miles west of Ferndale, offers great fishing opportunities. The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, and Channel Catfish while also home to resident Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Brown Bullhead Catfish. Fishing is allowed year-round, but fishing from any floating device isn’t allowed during the fall migratory waterfowl hunting season. The lake has access on the west shore, shoreline access, a fishing dock, and a boat launch. Two-pole fishing is allowed, and the shoreline access is good, with an undeveloped shoreline. You might catch Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rainbow Trout, or Yellow Perch. Lake Terrell is located just west of Downtown and boasts an area of 321.30 acres. Remember your WA State Discover Pass to park next to the fishing dock.
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Hello! I’m Jolene Baijot, a Real Estate Agent and founder of Den Finder Real Estate in Bellingham. Thank you for reading my blog post. You can contact me using the form on this website. I’m always happy to hear from you.