Maple Valley’s Deep Roots

A Brief History of Maple Valley

Maple Valley was first settled in 1879, by a handful of trailblazers and their families. In its infancy, Maple Valley was a coal and lumber town, with a railroad running through it.

By 1910, Maple Valley was a growing town of blacksmith shops, hotels, saloons, stores, and its first two-room school. The area thrived off of the coal and lumber industries.

The 1920s brought great change, including Tahoma High School – a three-story brick building which is now Tahoma Middle School.

Gaffney’s Grove, a large resort featuring a ballroom, restaurant, and roller rink, opened in the mid-20s on Lake Wilderness. Gaffney’s Grove grew to include an airstrip, lodge, rental cabins, a bowling alley, and a golf course.

In the 1960s the scenery changed: Gaffney’s Grove closed and Route 18 opened between Auburn and North Bend, running by Maple Valley and allowing residents to integrate more seamlessly with neighboring cities. The population grew steadily – becoming more and more a residential location with commuters who worked in Seattle and other larger suburbs.

All this led to the city’s incorporation in 1997. The industrial infrastructure had disappeared, making room for a fresh, vibrant community. Perhaps this is how Maple Valley consistently tops lists of family-friendly places to live in Washington State as well as the entire United States.