Taste, Tour, and Explore: Why Prosser Belongs on Your Washington Travel List
By Jennifer Coleman | Photos courtesy of Tour Prosser
Tucked in the heart of Washington’s Yakima Valley, Prosser is a small agricultural town with a big reputation. Located along the Yakima River in Benton County, just off Interstate 82 between Yakima and the Tri-Cities, Prosser sits at the gateway to Washington’s famed wine country. Surrounded by rolling hills, desert sunshine, and fertile farmland, this community is not only rich in natural beauty, but also deeply rooted in Washington’s agricultural and winemaking history.
As the sun rises over the Yakima River, the town of Prosser begins its day with peaceful, country charm. Once a fishing camp called Táptat by the Yakama people, Prosser has grown into a farming community made possible by irrigation and is now known as the birthplace of Washington wine.
Take a walk along 6th Street at Meade Avenue, and echoes of history appear in the architecture. The 1906 Mercer Building still stands, its upstairs once host to Prohibition era dances. Downstairs is Brewminatti, a cozy coffee shop and music venue that has the vibe of a hip Seattle coffee shop but with small town friendliness and excellent locally roasted coffee. We enjoyed an espresso and sampled their collection of tasty local beers on tap.
Prosser’s historical walking tour, supported by the Historic Downtown Prosser Association, leads visitors past landmarks like the Odd Fellows Hall (1903), the Courthouse (1926), and the U.S. Post Office (1935) that contains a section of the 1937 Fine Arts mural by Ernest Norling entitled “Mail Train in the ’80s”.
The Prosser Historical Museum has multiple distinct exhibit spaces spanning across 200+ years. Displays are arranged like chapters in a book, including: the ancient Yakama fishing site called Taptat, dry-land farming, transportation, irrigation, social life, horse culture and antique firearms. This introduction to Prosser history with the variety of artifacts and photographs gave me an eyewitness account of the ordinary and extraordinary events of yesteryear.
Prosser’s reputation as a wine pioneer is well earned. Over 20 wineries flourish here amid more than 20,000 acres of vineyards. With 300 days of sunshine a year, plus warm days and cool nights, the region is tailor-made for world-class grape growing.
We enjoyed strolling Prosser's Vintners Village (located just off Interstate 82). A wine tasters delight, the Village embodies Prosser’s spirit: rooted in agriculture, alive with innovation, and built around community. This place has emerged as a signature wine destination with its walkable collection of tasting rooms, shops, and eateries that are all clustered around a relaxed village green. Visitors can wander door-to-door among acclaimed wine producers like Airfield Estates, WIT Cellars, Martinez & Martinez, and nearby Wautoma Springs. For those seeking bubbles, a quick drive along Wine Country Road brings you to Tirriddis Sparkling Wines that has a fantastic tasting room perched above the Yakima River. The views from the Tirriddis patio are classic wine country, the perfect place to sip and savor the flavors of the Yakima Valley. Be sure to try the demi-sec rosé – it’s like strawberries and cream in a bubbly froth. Yum!
Beyond wine, Prosser hums with life. On Saturday mornings June through the first week of October, the Farmers Market fills the City Park with fresh cherries, apples, and produce from local orchards. Explore the Lower Yakima Valley Pathway, a paved, level trail that follows a railroad bed from Prosser to Sunnyside through the orchards and vineyards of the lower Yakima River valley. The trail is fully accessible and is popular with many types of users. It makes for a nice leg of one of the popular wine country biking tours in the area. Water lovers can launch kayaks from Crawford Park, drifting past farms along the Yakima River. Families gather at festivals including Harvest Festival and the Great Prosser Balloon Rally in fall, and Christmas tree lighting in winter.
The Horse Heaven Hills, a long range of bare, high rolling hills, dominate the skyline of this part of central Washington. As the sun sets on the hills and vineyards glow under twilight, you get a deep sense of place and the heritage, agriculture and history that are all bound together by the river, vines, and a shared welcome from Prosser, which embodies small-town America.
Welcome to Prosser—home to rolling vineyards, local flavors, and a vibe that says, "stay a while." In Prosser you’ll find more than just small-town charm. It’s a place where award-winning wineries meet sun-drenched outdoor adventures, and every moment feels like it’s made for the memory books. Prosser isn’t just another stop on the map, it’s where relaxation and discovery go hand in hand. More information here: www.tourprosser.com