People - Flavor


– Dennis Merritt photo.

From a spark to a fire
The can-do attitude of the Inland Northwest

Inland Northwest residents often are praised for their friendliness to newcomers. Their committed work ethic might stem from the pioneer days when they harvested trees, dug mines, forged railroads, and built cities, then rebuilt them after they burned.

Igniting the spark

The region's chamber of commerce, Greater Spokane Incorporated, and business leaders have been involved in many key projects and turning points in Spokane's history.

Fairchild Air Force Base, located about 12 miles west of Spokane, opened in 1942 as a World War II repair depot. To help land the base, the Spokane chamber, local governments, and businesses put up funds to purchase the land. Today, Fairchild is the county's largest employer and is home to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and the Air National Guard's 141st Air Refueling Wing. The base's personnel are key to the Air Force's tanker operations on the West Coast.

Following World War II, the chamber's Agri-Business Council, previously called the Ag Bureau, supported efforts to develop the Columbia Basin and irrigation on the Rathdrum Prairie. The Bureau also worked to create a better understanding between Spokane businesses and farmers in regard to conservation and widening agricultural opportunities.

In 1959, a group of business leaders formed Spokane Unlimited to help determine how to revitalize the downtown core, including a rough area along the Spo-kane River that was home to railroad tracks and dilapidated buildings. Thanks to the efforts of Spokane Unlimited and several other groups, as well as a land donation by railroad companies, the site hosted the 1974 World's Fair and Expo. About 5.6 million people attended, and today the site is home to the beautiful 100-acre Riverfront Park.

Nearly 30 years later, another group of 110 business leaders launched Momentum, a campaign to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the Spokane area. The 10-year effort was followed by a similar campaign, Focus 21.
The start of the new millennium also saw the birth of new cities—Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake.

In 2004, construction was completed on a new building for Sirti, now called Innovate Washington, sparking development at the Riverpoint campus. The park became a significant site for Washington State and Eastern Washington university branch campuses and start-up companies, prompting an effort to create the University District.

In 2009, the first section of the long-awaited North Spokane Corridor opened for traffic.

Preserving our heritage

Thanks to the commitment of some visionary developers and the community, a spate of historic buildings have been reborn.

The Davenport Hotel, in downtown Spokane, was an elegant vision when it opened in 1914, and it hosted visits by a number of U.S. Presidents. But this grand dame had grown tired and had seen multiple owners and essentially had been closed for 15 years when Walt and Karen Worthy bought the property in 2000. The Worthys restored the hotel to its former glory and reopened it in 2002, adding a gorgeous new hotel tower across the street.

Built during the depression, the Fox Theater, an art deco treasure, was then Spokane's largest venue with 2,300 seats. It primarily served as a movie house, but offered staged performances as well, featuring stars like Katherine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra. But as movie audiences started patronizing newer suburban theaters, the Fox fell into disrepair and eventually closed. It was slated for demolition in 2000, but generous donations and an assertive fundraising campaign led by the Spokane Symphony saved it. Today, the fully restored building is home to the Symphony and hosts other events.

Spokane's skyline includes two towering smokestacks that are part of the steam plant, built in 1915. In 1996, Spokane developer Wells & Co. began renovating the plant and the nearby historic Seehorn-Lang Building, connecting them with a new structure to create a mixed-use space of offices, retail shops, and the Steam Plant Grill restaurant and lounge. Wells & Co. also has been instrumental in revitalizing a host of other historic buildings, creating urban condominiums.

Special events

The Spokane area hosts several renowned events throughout the year, some of which started mainly due to the drive of an individual.

When Olympic marathon runner and Spokane resident Don Kardong mentioned to a reporter in 1976 that the lilac city should have its own run, the suggestion made headlines. With support from the mayor, the Jaycees, and the major sponsorship of Premera, then called Medical Service Corp., the Lilac Bloomsday Run was born. Each May, tens of thousands of people from all over the world participate in the 7.46 mile run. In 2011, more than 51,000 people finished the race.

Hoopfest is the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world. The June tournament includes more than 7,000 teams—from children to adults—who hail from 42 states. It also features 3,000 volunteers, 250,000 players and fans, and 458 courts spanning 42 downtown blocks. In 1990, a group of volunteers, including founding board members Rick Betts, Jerry Schmidt, and others, coordinated the first Hoopfest, which had 512 teams.

With fundraising and marketing savvy, Star USA founders Barb Beddor and Toby Stewart were instrumental in landing the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2007 and again in 2010. Both events broke attendance records, U.S.A. Figure Skating reported.

With their historical tradition of hard work and determination, the people of the Inland Northwest have launched international events, built landmark structures, and initiated innovations that have impacted the region's culture and economy—past, present, and future.