Strange and Spooky Times in Snohomish County

Bigfoot statues
Espresso Chalet – Index, WA

He’s iconic. He’s hairy. He has big feet. You guessed it: sasquatch is our guy here in the Pacific Northwest. At Espresso Chalet right off Highway 2 in Index you can snap a selfie with the big guy. There are two larger-than-life bigfoot statues... and plenty of delicious PNW coffee!

Landed UFO
Paine Field Community Park – Everett, WA

The aliens have landed... and of course they picked Everett to touch down. This UFO has a skylight in the middle, allowing you to beam yourself up in an out-of-this-world photo op. This work of public art is made possible thanks to the Snohomish County Arts Commission.

Alligator feeding time
Reptile Zoo – Monroe, WA

You don’t have to be a hardcore herpetologist to appreciate the snakes, lizards, turtles, and – yes – alligators at the Reptile Zoo. The albino alligator is a big draw. Visit on a Friday evening and you can witness dinnertime for the reptiles. The zookeepers feed dead frozen rabbits to the animals. Yikes!

Rucker Tomb, a pyramid crypt
Evergreen Cemetary – Everett, WA

The Ruckers were a founding family in Everett. Old money. The Rucker tomb, a huge pyramid, is a site that attracts locals during the Halloween season for its spooky vibes. If you visit, please respect the crypt and tread lightly in the area.

Pet a kangaroo
Highway 520 -- Arlington, WA

Hop on over to the Outback Kangaroo Farm, where you can to a guided tour which includes opportunities to pet and feed kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, rabbits, llamas, lemurs, alpacas, Nigerian dwarf goats, peacocks, mini donkeys, parrots, and emus.

1,000 y/o Western red cedar
Interstate Five rest stop – Arlington, WA

Step into the very heart of a Thuja plicata. This Western redcedar is a millennium old and represents the Evergreen State (redcedars are the official state tree). This tree trunk used to sit on a local highway so that folks could drive right through it in their Model A Fords. Today you can easily access it at a rest stop right off of I-5.

The Palmer House

Rucker Hill, Port Gardner Neighborhood – Everett, WA

The owls are not what they seem. If you’re a Twin Peaks fan then you know what happened at Laura Palmer’s house. Eek! The current resident of the house gives tours – book yours at visitplamerhouse.com. Fun fact: Donna’s house is also in the same neighborhood. Do a Google search and you can find it. Afterward get yourself a damn fine cup of coffee in Everett.

The Oxford Saloon
First Street – Snohomish, WA

Where to start with the Oxford? Probably the fact that it’s a hundred-year-old building that used to be a brothel. Then there’s the resident haunted doll that disappears regularly and reappears. And the mannequins that swing from the ceiling. And eight to ten ghosts that wander the building. With all of this paranormal energy going on, don’t forget that you can also order a drink and enjoy watching the world go by in beautiful downtown Snohomish!