Does Anyone Know About Shelton, WA? (Seattle, Olympia: home, neighborhood, high school)

[chris]

patnormcar, I do have to agree with you about that area of Shelton. It's a little delapitated and could really use a little TLC from the city. I avoid stopping in that area at night if I need gas. It sure would be nice to have a Home Depot/Lowes here but most of the time Lumbermens has what I need (and their wood supplies are typically less than HD - and their customer service is excellent). Best of luck finding a place out there that better suits your needs!

I was thinking about why my impression of Shelton would be so different than most in this thread, and I'd have to say it's due to the area of Shelton that I live in. It appears that there are clearly two areas of Shelton, and you can almost divide the two areas between north/NW of downtown and south/SE of downtown.

This website shows Shelton in a way that I see it (most of the time). I believe that most of the images are N/NW of the downtown area.
http://www.sheltonchamber.org/

Some of the reasons I say it's better for kids in Shelton than Olympia are mostly safety issues, lack of the homeless/vagabond element, lower drug use (fewer crackheads and very few teens on methodone here unlike Oly), and overall, down to earth people.

When we lived in Olympia (near Black Lake/Mall area), there were over 50 convicted registered sex offenders living within 3 miles of my home. Where I live now north of Shelton, there are *zero*. Part of that statistic could be explained by the state keeping them in halfway homes until they are rehabilitated (if that's possible), and I'm sure some of them are from the Shelton area. Either way, it was things like this that motivated me to look for other places to live.

Teenagers are going to party and get pregnant regardless of where you live. To me, that's a parental/family issue that you have some control over. I don't have teenagers yet so my opinion could change about Shelton over time.

Like another thread I was reading about Mason county, I believe the area has overcome some major issues over the past few years. Still, it's not for everyone.

[chris]

I know it seems quiet in Shelton (most of the time) but there is stuff to do in this hick town that doesn't involve being outdoors.

Here's a list of performers that have been here in the past 6-8 months (little creek casino mostly).

Bill Cosby
B.B. King
Terri Clark
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Huey Lewis and The News
Dennis Miller
Jo Dee Messina

Coming soon:

REO Speedwagon is going to be here in two weeks ().
There's also boxing/extreme cage matches.

other live entertainment:
http://www.little-creek-casino.com/E...ightlounge.htm

yearly events:
http://www.sheltonchamber.org/96.php

And there is a movie theatre and a drive-in.

[kayla7795]

Just so you all know, I have it on good authority that Lowe's will be coming to Shelton at the end of Wallace Kneeland Blvd. I do not know a time line yet but they are coming. . Also, my family and I moved to Shelton in 2005 and we have liked it a lot. It is a working class town but I think it has potential

[Mollymarker]

I was born and raised in the same house for 18 years. Went to 1 grade school, the middle school (downtown), and the high school. While Shelton does lack facilities for fun for all ages, it is a small town and has been growing for many years. And just as any town does that grows, so does the negative that goes along with it. You make it what you want it to be, and kids doing things to get into trouble is their own choice, and lack a some parental guidance. Myself and many others I know are at our 20 year reunion this summer managed to grow up in Shelton, have fun, mature, and lead very productive and affluent lives. So don't blame the "town" for what kids do. Elma or Shelton ... no way Elma for me.

[Barret]

I don't know if you have made the decision to move yet since you posted your inquiry in Nov., but we have a weekend place at Lake Cushman in Hoodsport about 15 miles up Hood Canal from Shelton. It is a great area and still reasonably priced with access to two lakes and a few miles from the canal. Lots of retired people and weekenders that like to play. All of our friends loved our place so much that most of them have purchased either property or homes, some on the lake (water skiing, jet skis) some not. It helps that I am a real estate agent in Seattle and have been able to find them the perfect spots. Anyway you might really like it up there. Golf course too!

[KidBlue]

We haven't decided for sure yet on a town, so still reseaching. Thanks for all of the great input on the area. One of my co-workers grew up in Olympia and her brother lives in Hoodsport now and loves it. The area Barret describes sounds great. We'll make sure to visit north and northwest of Shelton when we get a chance. I usually only jet ski when the weather gets over 90 (which it does continuously here for about six months--the reason to retire elsewhere) so I may have to just watch!

I got a little scared on the postings on the difficulty making new friends in western WA, but hopefully I'll find a couple of people to go to lunch with.

[faulkton]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Lots of puppy mills there!

and meth labs

[chris]

someone who works for Mason county says the meth lab problems aren't too bad (scroll down).

http://www.city-data.com/forum/washington/22824-anyone-know-about-mason-county.html


Kidblue: Making friends in western WA isn't as difficult once you step out of Seattle. Don't let that scare you. Washingtonians are friendly for the most part and love to talk about nothing just like anyone, anywhere else.

[gladtobeoutofhell]

Who the heck said that the drug problem is minor in Shelton? You have got to be kidding me........I lived in Shelton for 4 miserable years and had to get out before I killed myself....! They are 30 years behind the rest of the world. There's racism, teenage pregnancy, meth labs galore, ignorance.....shall I go on?....Good God, who in their right mind would want to raise a child there? or retire?.......I have never seen more freaks in my life...and the rain? you can have it.........They could make a t.v. show out of that place.......it's unbelievable....Glad to be home......

[missy watts]

If you want to be near Shelton, but want to avoid the Shelton stigma (as evidenced by the posts here!) try the edge of Thurston County on the Steamboat peninsula or the Summit Lake area-Great school (Griffin School which is a k-8 that feeds into Capital High School in Olympia). Prices will be higher than Mason County. OR-go up the Hood Canal a way. I disagree about Grays Harbor County by the way...though very "small town", both Elma, McCleary and Montesano have a neat kind of VERY small town vibe. School quality may be an issue.