Meet the Rae Family! New Neighbors at Ten Trails

Meet some of Ten Trails’ newer residents, the Rae family! Ben and Sarah Rae moved their family of five to the community from nearby Covington and couldn’t be happier with their new Lennar Aspen model home! “We came from a three-bedroom home and needed more space,” says Ben of the couple’s initial reason for moving. “We also were hoping to move into a neighborhood where the kids would have other children their own age to play with, and we definitely found that here at Ten Trails.”

Community Parks and Amenities

The Raes love spending time in the community park that’s just steps away from their front door, and the family enjoys taking walks over to the Civic Park where the Rae kids: Benny, Sophia and June, enjoy the playground equipment and playing hockey in the sports court. “We also bought bikes after moving in so we could bike around the community,” says Sarah. “We love the wide sidewalks that make it easy for all of us to bike.”

“Everything’s Included” with Lennar Homes at Ten Trails

Ben and Sarah were attracted to the Lennar Homes at Ten Trails because of the layouts and the builder’s “everything’s included” philosophy where Smart Home Technology and Voice Automation services, as well as things like windows and blinds, and stainless steel appliances are all set up in the home and included in the purchase price. “It was a tough choice between the Aspen and the Magnolia models,” says Sarah. “But we are really happy with our decision.” The family loves spending time in the home’s large, open great room and having the huge kitchen island for meal prep.

A Sense of Community

One of the pleasant surprises Ben and Sarah found when choosing to move into Ten Trails was how quickly they were able to meet other families in the community. “We have a text chain with some of the local couples and we all love to get together at the community firepits,” says Ben. “We have enjoyed how easy it has been to get to know neighbors since we’ve moved in.” Welcome to Your New Hometown, Rae family! We are happy you chose to move to Ten Trails! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Nearby Halloween Events

Kick off the fall/winter holiday season by celebrating with the family at some local Halloween events. Ten Trails residents have their pick of local activities to celebrate the holiday! Check out the list below for just a few of the activities you and your family can do this upcoming week.

Wild Waves Fright Fest 2019 

Head to nearby Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Federal Way for their first annual Fright Fest! Weekends now through November 2^nd, the park has family day activities from noon until 6 pm, and scary activities and haunted attractions for children 13 and over from 6 pm to 7pm.

Halloween Harvest Festival

This coming Saturday in Auburn, Ten Trails families can take part in the city’s Halloween Harvest Festival featuring games, crafts, rides and trunk-or-treating! The event is held at the Auburn Parks Arts and Recreation Building at 910 9^th Street SE from 1 to 5 pm.

The Haunted Woods at Maris Farm 

Maris Farm in Buckley will hold one final weekend of their Haunted Woods attraction this coming weekend! Take a 35-40 minute tour of terror through an abandoned barn on the farm property followed by a trip through a twisty corn maze and a final walk (or run) through the haunted woods. Due to the graphic nature of this tour, it is not recommended for children under the age of ten.

Haunted Forest of Maple Valley

The Haunted Forest of Maple Valley has activities for kids of all ages including a trick-or-treat event this coming Saturday, October 26^th, from 5 to 6 pm. More mature residents who are looking for a scare can check out Terror on the Cedar River, a haunted tour that takes place this Friday, October 25^th and Saturday, October 26^th from 7 to 11 pm.

Halloween Craft Party

Residents looking for a quieter Halloween experience can check out the Halloween Craft Party at the Renton History Museum this Saturday, October 26^th from 11 am to 1 pm. Art supplies will be provided, however supplies are limited, so call ahead to reserve your spot. 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Ten Trails Nearby Points of Interest

Ten Trails enjoys a prime location, nestled close to the foothills and near some of the area’s best recreational sites. This new master planned community is also conveniently located near shopping, dining, and medical services. Read more to find out just a few great places that are nearby Your New Hometown!

Black Diamond Open Space

Ten Trails is located just minutes from Black Diamond Open Space, one of the area’s premier destinations for mountain bike enthusiasts.  The newly-expanded King County park offers 1,240 acres of parks and trail space for Ten Trails residents to explore.

Lake Sawyer

Within walking or biking distance to the community lies Lake Sawyer, the fourth largest natural lake in King County. Lake Sawyer offers opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, swimming and motor-boating, and is the site of one of the area’s best Independence Day fireworks shows.

Crystal Mountain Ski Resort

One of the area’s largest ski resorts is located just an hour drive from Ten Trails. Crystal Mountain Ski Resort offers runs for skiers of all levels with programs available for beginning skiers of all ages. The resort’s 2019-2020 ski season is gearing up, with snow accumulation already beginning to form at the mountain’s base.

Maple Valley Four Corners

Maple Valley Four Corners is a shopping center located just minutes away from Ten Trails off Hwy 169. The complex has several anchor stores including Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Johnson’s Home and Garden. Four Corners offers many of the retail stores and services Ten Trails residents need including dry cleaning, restaurants, medical offices, dog-grooming and more.

Kent Station

About 25 minutes from Ten Trails, Kent Station is more than a shopping destination for Ten Trails residents. This “open air urban village” has restaurants, services, a satellite office for Green River College, and a train station for the Sounder commuter train which takes riders north to Seattle, or south to Tacoma. The Sounder is a great commuting option for residents of Ten Trails who work in downtown Seattle. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Visit the Nearby Black Diamond Library

The Black Diamond Library is a wonderful local resource for residents of Ten Trails, and is located within walking or biking distance from the community via the new Roberts Drive Rock Creek Bridge. The library provides programs for children and families, art workshops, and Family Story Time events on select Mondays throughout the year.

Origin of the Black Diamond Library

The City of Black Diamond has had a library in one form or another since 1917, when volunteers gathered book donations and began a library in a small room in the old Pacific Coast Hotel. As the donations increased and space became limited, the library had to be moved to the nearby former railroad depot which today is known as the Black Diamond Historical Museum Depot.

Historical Timeline for the Black Diamond Library

During WWII, the library had to shut down due to lack of volunteers available to run it. To help ensure the residents of Black Diamond still had access to books, the King County Rural Library District (known today as the King County Library System) began offering mobile book lending services twice a month to residents. The library reopened in June of 1945 in the old depot building with new books and was designated as a branch of the King County Rural Library District. The library remained at the depot for 12 more years until it was relocated to a small cottage on Lawson Street. There it remained until 1968 when it was moved to the city’s new municipal building. The library was fully annexed into the King County Library System in 1990 and operated out of a leased space from 1991 until the new building that exists today was opened in 2008.

Black Diamond Library Today 

Today, the Black Diamond library is located at 24707 Roberts Drive, just shy of one mile from the Willow Avenue entrance to Ten Trails. The beautiful new building was designed by architects at the Miller Hull Partnership to reflect the late 19^th century architecture that is predominant in the city. On a clear day, the library offers stunning views of Mount Rainier from the main reading area.

Friends of the Black Diamond Library 

Residents of Ten Trails are encouraged to get involved with their local library. The Friends of the Black Diamond Library group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 5pm in the library’s conference room. Dues are $5, and the group holds fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the library including the annual book sale and an annual plant sale held on the first Saturday each May. The library is having a book sale this Thursday, October 17^th from 10 am to 6 pm. Purchase used books, videos and CDs at bargain prices to help support library programming throughout the year. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

City of Black Diamond Historical Depot Museum

Ten Trails residents can learn about the City of Black Diamond’s history at the nearby Historical Museum Depot. The Depot, once the train station for the railroad that ran from the old Town of Franklin to Seattle, offers a glimpse into the rich history of this beautiful city.

Black Diamond Coal-Mining History and Immigration 

Black Diamond’s history begins several hundred miles south in the now-abandoned town of Nortonville, CA. Founded as a coal-mining town to supply coal to San Francisco, the mines in Nortonville were plagued with water intrusion issues and low-quality coal. Engineers were sent north to Washington to find better coal supplies and discovered an open coal seam along the Green River. They returned to California with news of their discovery, which prompted miners and residents to move north to Washington. Word of the abundance of coal in Black Diamond traveled the world, and soon immigrants were moving to the city to mine the many coal fields.

Black Diamond Museum

Before it became the Black Diamond Museum, the depot building served as a train station until the 1930’s. Later, the building was used as a restaurant, a library, a telephone exchange, an office for the water department and a storage shed for city maintenance. Inside the building today, visitors can see displays of what life was like for coal miners and families that lived in Black Diamond in the early 1900’s.

Volunteer at the Museum

The Black Diamond Museum is always looking for volunteers! Contact the staff at 360-886-2142 to inquire about becoming a docent. 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Meet the Ferguson Family, New Residents of Ten Trails 

The Fergusons are new residents of Ten Trails by way of Orange County, California. This family of six was looking for a master-planned community in King County and Ten Trails checked all of their boxes! They liked the community so much, in fact, that they decided to buy months ahead of when they originally planned to do so.

Master Planned Community Concept

In California, master planned communities are much more common than they are in this part of the country and the Fergusons knew that’s what they were looking for in their new home. “We looked at some other communities nearby that weren’t master planned,” said Kelli Ferguson, “but ultimately decided that we like living in a community where the homes, parks and amenities are all integrated like they are at Ten Trails. We also knew we definitely wanted a brand new home, so the community was a great fit for our family.”

Common Areas, Parks and Trails 

Since moving in, the Fergusons have been taking full advantage of Ten Trails’ many open common areas and parks. “We have gotten together with neighbors to makes s’mores at the fire pits,” said Kelli. “And my husband takes the kids over the Civic Park almost every day.”

New Neighbors Creating a Community

One thing the Fergusons have really enjoyed is getting to know their new neighbors. “It has just been great to move in around the same time as other people,” said Kelli. “It has been so easy to meet our neighbors and make friends. We watch each others’ kids and have really found a great sense of community here.” Welcome to the neighborhood! We are so glad you chose to make Ten Trails your new hometown! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Black Diamond Labor Days Festival 2019 

Residents of Ten Trails enjoy living in the historic City of Black Diamond—a city rich in coal-mining history and steeped in traditions like their annual Labor Days festival. This good, old-fashioned, small-town celebration epitomizes the strong sense of local community that Ten Trails proudly fosters. This three-day weekend event offers something for everyone – kids, adults, dogs, pie-bakers, music lovers, Black Diamond residents, and visitors from afar! Join attendees for a parade, games, vendors, music, movie, and more! The festivities run August 31^st – September 2^nd and are free of charge.

Movie Night at the School Field 

A showing of the popular movie Captain Marvel will kick off Labor Days at dusk on Saturday, August 31^st at the field behind Black Diamond Elementary School. Sunday, September 1^st  event highlights include vendor booths, live music, doggie day, games, and a pie-baking contest.

Labor Days Parade 

The Labor Days parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 2^nd. The parade route goes along a portion of Hwy 169, where families line up to watch and children eagerly await the arrival of candy handed out by members of the parade procession. Following the parade, there will be more games, vendors, refreshments, and entertainment at the school field. Labor Days official buttons, designed by a local student contest winner Ayden Washington, are sold for $1.00. Every button purchase comes with a raffle ticket for a grand prize drawing held on Monday, September 2^nd.

Stop by the Ten Trails Booth 

Ten Trails is a proud participant and sponsor of Black Diamond Labor Days. Stop by our booth for some Ten Trails giveaways! For more information on this festival and a schedule of events go to www.blackdiamondlabordays.org/ 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com      

Head to the Black Diamond Miner’s Day Festival this Weekend

Ten Trails families looking for a fun activity to do this weekend can head to nearby downtown, historic Black Diamond on Saturday, July 13^th to take part in their annual Miner’s Day festival! The event kicks off at 9 am with a 5k race that begins with the sound of the historic coal mining siren. Fun activities will be held throughout the day, with entertainment for all ages including a donut-eating contest held at 11:30 am. For a full festival schedule, visit the Black Diamond Miner’s Day festival website.

Women’s Suffrage Theme

The theme of this year’s Miner’s Day is “Women’s Suffrage Centennial” to commemorate the 100-year anniversary that women were given the right to vote. The festival’s traditional fashion show will give a nod to the theme with many examples of women’s attire in the early 1900’s, along with a women’s suffrage skit that will take place at noon.

Stop by our Ten Trails Tent

Don’t forget to visit our Ten Trails tent at Miner’s Day to learn more about the community, meet our friendly team and grab some Ten Trails giveaways! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043