Digging Up The Dirt On Soap Lake

Forty years ago, Soap Lake residents took turns scanning the skies for Russian missiles and unidentified flying objects.

Today, they’re likely to trip over Russians on the city beach, and that unidentified object is probably a mudcovered Italian businessman on holiday.

The best-kept secret in Central Washington is no secret to Europeans and Canadians.

The town of 1,355, just northeast of Moses Lake and 110 miles from Spokane, hums with international visitors. They take the water and make over the mud.

It’s warm, slightly smelly and loaded with minerals.

“It’s amazing stuff. When you get out of the water, you feel better. And it’s the same with drinking it. It works on whatever people need,” said Irv Neil, director of the Chamber of Commerce.

The old town has new lodgings and creative cooks to care for the visitors’ bodies. The water takes care of their souls.

“You come here stressed? I say, go jump in the lake,” says Italian-born Tristano Marlia.

To learn more about the allure of Soap Lake, please turn to today’s IN Life section.