Rickey Creek Orchard

Just behind the store at Rickey Creek Orchard, once stood the house of John Rickey.  In 1865 he was the first white person to settle in that area South of the Colville River and North of the Spokane River.  This property was south of what was then called Grand Rapids.  It was later called Rickey Rapids. He established orchards, grew grain, had it milled at the Meyers Falls Mill and used it to fatten hogs and cattle. He then butchered, cured and sold the meat from the farm.  He realized the potential to sell merchandise to the Native Villages on the West side of the Columbia River and to Chinese Miners who other merchants in the Colville Valley ignored.  He also had the advantage of being close to the part of the river that was navigable below the rapids.  He hired French Trappers and their sons to build French style Bateaux Canoes that could carry 20 tons of cargo. 
  On the creek, just north of this store is the warehouse and store from which John Rickey conducted business for over 10 years.  His small fleet of canoes grew into a shipping line that included the first small steamboat on this part of the Columbia.  People said that he never underpaid and Indian or overcharged a Chinaman, hence, he was known as "Honest John Rickey." 
   In 1885 Rickey closed his store on the Columbia and served as County Commissioner.  You can see historic photos and buy antiques and fruit in season at Rickey Creek Orchards.