Zillah Teapot

14691 Yakima Valley Highway
Zillah, WA 98953
www.cityofzillah.us/visitors/zillah_teapot.php

Handcrafted by Jack Ainsworth in 1922, the Zilla Teapot was originally constructed as a political statement, in response to the Teapot Dome Scandal in the Harding administration. It sat next to the Old Dalton Trading Company General Store for many years, until it was purchased by Mrs. AJ Thomas in 1928. Dalton then operated the Teapot Dome as a gas station for decades. During the construction of Interstate 82 in 1978, the teapot was scheduled to be removed; however before that happened it was hit by a car and nearly destroyed, It was subsequently reconstructed with the help of the Washington State Department of Transportation and moved to a site on the Yakima Valley Highway. In 2012 it was relocated to its current venue, where it serves as a visitor information center.

The teapot is located off of Interstate 82 at exit 52. There’s a small parking lot in front of the Zillah Teapot, but the accessible parking spot is located in the larger parking lot next door. There’s curb-cut access and an accessible sidewalk from the accessible parking space over to the teapot. A lone picnic table is located next to the teapot, but unfortunately it’s not shaded. Alternatively there are a few covered picnic tables in the park next door, which is connected to the teapot area by an accessible sidewalk. Round it out with accessible restrooms and a Fallen Firefighters Memorial, and you have everything you need for a road trip stop.