The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg's Izzy the Camel will welcome in the new year from his new digs off Highway 124 and Hart Road, just east of Prescott. While some Izzy fans have been vocal in expressing displeasure over the move, Izzy's owners, Mickey and Tawnya Richards, say it will be best for everyone.

For the last several years, Izzy and his big, blue trailer have welcomed visitors to Waitsburg from the pasture off Highway 12, just south of the Waitsburg city limits. The land was owned by Waitsburg resident Carol Weir who, Tawnya said, let them use the pasture because she enjoyed having Izzy and his pasture mates – several horses and donkeys – nearby.

Tawnya said the Richards' had always told Weir they wanted to purchase the pasture when she was ready to sell. When Weir moved to an assisted living facility in Spokane earlier this year, the Richards' made an offer on the pasture land and hoped to build a manufactured home in the far corner.

After weeks of waiting, the Richards' finally learned that the estate would be sold as one piece, which included the home located on 10th Street in Waitsburg. They eventually received a letter asking them to move their animals and possessions from the pasture by Dec. 31.

In the meantime, the Richards' had begun looking at a homestead owned by Mary Ballard, just east of Prescott. They placed an offer, had it accepted, and have been working steadily to get the pasture ready for Izzy and his friends.

The Richards' say the new location is ideal and, though less visible, has several advantages over the Waitsburg property.

"It will be safer for people, safer for the animals, and there is a lot more room," said Tawnya.

Tawnya said the 21 fenced acres give the animals a lot more room to roam. Izzy will be visible from Highway 124, but his visitors will turn onto Hart Road to say hello.

The Richards' plan to create a large parking area along Hart Road, which will be much safer than the small turnaround where visitors currently stop, off Highway 12.

Tawnya said the house on the property needs extensive remodeling, which they have already started, but they hope to put their Waitsburg home on the market and move to Prescott this spring.

She says they can't wait to finally be on the same property with their animals, rather than traveling back and forth several times a day to feed, water, and break ice in the winter.

"It's all just fallen into place and we're really excited. Izzy is exactly five minutes from where he was before. And this new pasture is much larger and safer for everyone than the old location was," she said.