Methow Valley United Methodist Church is powered by solar panels and can serve as a cooling and clean air refuge even when the power is out.
Spaces also offer the public refuge from wildfire smoke
When summer days get too hot for comfort, or when wildfire smoke becomes too unhealthy to breathe, the Methow Valley has a number of cooling and clean-air centers where residents and visitors can take refuge.
Here’s the latest list, from Twisp to Winthrop:
Methow Valley Community Center
201 Hwy. 20 S., Twisp
MVCC recently completed major HVAC upgrades, with air conditioning, insulation and air filters. The building is available to those seeking cool, clean air 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
MVCC has free Wi-Fi, and its gym is available for public use. Check in at the office to use the gym.
Twisp Public Library
In the Methow Valley Community Center building
The library can serve as a cooling center during its operating hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The library offers workspaces and a photocopier that can also print, scan and fax. It also has toys, coloring pages and puzzles to keep restless kids (and adults) occupied.
Twisp Valley Grange
344 W. Second Ave., Twisp
The grange has 2,000 square feet of air conditioned space available on its main floor and will open as a cooling/clean air refuge after MVCC closes: 5–8 p.m. on weekdays. Check the website, twispvalleygrange.org, for weekend availability. The grange will open when the National Weather Service “HeatRisk” is 3 or higher, meaning the temperatures are too extreme for all people, not just sensitive groups. Check the HeatRisk at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk.
The grange was recently equipped with an air purifier and indoor air monitor, and it provides free Wi-Fi, ADA-accessible restrooms, water and games.
Volunteers are needed to staff the grange during cooling center hours. Those interested may fill out the contact form at twispvalleygrange.org.
Methow Valley United Methodist Church
193B Old Twisp Hwy., Twisp (5 miles north of Twisp)
The Methodist church between Winthrop and Twisp converted to solar power in late 2025 and can serve as a cooling and clean air center even when the power is out. As needed on hot or smoky days, the church would be open any day of the week, from 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. The church follows the NWS HeatRisk, similar to the grange, but it may also open at other times as needed. The facility has an air quality monitor on site and will provide a refuge from poor air quality when the monitor indicates “unhealthy” levels.
Wi-Fi is available at the church, in addition to some games, jigsaw puzzles, books for adults and
children, a movie projector, and rooms that can be used as child and toddler play spaces.
Winthrop Public Library
112 Norfolk Road, Winthrop
Fully air conditioned and equipped with air filters, the Winthrop Library is available on hot or smoky days during its regular hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Wi-Fi, public computers and library materials are available.
Friends of the Winthrop Library (FOWL) has opened the library’s Community Room on occasion during hot spells, even when the library is closed, but the group needs volunteers to do this consistently. Those interested are invited to email fowl98862@gmail.com.
