Four Lakes and the West Plains

Where it is

Four Lakes is an unincorporated community where I-90 meets SR-904, the highway into Cheney. It has its own post office, water district and volunteer fire department. The wider West Plains around it carries Cheney mailing addresses and the 99004 ZIP code, which is why locals sometimes call it “Fake Cheney”: a Cheney address that is not inside the City of Cheney.

Why people choose it

• The drive. I-90 puts downtown Spokane, the airport and Fairchild Air Force Base all within about 20 minutes.
• Space. Acreage parcels in the pines, plus newer subdivisions closer to Cheney and Airway Heights.
• Lakes and wildlife. Silver, Clear and Medical lakes are a short drive west, and Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is south of Cheney.

What the homes are like

Older homes in Four Lakes itself, manufactured and site-built homes on a few acres, and newer homes in planned neighborhoods. Services vary a lot from one property to the next.

Schools

This area is in the Cheney School District. Confirm the assignment for the address with the district.

Fire history

The August 2023 Gray Fire started near Medical Lake and led to evacuations across this part of the West Plains. Many neighbors lost homes. It matters to how you buy here.

What to check before you buy

• Insurance first. Get a quote and ask about wildfire coverage and defensible space before you write an offer.
• Well and septic. Inspect both, test the water, and ask for the well log and septic records.
• City or county. A Cheney address does not mean Cheney city utilities, police or zoning. Ask which jurisdiction the property is in.
• Road, internet and aircraft noise. Ask who maintains the road, which internet providers serve the address, and whether it sits under a flight path.

More on this in buying acreage on the West Plains.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from mapping data, not traffic-aware. Ask me and I will time the route you would actually drive.