RUSTON

Origins

Founded as a company town, Ruston was called Smelter until 1906 when residents voted for a change (and who could blame them?). Established in 1890 for the employees of the Tacoma Smelting & Refining Company, Ruston has gone through more than just changes to its name. In 1993 the iconic smokestack on the Ruston waterfront was demolished and the area underwent extensive environmental clean-up. 

City of Ruston Boundary

North: North Park Ave & Point Defiance Park
South: North Ruby Street
East: North Orchard St and the waterfront 
West: North Pearl Street

Gateway to Point Defiance

The City of Ruston is the gateway to Point Defiance Park, which encompasses the 5 Mile Drive, Owen Beach, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, flower gardens, the Point Defiance Pagoda and Japanese garden, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, and miles of trails. Taking the ferry to or from Vashon Island? You’ll be driving through Ruston. But Ruston isn’t just a place to go through on one’s way to the zoo, beach, or ferry dock.

Enjoying Ruston

Ruston is where you go for a slice of pie and coffee in the Antique Sandwich Co.—in business since 1973 in a 1916 building built as a grocery with a dance hall above. Ruston is where you go for Italian dinner at Macaluso’s, for a fried fish sandwich or chili nachos at Cole’s Bar & Grill. It’s where one can walk the sidewalks past homes built at the turn-of-the-century and every era since. It’s a place with its own police department, fire department, and city hall. 

Ruston Not Point Ruston

When we say Ruston, you may imagine Point Ruston, once an industrial site, now home to a movie theater, restaurants, public marketplace, Tacoma’s beloved Ice Cream Social, cafes, and upscale condominiums—all overlooking Puget Sound. But Ruston (sometimes referred to as “real Ruston”—at least by us) is its very own place long preceding the waterfront development below.

Ruston Way

Ruston enjoys close proximity to Ruston Way, a 3.4 mile waterfront path from the Dune Peninsula at the north end to Chinese Reconciliation Park at the south end. Once named Front Street, the path borders Commencement Bay the whole way, offers multiple beach access points, fishing piers, continuous water views, and a stretch of seafood restaurants, pubs, and locally-owned Katie Down’s (where you can, and should, order seafood on your pizza). Now you know, and might remember, the distinctions between Ruston, Ruston Way, and Point Ruston—just like a local.

Step into the Antique Sandwich Co. to order, and if the weather is fine, go a few doors down to their Garden of Eatin’ for a table. Keep an eye out for neighborhood deer.

A major Tacoma landmark, the history of Point Defiance Park stretches back to 1888. The beaches, trails, gardens, and Zoo encompassed by this 760 acre park are visited by over 3 million people a year

A major Tacoma landmark, the history of Point Defiance Park stretches back to 1888. The beaches, trails, gardens, and Zoo encompassed by this 760 acre park are visited by over 3 million people a year

Home to a Ukrainian Bakery, restaurants, and vendors, this waterfront market is just down the hill from Ruston proper.

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HOUSING

20th century single-family homes—many modest in size—mingle with apartment buildings in Ruston proper, while one can find upper-end senior housing at Frank Tobey Jones. Housing is expanded greatly with the addition of large, high-end condominiums at Point Ruston.

Hi, I'm Michael Duggan, a licensed broker with Windermere Abode. I would love to help you through the home buying or selling process. Please contact me to set up a meeting and get things started.