Wallowa County
Rural Tourism Studio
The Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio focused on the rural communities of northeastern Oregon, including Joseph and Enterprise.
The Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio was developed in response to the destination’s desire to develop agritourism, bicycle tourism and heritage tourism. The communities had existing strengths in these areas, and the studio helped attendees develop a common vision for the future and operationalize their next steps.
Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio highlights:
- 64 local tourism stakeholders and residents participated in seven workshops between April and May 2009 in Enterprise. Key topics included Community Visioning, Bicycle Tourism, Agritourism, High Impact Events, Rural Tourism Marketing and Tourism Action Planning. Workshop notes, presentations, outreach materials and other resources are available on the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio page.
- Participants developed a 15-Year Community Tourism Vision for Wallowa County.
- The Wallowa County community received a $7,685 Tourism Studio Matching Grant from Travel Oregon to implement projects related to bicycle tourism, agritourism and heritage tourism in 2010.
- The Wallowa County community received a $5,000 follow-up grant from Travel Oregon for projects related to bicycle tourism and agritourism in 2014.
- Travel Oregon produced the “Communities Powered by Travel: Wallowa County” video in 2013 to highlight the local assets and opportunities that were discussed during the workshops.
- Travel Oregon produced the “Faces of Travel & Tourism: Winding Waters River Expeditions” video in 2015 to highlight the success of Winding Water River Expeditions in collaborating across their local tourism value on new experiences in Wallowa County.
For more information about the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio, contact Vicki Searles at Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce.
Results of Phase One Action Team Implementation
Winter 2009 to Spring 2014
The Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio resulted in the forwarding of key projects, including agritourism development, bicycle tourism development and heritage tourism development.
Culinary and Agritourism
Attendees of the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio identified culinary and agritourism as a priority impact area for the destination. Initial project work began with the desire to build upon the existing efforts of local farms, ranches and businesses to increase agritourism in the area.
Key project highlights include:
- Product development and market research for grass fed meats, a Slow Foods chapter and a CSA and farmers market network.
- Screening and discussion of a local food movement film by 36 participants in 2010.
- Development of a familiarization tour with 13 participating local businesses in 2010.
- Presentation of a food systems education workshop and follow-up workshops in 2011.
- AmeriCorp volunteer assigned to region to work on food systems assessment in 2011.
- Completion of Wallowa County Community Food Assessment in 2012.
- Selection as one of seven projects to receive funding through Travel Oregon Forever Fund for 2012 – 2013.
A case study on the Wallowa County community’s efforts to advance culinary and agritourism was developed by Write to Know Consulting in April 2014.
Bicycle Tourism
Attendees of the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio identified bicycle tourism as a priority impact area for the destination. Initial project work began with the desire to build upon the existing efforts to promote road cycling, mountain biking and multi-use trail development.
Key project highlights include:
- Implementation of a comprehensive road cycling map for Wallowa County in 2009.
- Successful hosting of Cycle Oregon for the sixth time in 2010.
- Installation of 70 bike racks in Joseph and Enterprise by the Ford Institute Leadership class in 2010.
- Promotion of bicycle tourism in the Eastern Oregon TripPlanner and Wallowa County Visitors Guide in 2011.
- Addition of bicycle lanes on Hurricane Creek Road and Wallowa Lake Highway in 2012.
- Collaboration between a local Rails to Trail group and Oregon State Parks to develop multi-use trails in 2012.
- Community wins the National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award in 2010.
- Community wins the Oregon Economic Development Organization’s Innovation Award in 2012.
A case study on the Wallowa County community’s efforts to advance bicycle tourism was developed by Write to Know Consulting in April 2014.
Heritage Tourism
Attendees of the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio identified heritage tourism as a priority impact area for the destination. Initial project work began with the desire to build upon one woman’s existing efforts to promote the Maxville Heritage Center, which chronicled the area’s forgotten African American history and Civilian Conservation Corps heritage.
Key project highlights include:
- Maxville Heritage Center founder Gwen Trice gains support for her project at the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio in 2009.
- Wallowa Ranger Station listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
- Successful hosting of the inaugural Maxville Gathering for descendants of Maxville residents and the community in 2011.
- Federal legislation passed to transfer ranger station to use for Maxville Heritage Center in 2012.
- Timber Culture fundraiser held in Portland to benefit Maxville Heritage Center in 2012.
- Successful hosting of the inaugural Maxville Gathering for descendants of Maxville residents and the community in 2012 and 2013.
A case study on the Wallowa County Rural Tourism Studio community’s efforts to advance heritage tourism was published by Write to Know Consulting in April 2014.
Rural Tourism Studio
Workshops that help rural communities develop and offer high-value, authentic experiences to travelers—in a sustainable, manageable way.
Travel Oregon offers Rural Tourism Studios to help communities build their appeal as visitor destinations with on-the-ground guidance, training and support tailored to each destination’s unique offerings.