BUSINESS
Wallowa County Chieftain
A6
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Business groups positive about coming tourism season
BIZZ
BUZZ
TOURISM CONTACTS
Wallowa County Chamber
of Commerce 309 S. River St.,
Enterprise, 541-426-4622; direc-
tor@wallowacounty.org
By Bill Bradshaw
Joseph Chamber of Commerce
541-432-1015; P.O. Box 1001,
Joseph, OR 97846 across Joseph
Street from City Hall
With pandemic
waning, county hopes
to get back to normal
Wallowa Lake Tourism Associ-
ation President Mike Lockhart,
503-781-4321.
W
ALLOWA COUNTY
— As the tourism sea-
son begins with Memo-
rial Day weekend, Wallowa
County is all set to rebound from
the hindrances of the COVID-19
pandemic that put a dent in it over
the past couple of years.
Representatives of busi-
ness organizations in the county
expressed optimism that the com-
ing season will be profi table and
active.
“It’s looking to be a very
busy tourist season,” said Jenni-
fer Piper, executive director of
the Wallowa County Chamber of
Commerce. “This area continues
to be popular destination for peo-
ple to get away.”
Jude Graham, interim president
of the Joseph Chamber of Com-
merce, agreed.
“All the signs are we’re going
to have a great summer,” she said.
Mike Lockhart, president of the
Wallowa Lake Tourism Associa-
tion, also was onboard.
“It’s looking very good,” he
said.
While some events were can-
celed because of the pandemic, the
tourism industry managed to sur-
vive and even thrive.
Piper said during both pan-
demic years, which also were
plagued by the fi re seasons that
coincided, lodging data showed
the volume was considerable.
“They were two of the stron-
gest tourist seasons Wallowa
Piper, too, was positive in her
outlook.
“My take, my perspective is
very positive,” she said. “I’m
hopeful for good weather condi-
tions, as well.”
Meeting the demand
Wallowa County Chieftain/File Photo
Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Queens, from left, Brianna Micka, Destiny Wecks and Casidee Harrod reigned in 2020
and 2021. They are seen here during the CJD Grand Parade on Saturday, July 31, 2021.
County has ever had,” she said.
“They were two of the strongest
years for demand we’ve ever seen
in Wallowa County.”
Hotel bookings
One of the signs the season will
be strong is that reservations for
rooms are fi lling up.
“From my conversations
with the accommodation people,
they’re getting good bookings and
fi lling up pretty well,” Lockhart
said.
“I think we’re going to get back
to our normal tourist season,” Gra-
ham said. “The motels say they’re
booking up for the car shows and
Chief Joseph Days weekends.”
She was referring to Main
Street Show & Shine in Enterprise
set for Aug. 19-20 and the Joseph-
based Wallowa Mountain Cruise
scheduled for Aug. 26-27. Chief
Joseph Days is always the last full
weekend in July.
Graham said she’s hoping to
see a bigger turnout for Chief
Joseph Days. The rodeo runs from
July 26-30, but there are added
events such as the parade July 30
and the cowboy church and break-
fast at the Harley Tucker Arena
the day after the rodeo ends.
She said the chamber has been
attracting vendors from out of the
area, but she hopes to see more
locals there.
“We’d love to have some more
local vendors sign up,” she said.
“It would be nice to get some
local people signed up for that.”
But those are just a few of the
major events of the summer, oth-
ers also are planned.
Graham mentioned a bike rally
planned for June in Joseph. Put on
by a private group, she said, it also
is expected to draw tourists.
“They’ll be roaming around
town for a couple of days,” she
said.
One event hit particularly hard
by the pandemic was Hells Can-
yon Mule Days. For the most part,
it was canceled the past two years,
but it’s back on this year, Sept.
9-11 at the Wallowa County Fair-
grounds in Enterprise.
The weather
Of course, one variable that
could either throw a wrench into
the works or be a strong benefi t
is the weather. Two years ago, the
county was plagued with smoke
from fi res across the state. Last
year was hot, with a major fi re in
the northern end of the county.
Graham was all about good
weather in her prognostication.
“It’s going to be wonderful
and there’ll be sunshine and blue
skies soon,” she said. “It’ll be a
great summer.”
Businesses always have to
step up to meet the demand of the
thousands of visitors who swarm
the county during tourist season.
“There’s a greater demand in
the tourism market,” Piper said.
“Meeting that demand, there defi -
nitely are some challenges in the
hospitality workforce.”
She said fi lling jobs is hardly
unique to Wallowa County.
“Some of the repercussions
we’re seeing from COVID are in
the workforce sector with seasonal
positions,” she said.
Still, everyone was generally
positive in their outlook.
“The lake is very much in
demand and they’re fi lling up
pretty well,” Lockhart said, add-
ing that both chambers have done
a strong job marketing the county.
“I’m pretty positive about the way
things are going.”
———
Bill Bradshaw is a reporter for
the Wallowa County Chieftain.
Have a business tip? Contact him
at 541-398-5503 or bbradshaw@
wallowa.com.
& Skylight
Gallery
Church
Directory
Finding books is
our specialty
CLUES ACROSS
1. Help carry the money
bags, say
5. Joe in “My Cousin Vinny”
10. Included on an email
14. Top-shelf
15. Sustain, as losses
16. Seized car, for short
17. *They’re marked with Xs
20. Openings in suggestion
boxes
21. Birth control method: Abbr.
22. ___ Lauder
23. *Labor options
26. “Clair de ___” (piano piece)
27. Intl. alliance with
many European members
28. Take small bites of
31. Mythical sailor from
Baghdad
35. Mopey rock genre
36. Letters after CD?
38. Unit of resistance
39. Cute word between
“I” and “U”
40. “How was I so foolish?!”
42. Diving side of the pool
44. Shoppe descriptor
45. Starts needing a comb less
47. Gives permission
48. See 63-Across
50. ___ Vegas
51. “Law & Order” extra
52. DrummerRingo
54. “___ asked you?”
55. Clorox competitor
58. Have a bad cold, say
59. Prankster’s cry of success
62. Yes, in France
63. With 48-Across, certain pill
64. Discovers, as oil ... or
another answer to each
starred clue
65. Container for ashes
66. Commercials
67. Hi ___ (message on a
stadium sign)
68. “Quiet!”
69. Disapproving sound
N
Joseph United
Methodist Church
Grace Lutheran
Church
3rd & Lake St. • Joseph
409 West Main - Enterprise
10 AM Worship
Online AND In Person
SUNDAY
WORSHIP
For More Info
541-432-3102
JosephUMC.ORG
at 9am
Pastor Cherie Dearth
Pastor John B. King Jr
phone (message): 541-426-4633
web: gracelutheranenterprise.com
Enterprise
Christian Church
St.
St. Patrick’s
Patrick’s
Episcopal
Church
Episcopal Church
85035 Joseph Hwy • (541) 426-3449
We have ‘In-person worship” @ 9:00 am
(Guidelines observed)
Sunday School at 10:30
Parking Lot Radio/Facebook @ 9:00
100 NE 3rd St, Enterprise
NE 3rd & Main St
541-426-3439
Worship Service
Sunday 9:30am
David Bruce
Pastor, Enterprise Christian Church
Lostine
Presbyterian Church
Summit Church
Discussion Group 9:30 AM
Worship Service 11:00 AM
at the Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise
Childrens program during service
Blog: dancingforth.blogspot.com
CLUES DOWN
1. Satisfied sounds
2. Really heat up?
3. Fund, as a fellowship
4. “Ideas Worth Spreading” lecture
5. A politician’s may be flag-shaped
6. Whole
7. Full-body treatment at a
Korean spa
8. Signaled to begin
9. Roth ___
10. Dream of dating
11. Breath mint brand
12. Fencing blade
13. Prescription portion
18. Tidal mouth of a river
19. Prescheduled hour
24. Bury in a crypt
25. Skin conditions that
Cortizone-10 targets
28. Mexican money
29. Name found in “chocolate milk”
30. *Some pitches
32. *Removes from the record
33. Father’s sister, maybe
34. Movie rentals
37. Bit of food for some pet reptiles
38. Unpaired items on laundry day
41. Shakespearean king
43. Gambit
46. Christine of “Evil”
49. Shape of a Toblerone box
51. Butt heads
52. Long story
53. Like a deuce score
56. Owned by us
57. Hero in Zelda games
60. Classic Pontiac muscle car
61. Bit of a chuckle
107 E. Main • Enterprise • 541-426-3351
www.bookloftoregon.com
Sundays at 10 am
Pastor: David Pendleton
541.398.0597
Hwy 82, Lostine
www.summitchurchoregon.org
Stephen Kliewer, Minister
Cloverleaf Hall • 668 NW 1st St. • Enterprise, OR 97828
Wallowa
Assembly
of God
702 West Hwy 82
Wallowa, Oregon
541-886-8445
Sunday School • 9:am
Worship Service • 10:am
Pastor Tim Barton
Visit Us on
Seventh-Day Adventist
Church & School
Christ Covenant
Church
Pastor Terry Tollefson
Church Office: 541-263-0505
Family Prayer - 9 AM
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:30 AM
723 College Street, Lostine
Enterprise Community
Congregational Church
Join us at the
BIG BROWN CHURCH
305 Wagner (near the Cemetery)
P.O. Box N. Enterprise, OR 97828
Church 541-426-3751
School 541-426-8339
Pastor David Ballard 503-810-9886
Sunday Worship 11:00 am
Bible Study:
Sundays, 9:30 am
Worship Hour
Interim Pastor Rev Dr. Craig Pesti-Strobel
10:30 a.m. - Noon
301 NE First St. • Enterprise, OR
Find us on Facebook! 541.426.3044