Oakridge Area

Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio highlights:

• Thirty-six local tourism stakeholders and residents participated in six workshops between October 2009 and January 2010. Workshop topics included Community Visioning, Bicycle Tourism Development, Geotourism Development, High Impact Event Production, Marketing and Action Planning. Workshop notes, presentations, outreach materials and other resources are available on the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio Resources page.
• Participants developed a 15-Year Community Tourism Vision for the Oakridge Area.
• The Oakridge Area community received a $10,500 Tourism Studio Matching Grant from Travel Oregon to implement projects related to bicycle tourism and marketing materials in 2011.
• Travel Oregon published the Communities Powered by Travel: Oakridge, Oregon video in 2013 to highlight the local assets and opportunities that were discussed during the workshops.

For more information about the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio, contact Natalie Inouye at Travel Lane County.

Results of Phase One Action Team Implementation
March 2011 – March 2013

The Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio resulted in the formation of action teams to forward key projects, new awareness of tourism development opportunities and resources and new connections across diverse sectors of the community.

Bicycle Tourism

Attendees of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio identified bicycle tourism as a priority impact area for the destination. While the community had been working for several years to develop bicycle tourism in the area, the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio raised broader community awareness about the potential for economic development and brought a new, diverse mix of participants into the effort to build this tourism economy.

Key project highlights include:

1. Formation of the Concierge/Tourism Ambassadors
2. Formation of Bike Tourism Action Team
3. Development of new products and services within six months of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio as well as new green initiatives by local businesses
4. Travel Oregon published the “Mountain Bike Oregon” trip idea in February 2011 on TravelOregon.com to highlight the local assets and opportunities that were discussed during the workshops.
5. Oakridge-based Mountain Bike Oregon event generated $1.2 million in visitor spending, according to a 2013 report produced by Linfield College and Central Oregon Research Services.
6. International Mountain Biking Association held its regional summit in Oakridge in 2013.

A case study on the Oakridge Area community’s efforts to advance bicycle tourism was developed by Write to Know Consulting in February 2015.

Geotourism

Attendees of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio identified geotourism as a priority impact area for the destination. Initial project work began with a desire to enhance the geographic character of the destination.

Key project highlights include:

1. Formation of the Story Diggers/Geotourism Action Team
2. Formation of the Beautification Action Team

High Impact Events

Attendees of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio identified high impact events as an opportunity to bring new forms of visitation to their destination.

Key project highlights include:

1. Creation of the Oakridge Ukulele Festival, to develop Oakridge’s potential as an arts destination. In 2011, its first year, the festival saw 30 participants. In 2012, the festival received a Travel Lane County Special Project Grant of $5,000 to promote the event, and participation doubled to 60.

A case study on the Oakridge Area community’s efforts to advance high impact events was developed by Write to Know Consulting in February 2015.

Frontline Staff Training

Attendees of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio identified frontline staff training as an opportunity to build stronger awareness of their destination in tourism stakeholders and support stronger visitor education about tourism opportunities in the area.

Key project highlights include:

1. The We Speak Oregon Program grew out of the Oakridge Area Rural Tourism Studio Concierge/Tourism Ambassadors Action Team. The concept was to develop a team of friendly local experts as tourism resources for outdoor recreation in the area. Ambassador training sessions were held in fall of 2011 and 2012 in conjunction with Travel Oregon’s Q-Care Customer Service Training.
2. The We Speak Oregon Program received in-kind donations from Travel Oregon, Travel Lane County, Mountain Bike Oregon and other local businesses. The program also utilized approximately $1,200 of the original Travel Oregon Tourism Studio Matching Grant.

A case study on the Oakridge Area community’s efforts to advance frontline staff training was developed by Write to Know Consulting in February 2015.

The Oakridge Area tourism studio was included as a community in the East Lane County Bicycle Tourism Studio that Travel Oregon hosted in 2016.