‘Not a one-trick pony’: Central Oregon’s winter tourism sees only slight downturn due to low snow levels

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Despite this late start to winter, Visit Bend says the region's winter tourism has not slowed down very much.

It's not just Central Oregon dealing with a slow start. All Western mountain towns are in need of snow, with snowpack across the state at near-record lows.

But Bend has the advantage of having plenty of other outdoor things to do, even without more snow.

Nate Wyeth, senior vice president of strategy at Visit Bend, told KTVZ news he believes in the area's strength as an outdoor tourist destination.

"This is one of those situations we're in right now where you can pack up the entire Subaru and come to Bend, put the bikes on the bike rack, bring the skis, put those on top, bring your hiking shoes, maybe even bring your paddle board if you want it to. The river still flowing," Wyeth said.

Wyeth is confident in the area's position as a destination, saying: "We're really well-situated, and we're not such a one-trick pony that it means that folks who are dependent on our tourism economy still have the ability to thrive. ”

Visit Bend still has access to some information like lodging numbers. Hotels, and other rentals are only 3 or 4 percent lower than December of 2024.

In fact, some places have discounts and deals on lodging, making this a more affordable time for people to visit.