Welcome Big Ten Visitors! 

Joining the Big Ten conference means we have a great opportunity to roll out the red carpet for new visitors. Fans from communities across the country will come early and stay late to visit the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. We welcome them and we want them to return home with tales of incredible Oregon experiences that they will share with family and friends.

Travel Lane County has partnered with other Big Ten communities to showcase a "Top Ten" list of experiences. Visit  Cities of the Big Ten to learn about the mobile app that will guide you when exploring the Big Ten communities. For information on local watch parties, like Rally in the Alley, visit our UO Duck Football page.

Back from the Ashes  

Eugene's iconic Valley River Inn is once again welcoming guests in the hotel and in their Sweet Waters on the River restaurant. Following a fire more than a year ago, the hotel has gone through a complete renovation and it looks spectacular. Additional guest rooms will be added to inventory, booking of conventions and meetings, and other refinements will continue as this historic facility moves toward full operations.

Sweet Waters opens with daily dinner service and will reintroduce its popular weekend brunch and all-day dining later this summer. The three-level riverside restaurant has unobstructed views of the Willamette River and seats 237 guests in all, including 50 outdoors on the restaurant’s long and partially covered deck. Reservations are now available via OpenTable. 

Heceta Beach has MobiMats!

If you've visited Lincoln City or Seaside a few hours north of Florence, you might have seen these big, long, blue mats extending from the parking lot to the beach. These mats, known as MobiMats, are temporary weather-proof pathways designed to make uneven terrain accessible to people with mobility challenges. 

Lane County Parks, with funding by the Oregon Coast Visitors Associations (OCVA), has installed MobiMats at Heceta Beach Park. Heceta Beach County Park is adjacent to the Driftwood Shores Resort and offers paid parking. The MobiMats at Heceta Beach start from the parking area, and provide a smooth, stable surface to the beach – perfect for people who use mobility devices, families with strollers and anyone seeking an easier walking path.

The OCVA investment fund is designed to provide MobiMats at no-cost to our coastal communities – with the goal of opening access to beaches across the Oregon Coast. Big thanks to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) and Lane County Parks for providing these MobiMats  – and empowering residents and visitors with mobility-needs to recreate on our amazing beach.

OCVA Hosts People's Coast Summit

Travel Lane County is proud to sponsor The Oregon Coast Visitors Association's People's Coast Summit on October 8-9 in Florence! This is an annual end-of-season tourism industry gathering featuring great company, helpful workshops, and inspiring talks.

This year's keynote is "Strengthening Oregon’s Coastal Hospitality Industry" – a fireside chat facilitated by Jesse Quinn, Community Engagement Director with Lane Workforce Partnership. The summit is a great opportunity to explore the latest trends, strategies, and technologies shaping our coastal tourism landscape. Our workshops and talks are crafted to provide actionable insights that can help you attract more visitors, enhance guest experiences, and drive economic growth. Beyond the valuable content, you'll have a chance to network with peers, share best practices, and build meaningful connections!

Learn more and register today!

Member News

Graduate Joins Hilton Honors

Graduate Eugene, located downtown, just a short trip from the University of Oregon campus, joins Hilton Honors, following the recent acquisition of the university-anchored hotel brand by Hilton. As part of the transition, Graduate Eugene is now available for booking via Hilton’s reservations channels and has joined Hilton Honors, Hilton’s award-winning guest loyalty program with nearly 190 million members for Hilton’s 24 world-class brands.

Travel Lane County Board Opposes Measure 118

The Travel Lane County Board of Directors voted to oppose Measure 118. Our partners at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a discussion of the measure with Angela Wilhelms, President/CEO of Oregon Business & Industry on Wednesday, September 4 at 4 p.m. Learn more about what effect this measure will have and how to get involved. Register today.

Coast Fork Brewing and Feed Wins National Award

Congratulations to Coast Fork Brewing and Feed in Cottage Grove for receiving a $10,000 Main Street America award. Read more about this amazing family business.

Eugene Chamber 20 Under 40 Class Announced 

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce announced its 2024 20 Under 40 award recipients and the list includes Hayley Radich, Travel Lane County's former Senior Director of Community and Member Engagement and now with Miles Partnership. Congratulation Hayley and the following members: Dani Thompson - Willamalane, Darby Dobrijevic Merete, Nicole Roselio - Obie, Cassie Stoner - Eugene Chamber, Ashley Mielenz - Summit Bank, Olivia Sorensen - SELCO, Valerie Brogden - University of Oregon

FY24 Annual Report 

Travel Lane County will provide its FY24 Annual Report to the Lane County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, September 24 during the Commissioner's morning session. Following the report, a written copy will be posted to the Travel Lane County industry resources page. To watch the presentation live, please visit the Lane County Commission meeting webpage. 

New Travel Lane County Board Members

The Travel Lane County Board of Directors approved Allysa Gomez, Sweet Springs Family Farm , to an At-Large position representing South Lane County. John Hamilton, COO of Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association was approved to fill an open Ex-Officio seat vacated by Terry Hopkins of ORLA. Georgia Haskell, Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director was named to an Ex-Officio position and lastly, Tracey Sunflower, Westfir Lodge and Mountain Market, moved from an At-Large position to fill the Oakridge/Westfir seat.

Share Your Stories

We love hearing your stories about new offerings, expansion, promotions, etc., so please forward these to Andy Vobora at Travel Lane County. We have the opportunity to pitch our local stories to Travel Oregon who curates interesting content for their consumer-facing and industry-facing communication channels. They might use it or pitch it to other publications. Let's share amazing stories from the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region!  

Cultural Opportunity Grants 

The Lane County Cultural Coalition processes grants funded through the Oregon Cultural Trust. With a focus on preserving Oregon culture, the program focuses on:

• Protecting and stabilizing cultural resources, creating a solid foundation for the future.
• Expanding public awareness and improving the quality of arts, humanities, and heritage.
• Increasing access to and use of culture in Oregon.
• Ensuring that Oregon-based cultural resources are strong and dynamic contributors to quality of life in Oregon’s communities.

Applications are being accepted for projects taking place January 2025 – December 2025. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on October 15, 2024. Download the complete grant instructions and application for FY2025.

Inclusion & Diversity

The National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA) is hosting the 75th National Amputee and Adaptive Golf Association Championship and the 34th Senior National Amputee Golf Open Championship at the Emerald Valley Golf Club & Resort September 15-19. The community is invited to watch all of the action and NAGA is excited to host a special opportunity for paragolfers on Sunday, September 15. The tournament schedule includes practice rounds on September 16 and both tournaments tee it up at 8 a.m. on September 17. 

Travel Lane County staff has partnered with NAGA and the Creswell community to provide opportunities to explore our region. This includes a winery tour, providing itineraries for the Cottage Grove Covered Bridges tour and more. "Travel Lane County is excited to host the NAGA Championships in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region," said JB Carney, Senior Director, Sports. "Our strategic plan emphasizes accessibility, aiming to make this area a premier destination for people with disabilities. Whether visitors are attending a thrilling events like NAGA, enjoying a performance at one of our arts venues, exploring a museum, or dining out, our region offers something for everyone."

A free paragolfer clinic is scheduled for September 15 at 1 p.m. at the Emerald Valley Golf and Resort practice area. This event is open to the public and is especially geared towards amputees who have not yet had the chance to experience golf. Sponsored by David's Chair, an organization that has collaborated with Travel Lane County to provide track chairs in Florence and at Mount Pisgah, the clinic will be led by experienced paragolfers. Additionally, NAGA is excited to offer guests the opportunity to try out the VertaCat, a specialized mobility device designed to fully lift and support users in sports like golf.

McKenzie River Clean-up 

The McKenzie Watershed Council will host their annual McKenzie River Clean-Up on Saturday, September 28. You can help keep our beautiful McKenzie River healthy by helping with the clean up from 9am-12pm and then enjoying BBQ at Hendricks Bridge County Park from 12-2 pm. Cleanup supplies (Trash bags, trash grabbers, gloves) can be picked up on the day of the event or at the McKenzie Watershed Council office (175 W B St, Suite D, Springfield, OR) on the days leading up to the event. 

About the Travel Lane County Charitable Fund

The Travel Lane County Charitable Fund is an inclusive public benefit nonprofit organization organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. By donating to the Fund, you will help bring projects to life that will have a lasting positive impact on our community as a place to live and visit for years to come.

Support Very Little Theatre

The iconic Very Little Theatre is embarking on phase 2 of their expansion and you can help them meet their goal of $425k. They have raised 85% of their goal, so the end is in within reach. This phase will provide additional space, including a new scene shop that will enable them to create their amazing backdrops and scenes more efficiently and effectively. Visit the VLT donate page to help them achieve their fundraising goal.