WALDPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TIDINGS |
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October 1, 2021
Greetings From Director
Tom Fullmer
Hello Chamber Members & Friends,
Welcome to our first edition of Waldport Chamber Tidings! I am honored to serve you and this great community. Six months ago I was asked to join The Chamber as executive director. I have met so many people who all share a love for Waldport, our beautiful surroundings and our rich cultural heritage. We are a dynamic community with many long-time residents, generations of families, new friends and neighbors and good people who care for one another.
The Waldport Chamber Commerce is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to serving those who own and operate local businesses. We serve visitors and residents alike and always strive to support businesses who make Waldport - wonderful!
Our volunteer Board of Directors oversees the governance of our organization and provides vital skills and unique experiences that guide us in fulfilling our mission of serving our community. We operate The Waldport Welcome Center & Gift Shop and partner with The Alsi Historical & Genealogical Society to staff The Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center. The Center is now the NEW home of The Waldport Heritage Museum! We'd like to recognize The City of Waldport for supporting our efforts to restore and revitalize this iconic Center for generations to enjoy.
Volunteers are key to our success. They staff both The Welcome Center and Interpretive Center and serve as ambassadors for community events, activities and regional tourism efforts. You'll meet our volunteers in future editions of Tidings.
Please take some time to visit our updated website and be sure to click on the Chamber Members section to learn about each business and organization. The website features a photo gallery, local and regional resources, news and events.
I hope you enjoy our first edition of Tidings.
You are welcome to contact me any time:
director@waldportchamber.org
Warm regards,
Tom
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WALDPORT CHAMBER
WELCOME CENTER & GIFT SHOP.
585 NW Hemlock (corner of Hwys. 101 & 34)
Open every day from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
541.563.2133
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ALSEA BAY BRIDGE INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND WALDPORT HERITAGE MUSEUM.
At the south end of the Alsea Bay Bridge on Hwy 101. Open Thursday through Sunday. 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M each day. 541.563.3500
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STAY. From oceanfront resorts and vacation rentals to downtown lodging, from nearby campgrounds to RV parks, Waldport welcomes you for that quiet get-away or large gathering. Check out Alsi Resort, McKinley's RV Park & Marina, Sweet Home Vacation Rentals, Edgewater Cottages and KOA/Waldport on our website. Your first visit to Waldport will not be your last.
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SHOP. Waldport's unique blend of art galleries, antique shops, souvenir boutiques and distinctive home decor favorites is a refreshing break from malls and crowds. No chain stores. Just local merchants who take pride in sharing their crafts and collectibles.
Ray's Food Place is where to go to stock up, find that favorite bottle of wine (or two), and grab ready-to-eat goodies from the deli.
With merchants like Enough, Shrimp Daddy's, Eager Beaver, and Alsea Bay Power Products, you know you've arrived in wonderful Waldport!
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EAT. The bounty of our abundant resources and the chefs who really know how to prepare the best recipes are front and center in Waldport. Fine dining, family favorites, food trucks, pubs and breakfast cafes offer whatever you want - and more. Authentic Mexican at Azul and Fresh Mexican, pizza and burgers from Grand Central Pizza, Northwest fare from Skosh and Hilltop Cafe-Bistro, Fish & chips and broasted chicken from Salty Dawg, steaks from Waves Restuarant. Waldport is your culinary destination on the Central Oregon Coast.
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PLAY & EXPLORE. Fishing. Crabbing year round. Clamming. Kayaking. Golf. Biking. Hiking. Beachcombing. Bird watching. A skate park and the Red River Disc Golf Course. It's all just steps from your front door or campsite. Private or group nature experiences from Captain Clameron, Coastal River Adventures and Wildport. For history buffs, The Waldport Musuem and Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center are rich in displays and artifacts. There's free bike rentals. Forest foraging, too. Or, just curl up with a good book along the bay, beach or riverside. Play your way in Waldport.
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COMMUNITY. The people of Waldport welcome you. Whether you're vacationing, just passing through or looking to relocate, we can help. Working remotely? Business services include shipping, printing, real estate, mortgages and investments, legal and insurance advice and banking. The Waldport Library offers free wi-fi and reference guides. Community churches and service organizations include Lighthouse Independent Baptist Church, The Lions Club, The Moose Lodge, Our Savior Lutheran Church and Waldport Boosters. Medical care and prescriptions are available from Hi-School Pharmacy and Samaritan Health Clinic. We are community and we're here for you.
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FESTIVALS, FUN, FIREWORKS. Our annual Independence Day fireworks light up up the sky over the Alsea Bay every July 3rd.
In June, Beachcomber Days features a parade, youth court, live music and kids activities. The last Saturday of September is the much-anticipated Cruzin' for Crab celebration with fresh crab, a vendor fair, fishing and crabbing demonstrations and classic car show. The annual Waldport Holiday Lights Trail and Bridge Walk bring family and friends together from both near and far. Watch for a new music festival and Chamber special events in 2022.
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SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE |
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OREGON COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S SBDC PROGRAM CAN HELP WITH ALL YOUR SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS. WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR YEARS AND JUST STARTING, SBDC OREGON OFFERS RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS FOR ANY STAGE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
CONTACT DAVE PRICE AT 541.921.2306 | DAVE.PRICE@OREGONCOAST.EDU
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PROMOTING THE GREATER WALDPORT COMMUNITY |
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Your Chamber Never Rests!
In May we welcomed back The Oregon Coast Gravel Epic, an annual bike race starting in the Siuslaw National Forest just above Eckman Lake and ending at the beach just south of town. Riders choose either a 37-mile or 64-mile course with the fastest rider finishing the 64-mile course in just over 2 hours!
This year, 1,000 riders and guests made Waldport their home for 3-days of racing, activities and of course shopping, eating and seeing the sights.
The 2022 Gravel Epic is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th. Planned festivities include a vendor fair, live music and a beach party Saturday evening.
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In June, 35 local neighbors set up their "shops" for The Waldport Great Garage Sale. An online interactive map guided people to each location with some offering food, beverages and even free stuff. WAVE Broadband & Dahl Disposal Service sponsored the event. The Great Garage Sale returns for TWO days in 2022, June 4th and 5th.
In August, the annual Waldport Chamber Charity Golf Tournament returned to Crestview Golf Club for a beautiful Saturday of golf, camaraderie, food and raffle prizes galore. A portion of the proceeds benefited The Alsea Bay Center for The Arts.
Thanks to generous funding from Lincoln County and The Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Waldport has been featured in a variety of regional and statewide media, including Travel Oregon, The Oregon Coast Inspiration Guide, Oregon Coast Today, The Oregon Coast Mile-By-Mile Guide and the Fall edition of 101 Things To Do Magazine. More than 1,100 visitors came through the doors of The Welcome Center & Interpretive Center in August. Oregon's "best-kept secret" is being discovered every day!
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The Waldport Welcome Center & Gift Shop recently added fun new souvenirs featuring this graphic designed by Lantern Press. Kitchen towels and tile coasters, playing cards and posters, tote bags and postcards, magnets and stickers. And of course we have women's, men's and youth tee shirts, sweatshirts, caps, hoodies, & tunics in a variety of colors with several different logos from which to choose. Only available at The Welcome Center right next to Eager Beaver Furniture on the corner of Hwys. 101 & 34. |
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For volunteer opportunities, please contact Judith Hees. 541.264.0648
volunteercoordinatorwcc@gmail.com
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