Project introduced to put Estacada on the map
National Geographic seeks to highlight destination places
Estacada is home to two professional-level disc golf courses, the Clackamas River Trail, Portland’s early hydroelectric system and a host of cultural activities such as the Estacada Summer Celebration, the Best Dam Run and other events.
Last week, representatives from the Central Cascades Geotourism MapGuide introduced the geotourism mapping project to a group of Estacada residents, business owners and community leaders.
Sponsored by National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, the mapping project, representing a region of Oregon and Washington, is designed to highlight natural and cultural attractions throughout the area. National Geographic will publish 50,000 maps, available in September, for the Central Cascades Geotourism Project, with features on the map nominated by members of the community at www.thecentralcascades.com.
“I see geotourism as one more tool in the box for economic development,” said Rural Development Initiatives representative Laurel MacMillan, who hosted the geotourism presentation last week. “This is something that can really tap into a trend of people taking shorter trips, and really bring people into this area.”
National Geographic defined geotourism as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and well-being of its residents, when the magazine launched the MapGuide project several years ago. MapGuides have been completed or are ongoing in Greater Yellowstone, the Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Guatemala, Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Sonora), Honduras, Peru, Baja California,
Vermont and Appalachia.
To date, www.thecentralcascades.com website has received an estimated 400 nominations for the Oregon-Washington MapGuide, and additional nominations will be accepted until March 29. A stewardship council will review and sort the nominations later this year and pick an estimated 200 sites. National Geographic will choose approximately 150 sites for the map scheduled to be published in September.
According to a 2002 study by National Geographic Traveler magazine and the U.S. Travel Association, more than 55 million adults in the United States could be described as "geotourists," who travel to enjoy the distinctive character of places and want them to stay appealing. These travelers control more than half the household income of all U.S. travelers.
“This project is designed to recognize all the cultural and natural assets we have in this region,” RDI representative Sara Worl said. “By doing this, I think it will help us realize how valuable these things are for ourselves, our economy and the visitors who want to come see things here. It’s also a way to preserve and protect these things for the future. The other side of this is that it can be another tool for economic development. The ideal tourist will get up in the morning and go rafting, check out a museum, eat at local restaurants, spend money and stay longer. Geotourists are willing to pay more for an authentic experience.”
Among the handful of people to attend last week’s presentation about the project, City Council Member and longtime Estacada resident Glen James said he plans to nominate PGE’s historic hydroelectric sites along the Clackamas River for the map. And he’s also working on a plan to bring back the historic Hotel Estacada to encourage tourism and provide additional lodging options for visitors.
“I certainly like the idea of this project in theory,” James said. “I always feel kind of bad that we don’t have places for tourists to stay when they come here. But I’m in full agreement that anything positive about Estacada will be good for our community.”
MAKE A NOMINATION
If you have a favorite place, event or historic site in Estacada you would like to nominate for the Central Cascades Geotourism Project, visit www.thecentralcascades.com, and make your nominations. Submissions will be accepted until March 29.