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Oregon Coast Tourism Industry Glad Snow Days Are Over |
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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence.
04/27/08
Secrets of the Season |
Oregon Coast Tourism Industry Glad Snow Days Are Over
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| Snow in Newport (courtesy Danielle Emerick, Star Fish Point) |
(Oregon Coast) - It was a rough winter for coastal businesses, especially after the big windstorm of early December created more PR damage to its tourism industry than actual physical damage, not to mention the run of snow-packed days along the routes to the coast, which also cut down the flow of tourists. There was a brief spike in massive publicity for the region – and lovely weather – when low sand levels revealed all sorts of interesting oddities. But the spring snow, hail and wacky weather left many business people on the Oregon coast exasperated.
Now, they’re looking back with lots of relief that spring is finally here and the freak snowstorms have stopped.
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Danielle Emerick, manager of Starfish Point in Newport, said she logged six days where snow occurred during this so-called spring: March 26, 28, 29, and April 18, 19 and 20. Although she admits there might’ve been more.
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| Courtesy Emerick |
"It was kind’a hard to tell the difference between that and the sleety stuff," Emerick said.
Portland TV newscasts were filled with tourists delighted by the stuff, especially those bouncing around Seaside’s beaches that were covered in white. But no where on the coast did it last very long.
"It snowed several times, but it never stuck past 9 a.m.," said Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium. “Certainly by 10 it was all gone.”
When the snow dustings hit during the beginning of Oregon’s spring break, Chandler maintained students from this state got the better end of the deal, getting to see something quite rare on these beaches.
The Ocean Lodge. There will not be another property built like this in Cannon Beach in our lifetimes. Rare, premiere ocean front location; handsome, dramatic architecture and tasteful, fun (nostalgic) beach interiors. Overlooks Haystack Rock. 100 percent smoke free. Imaginative special occasion packages. Massive wood burning lobby fireplace. Library w/ fireplace, stocked with impressive book collection. Pet and family friendly. Lavish continental buffet breakfast. In-room fireplaces, mini-kitchens. Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms. DVD players, complimentary movies. Morning paper. Warm cookies. 888-777-4047. 503-436-2241. 2864 Pacific Street. Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.theoceanlodge.com |
During the SOLV Spring Beach Clean-Up on March 22, volunteers had to deal with a whirlwind and mishmash of wacky weather, including dustings of snow, hail, rain squalls – and lots of sun, especially on the central coast.
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| Snow in Seaside |
In Manzanita, Brian Hines, owner of San Dune Inn, had to deal with numerous cancellations on snow weekends, especially if the news media reported snow possibly impacting Highway 26. “Everyone I talked to never had a problem getting over,” Hines said.
Most of the time, he wound up even-Steven, however. Walk-ins and other people who called in reservations made up for the loss.
Chandler also heard about some cancellations at local lodgings during April.
"I think media coverage hurt us sometimes, when they talked about the roads to the mountain passes having snow,” he said. “People often get Highway 26 confused with the one going to the mountains. They hear about snow on that highway and they’re mixing it up Government Camp with the passes to the coast. It’s unfortunate, but people do confuse them."
Danielle Emerick’s husband, Roy Emerick, who also runs the inn, said some talked about canceling.
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| Snow made spectacular sights in the winter of 2007 (photo Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium) |
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"We had one person concerned about the snow and the passes," said Emerick. "But our policies about cancellations don’t include inclement weather. When people hear about the snow on the passes they’re more hesitant to come out."
Neil Patel owns and runs Tradewinds Motel in Rockaway Beach. He said the snow sometimes wreaked havoc with his business. He said it snowed at least three times in recent weeks in Rockaway.
“It didn’t stick here, but they had almost four inches in Tillamook,” Patel said. “That stuck around.
"We had a bunch of cancellations. Some just didn’t want to come. They were wary of coming out here when traveling was bad, the weather was bad, coming over the passes. It wreaked havoc on my reservations. Luckily, I filled back up sometimes with walk-ins and other reservations. But at times things were really up in the air. Am I going to do any business today? Am I not going to do any business?
"The first thing out of a lot of people’s mouth was ‘you wouldn’t believe what we just drove through. It snowed, it rained, it hailed.' And I’d say, 'Yeah, I know. I know.' "
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| Fogarty Beach, near Depoe Bay, in the white stuff |
Patel was getting a bit tired of it all, even when last week yielded just a little snow in the passes to the coast.
Arch
Cape Property Services.
Dozens of homes in that dreamy,
rugged stretch between Cannon Beach and Manzanita known as Arch
Cape. Oceanfront and ocean view , or just a short walk from the
sea. |
"Even now, in the higher elevations, they’ve got a dusting of snow in the coast range,” Patel said on Thursday. “It’s a little disconcerting. It’s almost the end of April and we’re still having temperatures in the 40’s."
Still, there was a lot of wonder at the spectacle.
"It was pretty interesting for some people to see snow on the beach," said Roy Emerick. "It’s pretty unique to them, very special."
Some even took a little extra time to enjoy the morning exhibition of white.
"They were saying ‘Hey, wow! There’s snow on the beach,' "Patel said. “They’d never seen snow on the beach, so it was something wonderful.
"One guest put off his departure date until
traveling was better. He stayed here an extra night because of the snowy
passes and didn’t want to go over them. They said ‘We’re
not in a mad rush to get home anyway.' "
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Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones w/ data ports. Oceanfronts have queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and private deck. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. Elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite has two bedrooms, kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms pet friendly. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com |
 Inn
at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south
end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by
the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach
strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering
gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms.
Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly.
Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine
and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At
Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com. |
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D Sands Condominium Motel, Lincoln City. Free, fresh baked cookie upon check-in is just the start. All rooms beachfront and up against Lincoln City's most famous stretch of beach: the D River. Each room comes as a suite or mini-suite, and has a kitchen and balcony or patio. Some w/ gas fireplaces, while all have a DVD Players; movies to rent come with free popcorn. Heated indoor pool, a spa, and this fabulous beach is lit at night. Rooms sleep from two, four to six - including a deluxe fireplace suite. Gift certificates orspecial occasion packages. www.dsandsmotel.com. 171 S.W. Highway 101. 800-527-3925. |
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Inn At Spanish Head, Lincoln City. Lincoln City’s only resort hotel built right on the beach with all oceanfront rooms - nestled against a rugged cliffside overlooking a soft, sandy beach. Dine in penthouse restaurant and bar, for casual meal or candlelight dinner. An array of seafood specialties, juicy steaks and other Northwest favorites, including decadent Sunday buffet. Rooms range from bedrooms to studios to 1-bedroom suites with microwaves and refrigerators to full kitchens. Also, wi-fi, spa, saunas, exercise room and year-round heated swimming pool. Kids will love the game room and easy beach access. Full-service conference/meeting rooms for that inspirational retreat; extensive wedding possibilities. 4009 SW Highway 101, Lincoln City. 1-800-452-8127 or 541-996-2161. www.spanishhead.com |
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