VisitMcKenzieRiver.com
Building the online home for the McKenzie River’s 60-mile Main Street, so travelers find local businesses, trails and events, and their spending stays on the river.
The project in one minute
Active. VisitMcKenzieRiver.com is live with a business directory, events calendar and recreation listings.
The whole McKenzie River corridor in Lane County, Oregon, from Walterville to the Cascade passes.
Local businesses, event organizers, residents looking for things to do, and visitors planning a trip.
Builder and publisher of the website. The McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce leads Main Street efforts on the river; we support that work when asked.
$20,000 to $50,000 a year for a part-time site editor, plus hosting, tools and photography.
The McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce leads the Main Street program. VisitMcKenzieRiver.com gives the 60-mile Main Street a home online.
Visitors come. Too many drive past.
Thousands of people drive the McKenzie Highway each year for its rivers, trails and hot springs. Since the 2020 fire, many of them don’t know which businesses have reopened, where to eat, or what’s happening this weekend. Information is scattered across dozens of websites and social pages. Every traveler who drives past without stopping is lost income for a small business still trying to recover.
One river, one place to find it
- We built it. MCP volunteers built VisitMcKenzieRiver.com, including campgrounds, day-use areas, trails and boat launches drawn from Recreation.gov.
- We support the Chamber. The McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce leads Main Street on the river. The site gives that effort an online home, and we help when asked.
- We cover the whole river. Not one town or one business: all 60 miles, under one name.
- We know what works. Directories and event calendars are where MCP has deep experience.
The plan grows with funding
Each phase stands on its own. Volunteers keep phase 0 going; funding is what keeps listings fresh and grows the audience.
A visitor guide for the whole river
Live now: a business directory, an events calendar, and listings for campgrounds, day-use areas, trails and boat launches.
A site editor
- Keep every business listing and event current
- Photo and listing days for local businesses
- A monthly “what’s on” email and social posts
- Seasonal itineraries that move visitors between towns
More ways to explore
- History and visitor information, online and at kiosks
- Trip planners for each season
- Online support for the Chamber’s Main Street plans, when asked
- Visitor surveys to learn what brings people here
Why this matters beyond one website
Money stays local
Visitor spending pays wages, keeps doors open and supports local taxes.
Neighbors stay connected
One calendar shows residents what’s happening up and down the river.
Small businesses get seen
A free listing reaches visitors that a small shop couldn’t reach alone.
A model for rural corridors
Other river and highway communities can copy the approach.
Ways to help this project
MCP is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3). Gifts to this project pay for the work described above, and we report what changed.
Give any amount
Covers hosting, tools, photography and promotion.
Sponsor a season
Businesses can sponsor a seasonal itinerary or campaign, with credit on the site and in River Updates.
Fund the site editor
Tourism agencies, foundations and utilities can fund the part-time editor who keeps the site current and growing.
Results we’ll report
Businesses want to know it works. So we’ll count what happens and report it here and in River Updates.
- Visitors to VisitMcKenzieRiver.com and where they come from
- Business listings, and listings updated each season
- Events posted and promoted
- Clicks to businesses’ websites and phone numbers
- Businesses that tell us the site brought them customers
So far: VisitMcKenzieRiver.com is live with a business directory, events calendar and Recreation.gov listings.
Before you give
Yes. McKenzie Community Partnership (McKenzie Community Development Corporation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax ID 93-1186618. Gifts are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Yes. Note “VisitMcKenzieRiver.com” with your gift and we’ll put it toward this project.
No. The McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce leads Main Street efforts on the river. VisitMcKenzieRiver.com works to be the 60-mile Main Street’s online presence, and MCP supports the Chamber’s work when asked.
Volunteers keep the site online and post events as we can. Funding keeps listings current and grows the audience.
MCP doesn’t sell services. VisitMcKenzieRiver.com was built by MCP’s volunteer executive director, who runs it as a service of MCP.
Yes: claim your free listing, post your events, or sponsor a seasonal campaign. Contact us.