Words of Encouragement

As we rapidly approach springtime, business is in the air. The light snow-pack thus far has many of the local small businesses that draw much of their revenues from summer traffic, wondering what the Detroit Reservoir water draw-down will be like this summer. The tourism dollars that come into the area from water and outdoor recreation are so very important in balancing out the local economy.

I operate two businesses in Mill City. The local laundromat and a small café, both of these are dependent on the mix of local support and the highway traffic. One thing that I feel is so important to all local entrepreneurs is that we must be proactive in drawing tourists into our communities and individual establishments. We cannot simply hang an open sign and expect results! We must have clean and inviting storefronts. Find those advertising dollars and use them wisely, where they can get your business the most exposure.

If you can get the people through your door, give them a great experience, a product or service that you feel passionate about, throw in some good money management, and you’ve got a successful business. As a community, our businesses don’t so much compete, rather they complement each other. We should be as active in local support organizations as time allows, and weather the ebbs and tides of the economy with unity.


Were all in this together!


Tim Kirsch

We had an excellent showing on Sunday the 7^th for the Monument Peak Trail System hike.  Many of the hikers were part of the local Chemeketans hiking group.  There were 25 hikers in all and we completed the 10.1 mile hike in about 5 hours.  Little bit of mud here and there, but all-in-all good trail hiking.

If you missed out, the purpose of this hike was to give a little visibility to some of the trails that the North Santiam Canyon has to offer.  The main goal of the many avid hikers and walkers in the area is to have a large interconnecting trail network that links many of these single trails and isolated trail systems to a larger path – the North Santiam Trail.  The North Santiam Trail is a canyon-wide trail system that will connect the Canyon communities and provide a safer non-motorized travel alternative to State Highway 22.  For more information about the trail, click on the link above.

Many who know me know my affection for the outdoors, particularly hiking and backpacking.  Needless to say, I try to get out hiking as much as I can, and have been doing so frequently – at least once a week.  I have several hiking books to get ideas from, and working where I do at the Detroit Ranger Station, I am always a literal step away from somebody that has good ideas for hikes.  Most of my recent hikes have been local to the North Santiam Canyon.  Some have been strenuous, some easy enough for the kids to go on, but one of the best things about these local hikes is that we have made a type of tradition for stopping at a local business. 

I can tell you that the gas station in Detroit has fantastic homemade burritos; the restaurant in Marion Forks has great clam chowder; at the Sierra Mexican restaurant in Gates you really get your money’s worth in food; and that the times when we decide to make a nice fresh meal after getting home from a hike, a trip to the produce market in Mill City has great deals.

So if you have the chance when you are up this way recreating or just passing through – stop in try out the local hospitality, we have lots to offer!

Happy Hiking,

Josh Weathers 

Vice Chair, NSCEDC Board