Get Wild in Pendleton is a success

By Terry Murry on Friday, August 20th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – Get Wild in Pendleton has proven to be a big success in getting visitors to return to the city. The Saturday festivities are the result of cooperation among a number of groups including the Chamber of Commerce, the Pendleton Round-Up, Travel Pendleton, and Pendleton Underground Tours.

This week the city council heard a report on the activities and Mayor John Turner said it’s clear the idea to attract tourists is a good one.

“Cheri Rosenberg of the chamber rattled off all kinds of statistics about increased stays in hotels, number of states,” he said. “I think it’s somewhere in the ballpark of 15 states.”

Turner said that in addition, local businesses are reporting more customers. Some of the tours and activities have proven so popular they’ve been expanded. The city of Pendleton provided funds for the venture, and Turner said it is money well spent.

“The city has committed to help with the financing of it one more year,” he said. “After that, it’s going to have to fall on the shoulders of our citizens and our merchants to see if they want to continue it,” he said.