Crater Lake's economic impact

Crater Lake National Park is the top draw and biggest economic booster when it comes to National Park Service sites in Oregon, according to a recently released study.

The Park Service study, conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, found that Crater Lake had more than 400,000 visits in 2011, leading to almost $35 million spent in communities close to the park.

While the report didn’t say whether Bend is considered a “local” town for Crater Lake, state and Central Oregon tourism officials said there is no doubt Oregon’s only national park brings money to town.

“Obviously there is a huge economic benefit,” said Judiaann Woo, spokeswoman for Travel Oregon, a semi-public agency that promotes Oregon travel.

Crater Lake is one of the most popular attractions in the state, she said, not only bringing in money, but also creating jobs. The spending of Crater Lake visitors supports nearly 550 jobs, according to the Park Service report.

The north entrance to the park, off of state Highway 138, is typically open from mid-June to the start of November, said Marsha McCabe, spokeswoman at Crater Lake National Park. That makes the drive from Bend just over 90 miles.

“(Bend is) one of our gateway communities, for sure,” said McCabe.

Central Oregon benefits from Crater Lake visitors coming from the north and south, said Alana Hughson, president and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association. Visitors from the north often pass through Bend on their way there, and visitors coming from the south will extend their trips to come to town.

“There is no question that Crater Lake is an asset to Central Oregon tourism,” she said.

While in Central Oregon, visitors might visit other natural attractions, such as Newberry National Volcanic Monument, south of Bend. The monument is overseen by the Forest Service.

As for the Park Service, the federal agency has four main sites in Oregon. Along with Crater Lake National Park, there is the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument near Mitchell, the Oregon Caves National Monument near Cave Junction and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park near Astoria.

While lagging behind Lewis and Clark, the park service study showed the Fossil Beds drew more visits and brought a larger economic boost to nearby towns than Oregon Caves.

The Fossil Beds, about a 115-mile drive from Bend, offer a rare place where people can see animal and plant fossils from a wide range of geologic times, Woo said.

“They definitely make it worth the trek out there,” Woo said.