Warm weather brings visitors, boost in business to Columbia River Gorge

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]The warm spring weather inspired folks to get outside all across the area, and that includes the Columbia River Gorge, and some even brave the water. Yeah, Fox 12's McKenna Marks joins us live after speaking to locals and visitors about the beautiful weather and what we have to look forward to this summer. McKenna?

[00:00:18]Well, you guys, it's a beautiful day here in the Gorge. Right now, I'm at the Stevenson boat launch, where we saw some wind surfers out on the water taking advantage of the warm weather earlier this afternoon. We also spoke to a local business who says that spring weather has them feeling optimistic about the summer season ahead.

[00:00:35]Yeah, when it's windy and it's warm and the sun is out, everyone that's here in town or nearby is rushing to this area to get out on the water.

[00:00:43]>> This is just a great day for a season opener, you know, get out there, train a little bit.

[00:00:46]>> The recent warm and windy weather is good news for water sports fans in the Columbia River Gorge. Many of them got out on the water on Tuesday, where temperatures rose to the upper 70s.

[00:00:58]That includes Adam Vance, a veteran hydrofoiler visiting from Seattle, who says the consistent wind in the Gorge makes it one of the best places to practice his sport.

[00:01:07]>> The Gorge is a unique place, and I'd venture to say for for my and our sport, which is hydrofoiling, probably the best place in North America. As the warm weather brings more people out to the water, it's also bringing more people in to local businesses. Eddy Patracelli, one of the owners of Big Winds in Hood River, says his sporting goods store relies on the weather in the spring and summer months.

[00:01:29]>> I'd say from a business standpoint, it's it's kind of like farming. You you you make hay when the sun is out, and this next three or four months really is what makes or breaks our year. And after another day of rising temperatures and strong winds, Patracelli says he's feeling optimistic about the summer season ahead.

[00:01:46]>> We hope what starts well ends well. We definitely are feeling a a surge for summer that we're we're welcoming. But if river recreation isn't for you, Vance is encouraging both locals and visitors to get outside and enjoy the sunshine any way you can. There is, in my opinion, no better place than the Pacific Northwest in the summer and we're kicking it off well here. So, I'd encourage everybody to get out whether it's water sports, hiking, biking, you name it. Down here in the gorge, you have it.

[00:02:15]And Bob Persell says the water sports community here in the gorge is small but very tight-knit. And as more people get out into the water in the coming months, he's encouraging everyone to stay safe and to help each other out as needed.

[00:02:26]For now, we're reporting live from Stevenson, McKenna Marks, Fox 12 Oregon.