Chelan and Chelan County to collaborate on marketing ahead of tourist season

Concerned for the impact the local economy may experience from winter storm damage and the coming wildfire season, Chelan Mayor Erin McCardle asked the Chelan County Commissioners on Tuesday to support a renewed marketing effort.

The discussion was prompted by the announcement that the National Park Service will not open the Stehekin Lodge for the summer, due in part to the loss of the sewer facility, from high river waters from the December 2025 storms

"This is, in my opinion, fairly catastrophic for the Stehekin community in terms of tourism to the area," McCardle told the commissioners. "Those folks (potential visitors) also start their launching point in Chelan. We will augment our contract with the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce for an additional specialized campaign for what we've lost during the fire season."

"If there's a partnership between the city and the county that we can augment lodging tax funds an additional support campaign for the community of Stehekin and encourage visitors to still go visit Stehekin, the mayor suggested. "There's still amazing things to do."

"I just wonder, outside of the National Park Service facilities, what all is going to be available," said Commissioner Brad Hawkins. "I don't have a sense of that yet. If it's everything else, those are the things we could promote: fly fishing and hiking."

"I couldn't agree more," Commissioner Shon Smith replied. "I'll bring it to the lodging tax committee." The advisory committee to the county commissioner' on use of taxes paid by visitors, meets again May 21.

McCardle also shared with the commissioners that the city has seen a modest increase in sales tax revenues in the first three months of this year, when compared to January through March 2025, a modest decline in general fund revenues and the hotel-motel tax paid by visitors is flat.

City of Chelan Finance information can be found here.

On KOZI Community Connection with Jeff Conwell on Wednesday, Chelan City Administrator Laura McAloon reported that traffic impacts from the highway 150 sewer line replacement project will continue into the week of June 6, assuming no additional delays in construction.

"There's portions of this pipe that go back to the 1940s," said McAloon. "As you can imagine not very good mapping or location of where the utilities are. We've hit a couple of unmarked service lines. And then just the soils. It's a lot of sand."

Chelan city Councilor Jon Higgins offered, "Be patient with the guys doing the construction, those guys are working very, very hard to try to get this finished."