The Chamber needs your Help!!

Mt Adams Chamber · Since 23 Aug 2008 4 Posts White Salmon, WA New Member

Hey there all, this is Amanda with the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce in White Salmon.
We were just informed of this forum and decided to become involved. We need to hear your thoughts on Lyle, WA. The businesses in Lyle are lacking severely when it comes to providing services to Kiteboarders. Please help us by letting us know what we can do to encourage better service.
So?
What type of businesses does Lyle need?
What are your thoughts on the Lyle Spit (aka Sandbar)??
Is making the Lyle Spit accessible a top priority for you?

Any thoughts are welcome !!
We are trying to encourage Economic Development in Klickitat County, and this could be a huge step forward with your input.

wylieflyote · Sat Aug 23, 08 5:18 pm

Amanda,
I almost always stay in Lyle on all my 8 to 10 Gorge trips per summer, and I make a special point of saving my grocery shopping until I get to the Lyle Mercantile. Why? Because I want the Lyle Chamber of Commerce, or whoever, to know that for me this place is a bit of heaven as a kiteboarder. If there's no room at my friends cabin in Lyle, I go straight up the the Wishbone Campground.
I try to make a point of mentioning whenever I shop in Lyle that I've come a long way just to enjoy this town, and the wonderful Klickitat sandbar.
Whenever the subject of a Gorge trip comes up here in the Seattle/Tacoma area, I almost always urge folks to come to Lyle for it's perfect blend of quiet relaxation, and kiteboard sandbar joy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kip.wylie/WishboneCampgroundLyleWashingtonTheGorge

Kip Wylie
Tacoma, Washington

scottman · Since 08 Jun 2007 150 Posts hillsboro Stoked

#1 If access to the launch conditions are improved I would go to Lyle rent houses etc. Otherwise there are alternative options that are less of a hassle. In terms of economic development the catch22 is the access needs to be improved before the crowds will follow. If there is no good access it does not matter if there is a real nice grocery store etc. If you do get good access....... a brew pub like walking man or full sail is a real nice way to finish the day!

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Thanks so much for asking!
I'll think a bit before I make a request, but they'll be plenty of responses over the next few days.
Lyle, Wa, is a great town with a wonderful natural resource (wind+sandbar), and it will take some time to capitalize on it. But I think plenty of people will have good suggestions that'll be helpful for you. Again, thanks for reaching out!
And yes, yes, yes, above all, maintaining access to the Lyle spit is a top priority.

kyle

hip in white salmon · Since 11 Jul 2007 149 Posts Stoked

Hey guys,
I took my family to the Klickitat County Fair today and struck up a conversation with 2 nice ladies that work at Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce..which is the business support group for Western Klickitat County.

I mentioned our desire to develop/maintain the Lyle launch and possibly create new ones on this side of the river. They thought this is very important to local business and wanted to know how we could start a conversation. I turned them on to our forum. Please offer your suggestions because these ladies are well connected and are definitely movers and shakers in our community. Seems like a good relationship to begin where we both can potentionally benefit?

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

Hi Amanda, thanks for your post. I'm Jim from the Columbia Gorge Kiteboarding Association (CGKA). I am sure you will get a great response to your post about what goods and services the town of Lyle could provide for kiteboarders.

Please be aware that several of the CGKA Board of Directors and I have been working with the USFS and numerous other stakeholders of the Lyle Sandbar Kiteboarding Launch. The USFS owns the land and have told us that they have much on their plate right now, and will listen to our plans and partnership offer to improve the Launch in a year or so, but unfortunately NOT now. In the meantime we have taken a position of trying to educate the kiteboarding community to PLEASE park on the North side of Highway 14 and off the road, and be VERY cautious crossing the railroad tracks. The less attention brought to the area at the moment, the better. If we continue to keep a low profile, the USFS and/or the railroad might not close it down.

The next CGKA Board of Directors meeting is Friday September 12th at 7:00 PM at the Hood River Sandspit. Our meetings are open to the public and we encourage people to come and work with us. I can assure you that we will assist in your cause to improve some of the business in Lyle. Thanks again for visiting the Forum!

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

Provide easy access and ample parking and they will come.
Build public restrooms and shaded picnic area and they will come.
Plant large grass area and allow kiter’s access and they will come.
Install web acess wind sensor and camera looking at spit and they will come.
Provided friendly eateries and trendy watering whole and they will come in droves.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Amanda - Great to have you on the site, welcome!

I'd say Lyle easily rates as one of the top kiteboarding access points in the Gorge in terms of quality of wind and ease of use (because of the sandy beach.) At times the sand spit there is as large as Hood River, which gets visted by thousands of kiters from around the world.

Unfortunately as you know access to the Lyle spit could be shut down any day.

Permanent access to the Lyle spit would be a huge benefit to the Washington Gorge/Lyle community.

My personal interest: I am a White Salmon property owner, though I also live and work in Portland. I bought property up here mostly so I could kiteboard in the summer. I have quite a few neighbors and friends who can say the same. Lyle could be an even hotter destination than Hood River as it often gets more wind and definitely gets more sun. But few will be interested in investing there if the future of access is uncertain.

One more thing: If the Condit dam is burst, there is some expectation that a sandbar like Lyle or Hood River could form on the Washington side. This could potentially set up one of the best kiteboarding locations in the world, as the wind near the WS bridge is far steadier and stronger than that in Hood River. If this does happen, It'd be nice to work on ways to secure access to this spot!

Cheers,
-Phil

hip in white salmon · Since 11 Jul 2007 149 Posts Stoked

Ditto....with the last two posts.

Ya know after reading those I got to a thinking...

Have you guys kited at Bingen port? Is the quality of wind conducive? Back several years ago they used to hold speed runs there I think because of the smooth water and the like.)older windsurfers chime in?) I have noticed that the Port has been pretty supportive of new businesses (Insitu and ICE) and they already have a nice grassy area, taken out several trees and really opened up their waterfront.

Would it be very difficult to improve kite access by removing a few old piles? There is also a couple little pennisulas down to the west that might make an interesting situation?

Another plus is no railroad, forest service or wash dept of trans to deal with?

Your thoughts?

GorgeKite.com · Since 17 Mar 2008 226 Posts Hood River Stoked

I think this post is about Lyle

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I've seen kites out at Bingen port a couple times. Honestly have never been down there, gotta check it I guess!

Mt Adams Chamber · Since 23 Aug 2008 4 Posts White Salmon, WA New Member

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and information! We appreciate it and will keep you posted with Business offers and new businesses in Lyle. By the way, there is a new wine tasting room at the West end of Lyle, check it out.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

Amanda,
I am from Seattle but do spend a fair amount of time in the Gorge during the summer. I tend to frequent HR because of the offerings both on the water and the retail/dining in town.
It is a no brainer where i go when I bring my daughters with me as they love the vibe of the downtwon HR strip.
I have always been turned off from Lyle due to the access issues. I felt if there were access issues at a specific beach, I am not helping out by continuing to go there, so I choose to not go.
My impression was the CGKA did not endorse this beach as one with appropriate access and it seemd like a extremely high profile beach with high risk of access issues.
until those conditions change, I will spend my time at other beaches along the corridor. I prefer to not frequent beaches with access issues, such as Lyle and SS.
By the way, I spend a significant amount of money in the Hood River community, especially when I bring my family (food, retail clothing, fuel, etc.)
I look forward to improved access at Lyle, as well as what the town has to offer me and my family.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions for me.

Jim

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 25, 08 11:25 am

Amanda, My thoughts are the same as many of the other posters and my wife and have been toying with the notion of buying property in Lyle due to its location and laid back atmosphere.
In terms of economic development and providing services to kiteboarders in the near term, I would suggest that someone in town provide decent lunch or dinner choices. Something that goes beyond plastic wrapped sandwiches and soft drinks. Most kiteboarders are fairly health concisous (although as a rule we like to drink good beer) and I think allot of use are fairly well off economically. Sometimes this culminates in a willingness to spend a little more money for a quality product or experience. I'm not trying to sound like a snob or anything and I don't think Lyle should look like Cannon beach, but when I'm done with a session, I would rather wait and have a nice meal on the porch of the 6th street bistro than scarv down gas station food.

I can assure you that if the City works with the CGKA to improve the access, the community will be paid back in spades.

Do you have any list or brochure of the services currently available qwithin the city?
That would be a great resource and we could probably sticky it here or something.

Thanks for coming to the forum!!!!

Mt Adams Chamber · Since 23 Aug 2008 4 Posts White Salmon, WA New Member

Thanks for your comments. Lyle has never changed in terms of greasy gas station food excluding the Lyle Hotel. Currently none of the businesses are striving to create a change for the better, mostly due to a lack of funds... We understand the need for cleaner, laid-back, and healthy restaurant options.

Basically, other than Marsha and I running out and opening our own businesses, we have to simply promote the development of property and help the small businesses prosper. There are many groups in this County who have the same agenda that we hope for in Lyle.

We will use this information in our efforts to encourage change, thanks again!

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Seeing how busy Hood river gets, it would not surprise me that with the growing popularity of the sport, developing the Lyle sandbar access and shops/restaurants will bring many people and business to the city of Lyle. Stevenson is a good example. A well-accessible launch and some post-session restaurants make it very appealing and draws many people from all over.

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

I would kite there more I wasn't threatened with $1000 fines and jail time for doing so. Because of the "outlaw" nature of accessing the water, I tend to keep a low profile around town too, i. e. not buy anything...