How can we improve and grow tourism in the county? How do we create a better experience for more guests and nurture a sustainable and positive industry that creates good jobs and brings revenue to our isolated community? Short term rental ordinance. Private camping. Out-of-the area marketing for Humboldt. Fishing (river and ocean). Hotels and lodges.

— Bo Day

Responses

Evan Schwartz

Hi, Bo. Thanks for your questions. Let me try my best to cover everything.

I think tourism is an obvious driver of economic growth that we should encourage and promote. Visit Humboldt is a great example of a county supported “out of the area marketing” program for Humboldt tourism with its online presence. I support future efforts to attract tourists and to promote local tourism based business. I also really love that Humboldt feels like no other place on Earth. I hope we can balance growth and our existing character so Humboldt remains unique while meeting the needs of tourists and locals alike.    

How can “we grow tourism”? Personally, I rent out my RV to travelers from all over the country. They fly in, I pick them up at the airport, and they go camping locally. Those folks come here, have a blast exploring our beautiful area, spend money, and go home happy. The government can support tourism, but investment and initiative likely will have to come from the private sector and Tribal economic development efforts. It’s not easy, but there is opportunity.

It should be noted that The Yurok Tribe has been making serious efforts to enhance the “Gateway to the Redwoods” both ecologically and economically. I think The ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway Project, (nod to Mary), shows just how much the Tribe cares about, and invests in, the future. I am excited to see the completion of The Shoreline Market Project as well. I hope it serves the community well.

This leads me to your mention of the short term rental ordinance. I think the goal of the ordinance was to regulate the private camping/short term rentals “industry” and create a legal framework for zoning, use, and taxation. I can see how some issues could arise around caps, distance between structures, land use, etc. If issues arise, conditional use can be examined. If needed, your County Supervisor, hopefully me, would step in and request a review of the ordinance if that’s what people wanted.

I think the government can work for us, it does work for us, and we can also work with it. We all have to do our part. I hope you engage in a tourism based business and employ a bunch of people if that’s where your heart is, Bo. I’m here to help. And if you’re totally against tourism I would love to hear why. Shoot me an email at Evanforsupervisor@gmail.com if you want to follow up.

Thanks!

 

Mary Burke

The work we have in front of us is to create more vibrant community spaces where we want to live, work, and play. Economic activity from tourism can be rooted in places that we love to enjoy and that build community health.

The timing of your question couldn’t be more perfect! There are people across the state who work on the answers to these questions and are bringing an inaugural Outdoor Economy Summit June 3rd-5th, 2026 to Eureka. “[This] program convenes those working in and alongside outdoor recreation to build more resilient economic development, through equitable careers, stronger natural landscapes, and place-based futures for communities across the state.”  https://www.humboldt.edu/applied-health/ca-outdoor-economy

I frequently marvel at how lucky and smart we are to live in Humboldt County. Our landscape is spectacular with towering redwoods and magnificent rivers! Our region is increasingly a destination and last year Redwood National Park logged over one million visitors. People are traveling here and we can expect more - they will love our beaches, rivers, and forests, shop for Humboldt Made gifts, and dine in our great restaurants. 

In McKinleyville, Supervisor Madrone has been gaining momentum on a vision that creates a local destination and would draw increased attention from tourists; he has named it “Vista Point Park.” Located on County property right above Clam Beach on the edge of McKinleyville, this is the first place a northbound traveler gets an expansive and gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean since the Golden Gate Bridge. The concept for the Vista Point Park that appeals to me the most is a County campground with a venue for events. Imagine an affordable wedding venue with an extraordinary view! In addition, this site would pull visitors off of the highway, into McKinleyville. This would bring customers into the current and future hotel accommodations in the Airport Business Park and would include the future Town Center as a destination. 

I can hear what my Aunt Molly said to me when in 2017 I was elected to McKinleyville Community Services District Board and started a community group to discuss trail improvements. I was talking about how more trails in McKinleyville would help build infrastructure and attract tourists. Molly lived in McKinleyville for almost 40 years and was a regular on the McKinleyville Land Trust bluff trails. Her response was “Why would you build trails for tourists? We should be building trails for us and for the health of our community!” Molly was a nurse at Mad River Hospital and her focus was always on one’s own health and the health of our community.

I have the experience of building two trail destinations, one at the end of School Road in McKinleyville, and the other outside Orick along Prairie Creek. Both places create welcoming spaces that honor our connection to land, our community, and native culture. I can see firsthand how a focus on building places for our community to enjoy creates centers of activity, contributes to our local economy, and is the basis for a healthy community.

 

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