Groups fill Sisters streets

Hundreds of tourists lined the streets of downtown Sisters last weekend.

At least 125 of the weekend's visitors were part of three different church groups who scheduled retreats and conferences in Sisters for the spring weekend.

McKenzie Baptist Church in Vida brought 65 women to Sisters to hear writer and teacher Debbie Hedstrom speak. Hedstrom hails from Salem but has a number of titles in print through Sisters-based Multnomah Publishers.

A group of 50 students from Oregon State University in Corvallis came to town for a church leadership retreat. Participants Amy LeFore and Elizabeth Abrams said the group chose Sisters for the sunshine and mountain views.

Another group of 10 youth leaders representing Good Shepherd Community Church in Gresham came to Sisters to prepare for missionary work in Turkey this summer.

An overwhelming majority of the visitors interviewed by The Nugget came to Sisters to get out of the Willamette Valley rain.

Steve and Melody Graham took a day trip from Salem by motorcycle for the sun and the ice cream.

Erin Woodmark, owner of the Palace Ice Cream Parlor, said the popular venue served as many as 600 visitors on Saturday alone. Woodmark said she expected the crowds due to the favorable weather report.

Sandwich makers at the Depot Deli said they served a steady 350 people throughout the day.

Among nearly 20 different interviews conducted, only three groups called Central Oregon home.

One Bend family just moved to the area from Oklahoma and was impressed with the shops and old time atmosphere on their first visit to Sisters. A Black Butte Ranch couple came to town for groceries and an 'apres-golf' lunch.

The remainder of those interviewed live in Western Oregon from Roseburg to Sandy, with the exception of a Boise couple who met old friends from Corvallis.

Seven of the 19 groups came to Sisters only for Saturday. Three each were staying at Black Butte Ranch and Sunriver for the weekend, and another three stayed in Sisters motels. One couple stayed at a friend's condominium in Eagle Crest, and another group stayed with friends in Sisters.

The OSU leadership students lodged slumber-party style at a local church.