Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce Expands to Become the Inyo Chamber of Commerce

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce Expands to Become the Inyo Chamber of Commerce

New Visit Inyo initiative centers on visitor education, responsible recreation and support for local communities

LONE PINE, Calif. — The Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce has officially expanded its mission to become the Inyo Chamber of Commerce, reflecting an expanded commitment to serving businesses, residents and communities throughout unincorporated Inyo County.

As part of this next chapter, the Chamber has launched Visit Inyo, a visitor education initiative providing information about destinations throughout Inyo County. The initiative promotes responsible recreation, supports local businesses and helps visitors experience the county with greater understanding and respect.

At the heart of the initiative is visitinyo.org, a new platform featuring community guides, trip-planning tools, seasonal information, local stories and responsible recreation resources.

Visit Inyo has also launched @VisitInyo, a central social media channel supported by community-focused channels, including @VisitDeathValley, @VisitLonePine, @VisitIndie and @VisitBigPine. This approach creates space for each community to shape and share its own story over time while connecting visitors with information relevant to each destination.

From Mount Whitney to Death Valley National Park, Inyo County contains some of the world’s most extraordinary public lands. As visitation grows, the Chamber believes clear and accessible visitor education is increasingly important. Visit Inyo will help travelers understand where to go, how to prepare and how to explore responsibly while respecting the residents, cultures, businesses and landscapes that make the county unique.

“Visit Inyo is founded on the belief that great travel begins with understanding a place,” said Liz Branson, Chair of the Inyo Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee. “Responsible recreation is at the heart of everything we do. By helping visitors understand not only where to go, but how to explore responsibly, we can protect our public lands, support our local businesses, celebrate the history and cultures of our communities, and ensure Inyo County remains a place people can enjoy for generations to come.”

Visit Inyo is also introducing a table-tent program that will connect travelers with useful information during their stay. Participating restaurants will display QR codes directing guests to a dedicated landing page featuring Inyo County communities and timely information such as fire and weather updates, seasonal road and trail conditions, closures, safety notices and fall color reports.

Restaurants and hotels throughout Inyo County are encouraged to participate. The program offers local establishments a simple way to welcome and inform visitors while connecting them with other communities and businesses across the county.

Visit Inyo is guided by three principles:

• Respect Indigenous heritage and culture.
• Promote responsible recreation and stewardship.
• Support local communities and businesses.

The Chamber recognizes that Inyo County exists on the ancestral homelands of the Nüümü (Paiute), Newe (Shoshone) and other Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these landscapes for thousands of years. Visit Inyo is committed to working with Tribal governments and cultural leaders, at their invitation and with their guidance, to respectfully and accurately incorporate Indigenous history, culture, place names and perspectives into visitor information.

The initiative represents communities and destinations throughout unincorporated Inyo County, including Payahuunadü (Owens Valley), Death Valley, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop. Presenting the county as a collection of distinct communities can distribute tourism’s benefits more broadly while reducing pressure on heavily visited areas.

Visit Inyo will collaborate with businesses, chambers of commerce, tourism organizations, public land agencies, Tribal governments, stewardship organizations and community groups. “Tourism should leave a positive impact long after a visitor returns home,” said Melissa Reinig, Executive Director of the Inyo Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal isn’t simply to attract more visitors—it’s to inspire more thoughtful ones. When visitors understand the places they’re exploring, everyone benefits—from our public lands and local businesses to the communities that call Inyo County home.”

The launch marks the beginning of a long-term visitor education program rooted in stewardship, collaboration and community. The Chamber will continue developing educational resources, community guides, responsible recreation initiatives and regional partnerships.

Local businesses interested in participating in the table-tent program or joining the Inyo Chamber may contact Melissa Reinig at 760-876-4444.

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About the Inyo Chamber of Commerce

The Inyo Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses, strengthens communities and advances initiatives that contribute to the long-term economic vitality of Inyo County. The Inyo Chamber’s work is supported through a combination of county grants, membership dues, events and sponsorship programs.

About Visit Inyo

Visit Inyo is a project of the Inyo Chamber. Through visitor education, responsible recreation messaging, community partnerships and destination storytelling, Visit Inyo helps people experience Inyo County responsibly while supporting local businesses, celebrating Indigenous heritage and protecting the region’s landscapes and communities.