Lighting the Way for Others
Fortitude, ingenuity, optimism, perseverance, and generosity are only a few of the traits that describe Bend resident Geoff Babb, founder, co-inventor, and inspiration behind the AdvenChair, an all-terrain human-powered wheelchair that thinks it’s a mountain bike, made completely in Central Oregon.
Lighting the Way for Others
By Sue Stafford
Fortitude, ingenuity, optimism, perseverance, and generosity are only a few of the traits that describe Bend resident Geoff Babb, founder, co-inventor, and inspiration behind the AdvenChair, an all-terrain human-powered wheelchair that thinks it’s a mountain bike, made completely in Central Oregon.
This former fire ecologist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Prineville turned a life-altering brain stem stroke on November 10, 2005, (and another one on November 10, 2017 — that’s right, the same date 12 years later) into an avenue for healing, invention, and expanding his world as well as touching the lives of young and old with mobility limitations.
An avid outdoorsman raised in White Salmon, WA, who loved hiking, backpacking, skiing, and immersing himself in nature, Babb could have given up at age 48, considered himself an invalid, and led a quiet sedentary life of indoor confinement. But Babb turned his strokes into the impetus to create a heavy-duty wheelchair with mountain bike tires and brakes that would allow him to continue meeting the outdoor challenges and rewards presented by Mother Nature.
After a period of recuperation and rehab, Babb joined Oregon Adaptive Sports to return to the slopes on a sit-ski. He also utilized the equine therapy and adaptive horseback riding offered by Healing Reins.
Despite his first stroke in 2005, Babb was able to continue working for BLM for another 12 years in a leadership role on the Fire Management Team. He was able to go to fire camps when they were held in places like Sisters Middle School but at that time he couldn’t navigate pastures and other rugged terrain in his ordinary wheelchair. And he wasn’t going to let the challenges posed by trails, beaches, and woods deter him. Instead, they were an inspiration.
After his first stroke, Geoff had been working with CAD design engineer Jack Arnold and helicopter mechanic Dale Neubauer to design a rugged all-terrain chair that could get him out into nature. That first version was lovingly referred to as the FrankenChair. The first big test of that initial model came on September 26, 2016, when an attempt was made to descend into the Grand Canyon. As Geoff described it, fortuitously, the chair’s axle broke within the first two miles on the trail, providing feedback to the team about what worked and what didn’t, and adjustments were designed. The first design review of a new prototype occurred in the summer of 2017.
On November 10, 2017, Geoff experienced his second brain stem stroke, which impacted his ability to speak, swallow, and use his right hand. In his usual can-do way, Babb retired from his fire management position, saying the second stroke had now given him more time to work on the chair.
On November 10, 2018 (there’s that day again), they had the rollout party for the public unveiling of AdvenChair 1.0. Within a year they had applied for a patent. The December 2019 prototype was the AdvenChair 2.0 and marked the first sale of a chair. It sported a bright orange powder-coated finish.
As described on the AdvenChair website, “With shock-absorbing mountain bike tires, adjustable handlebars, and hand brakes, an adjustable seat and harness, a team of one to six people can navigate AdvenChair 3.0 over all types of rugged terrain, mud, sand, and snow, allowing people with mobility challenges to experience the serenity and grandeur of wild places with family and friends.”
After extensive testing and a few modifications in 2020, Babb began taking orders and received his first shipment of upgraded AdvenChair 3.0 chairs in June 2021.
In April 2022, Geoff assembled a team of 10 men and women from across the country who would serve as his “mule team” to guide Geoff and his AdvenChair to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up. There were 14 more volunteers providing support at the rim basecamp.
In just four days, Geoff and his team made a 20-mile round trip on the Bright Angel Trail, descending and ascending 4,800 feet each way, with 3,000 water bars, some more than a foot tall and at awkward angles, both down and back up. Water bars, made of wood or rocks, are a trail construction feature that helps prevent rain and snow runoff erosion on the trail by diverting water off the trail. Geoff and his chair needed to get over each of those 6,000 water bars with his team lifting, pulling, pushing, and braking. The squads would switch out every 20 minutes to avoid exhaustion. AdvenChairing is definitely a team sport with Geoff scouting from his chair.
Whenever they encountered a mule train on the trail, they would step to the side and stand in front of Geoff and his chair as the mules were spooked by a wheeled vehicle. The first night they camped at Indian Garden and day 2 they made it to Bright Angel Campground after maneuvering the Holy Jesus Corner on the Devil’s Corkscrew with its sharp switchbacks. Babb’s wife, Yvonne, got to push him across the bridge over the Colorado River. Fortunately, Geoff knew the AdvenChair would fit as he got the measurements from the Park Service beforehand. The return trip uphill went faster but proved more challenging, partially due to the 90-degree temperatures, requiring cooling off feet in the creek.
On April 28, 2022, Babb and his team accomplished his Grand AdvenChair dream of 15 years which, according to Babb, was “a once in a lifetime experience with good people.” He summed it up this way, “The biggest thing for me was to celebrate. Not only the completion of AdvenChair 3.1, but to celebrate where we are in life. I’ve come so far after my strokes and all my other medical challenges that I’ve had. To come here with a great group of people and spend four days in the Grand Canyon. Definitely not the proverbial ‘walk in the park,’ by any means. It was an epic adventure in every way. Everyone did their part — lots of leadership, lots of teamwork. I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Through all his successes and challenges, Babb’s wife of 40 years, Yvonne, has been right there with him. Babb doesn’t view himself as a victim. Rather he sees his strokes as “kind of a blessing.” The Babbs have had their challenges, but their life has been deepened. He thinks the Grand Canyon adventure is a perfect analogy for their life together. They met at an Outdoor School two-day training where Babb noticed Yvonne, an Illinois farm girl, but didn’t meet her until the camp. And the rest, as they say, is history.
To this day, Outdoor School plays a role in their lives as they have provided 14 chairs (nine in Oregon) to the camps, allowing mobility-challenged students to join in the full range of activities, providing fun attention as able-bodied students act as their team to move the chair. They can touch the plants, ride in a canoe, and be part of the whole experience.
Geoff and Yvonne have grown twin sons, Emory and Cory, who were 13 when Babb had his first stroke. He said the boys were “a big help and really responsible,” especially after they got their driver’s licenses. Cory is married, living in Arkansas, and practicing restorative agriculture, growing over 30 varieties of vegetables for area restaurants. Emory has lived in Beijing for 10 years. The Babbs visited him there in November 2025 as they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and marked the 20th anniversary of Geoff’s first stroke and the eighth anniversary of his second one.
During their 19-day stay in China, with the endless traffic, myriad construction sites, and dearth of wheelchair ramps and curb cuts, touring Beijing would have been almost impossible for a regular wheelchair without the versatility, agility, and rugged features of the AdvenChair.
They explored the Forbidden City palace complex where dynasty emperors ruled China for more than 500 years. They also took in the Summer Palace and did some bird watching, encountering species new to them.
On November 10, that familiar anniversary date, they visited The Great Wall of China about 100 kilometers from Beijing on a guided tour led by Beijing Hikers, an outfitter similar to Bend’s Wanderlust Tours.
Geoff hopes to return to China. “I won’t call it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am deeply determined to come back to Beijing to get a few AdvenChairs rolling around the area, so that more people can experience the friendly culture and great food, not to mention explore The Great Wall and all the unique wonders of this magnificent country.”
Wanderlust Tours and AdvenChair partnered to offer a series of “AdvenTours” in 2024 and 2025 that allowed people of all ages with mobility challenges to experience interpretive hikes and adventures where the pavement ends. They led accessible tours at Smith Rock State Park, Benham Falls, Shevlin Park, the shoreline of Crater Lake, the panoramic summit of Tumalo Mountain, and along both Paulina and Tumalo creeks. Visit Central Oregon funded the first grant for AdvenTours. The 2026 schedule of AdvenTours features an assortment of familiar favorites as well as some new adventures. People can also customize their own AdvenTour. In the second year, Wanderlust opened up the AdvenTours to the general public.
“Not only did this allow for more choices and less cost for those desiring an AdvenTour, it also increased exposure of the barriers that exist for people with mobility challenges,” said Courtney Braun, co-owner of Wanderlust Tours.
“DREAM BOLDLY: The Grand AdvenChair” is a 48-minute documentary chronicling Geoff Babb’s 2022 adventure with 10 team members to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in his AdvenChair 3.1, and the events leading up to it. It can be viewed online at Dream Boldly or on the AdvenChair website.
AdvenChair has provided access to iconic and challenging destinations on four different continents, including Machu Picchu in Peru and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal besides the Grand Canyon and The Great Wall of China.
In 2025, The Onward Project EIN 33-1289851 attained IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Their mission is to inspire and empower those with mobility challenges to access and enjoy nature through experiences, community support, equipment, training, and advocacy. They do that primarily through experiences with the AdvenChair.
Finding Freedom at 110 Feet in the Air
For disabled travelers in search of adventure, there are a growing number of adrenaline-fueled options. In Oregon, one wheelchair user went tree-climbing. That climber was Geoff Babb, in his AdvenChair off-road wheelchair.
Geoff Babb, 68, from Bend, Ore., made two ascents as part of an adaptive tree climbing adventure in the state’s Silver Falls park, once in a climbing harness and once in his wheelchair.
New York Times
By Sonia A. Rao Visuals by Michael Hanson
Sonia A. Rao writes about disability issues. She reported from Oregon.
Geoff Babb pulled up in the passenger seat of his big blue van, past the thick Western red cedars and the towering Douglas firs. As a friend rolled his bright orange wheelchair down the van’s ramp, Mr. Babb turned to the man in a helmet and climbing harness who greeted him.
Before he was ready to follow the guide into the old-growth forest, Mr. Babb had a few questions: How high can I go? How often do you switch out the ropes? Will they hold in the rain?
Leo Fischer, the owner of a tree-climbing outfitter at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, patiently answered each one. Nerves were common for first-time climbers.
Mr. Babb’s AdvenChair wheelchair was designed for difficult terrain; he’s used it to hike in the Grand Canyon and along the Great Wall of China.
But Mr. Babb, 68, from Bend, Ore., was much more excited than nervous. Once an avid rock climber, he had a stroke 20 years ago that left him in a wheelchair, with limited use of his right hand. Another stroke in 2017 further worsened his speech and mobility.
Since becoming disabled, Mr. Babb has participated in activities like sit-skiing and horseback riding. In his wheelchair, which he designed to traverse uneven terrain, he hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and along the Great Wall of China. But he hadn’t been able to ascend to the heights he had reached before his stroke.
That was about to change.
When Mr. Babb met Mr. Fischer at a conference earlier this year and learned that his company, Tree Climbing at Silver Falls, had an adaptive option for people with mobility disabilities, he jumped at the chance.
“I just wanted to get off the ground,” Mr. Babb said.
A Boom in Accessible Adventure
Mr. Babb could control the speed of his AdvenChair ascent of the Douglas fir using an app on his phone.
Americans with disabilities spent around $50 billion on travel in 2022 and 2023, according to a report from the Open Doors Organization, an accessible travel nonprofit. While there are no specific numbers for adventure trips, the opportunities available are expanding, said Eric Lipp, the Open Doors Organization’s executive director. “Adventure travel is enormous,” he said. “People want to do everything now.”
In 2004, a spinal cord injury from a car accident left Alvaro Silberstein paralyzed from the waist down. When, in 2016, he posted online about traversing 50 miles through Patagonia in a wheelchair, his story went viral. He received hundreds of messages from people asking how they could replicate his trip. Two years later, Mr. Silberstein created Wheel the World, a San Francisco-based company focused on accessible travel.
Now, people with physical disabilities who travel with Wheel the World’s partners can kayak in Florida, summit the Haleakala crater in Maui, and surf in California or Costa Rica. In 2023, almost 3,000 people booked accessible trips through Wheel the World. By 2025, that number tripled to more than 9,000.
“Access to nature, adventure, it gives you confidence for anything else,” Mr. Silberstein said.
In addition to Wheel the World, similar platforms like accessibleGO and Travegali have also launched. People with mobility limitations can go on off-roading in Mallorca, Spain, or mountain biking in Colorado; and blind travelers can white water raft through tropical rainforests in Costa Rica, accompanied by sighted guides.
Shane Burcaw, a content creator who was born with spinal muscular atrophy and uses a power wheelchair, has noticed the rise in such adventurous activities. Last year, he participated in adaptive tree climbing at Silver Falls. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving his wheelchair, so the crew hooked him and his 450-pound chair to ropes and battery-powered ascenders.
As he rose up the 400-year-old, 200-feet-tall Douglas fir tree, he broke into a sweat with fear, screamed with excitement and cried with joy, he said. “It was the thrill of the lifetime.”
The view from the treetop.
Erin Taylor was diagnosed with A.L.S., the terminal, neurodegenerative disease, three years ago when she was 23 years old. She experienced similar exhilaration when paragliding for the first time in California last March through a nonprofit called Adaptive Impact.
She soared through the air on an adaptive trike, looking out at the Pacific Ocean, the wind whipping in her face, and said she briefly forgot all about her health struggles.
“I felt like a bird,” said Ms. Taylor, who since her diagnosis has lost the use of her hands and arms and now has difficulty speaking.
She loved it so much that she did it again in July. Then, she decided to go skydiving. Next, she wants to try riding in a hot-air balloon, white-water rafting and sailing.
“It’s the focus on what I can do versus what I can’t do anymore that feels so satisfying,” she said in an email. Nothing reminds you that you’re alive, she added, more than jumping out of a plane.
“It Felt Very Freeing”
An elated Mr. Babb descends back to earth in his AdvenChair.
Mr. Fischer said that adapting outdoor experiences like tree climbing for people with disabilities isn’t difficult — it just takes a little innovation.
“Really, anybody can do it if they want to do it,” he said.
At Silver Falls State Park, as Mr. Babb prepared to climb the old-growth tree, instructors transferred him from his wheelchair to a chair harness, which was tied with thick knots to a motorized rope-climbing device. It was connected to a phone app that allowed Mr. Babb to control his own ascent into the canopy.
He began to smile as soon as his feet lifted off the ground.
“I’m up!” he exclaimed, gripping the harness tightly.
Mr. Babb in his AdvenChair with Ramon Moreno, one of the workers assisting with his climb.
He rose to 110 feet off the ground; higher than he had been in decades.
From his new aerial view point, he gazed out over the top of the tree canopy, saw a nearby winding stream and noticed flowers he hadn’t seen from the ground. He closed his eyes, smelling the damp bark and enjoying a quiet that was occasionally punctured by scattered birdsong.
“Up that high, it felt very freeing,” he said once he’d been lowered back down to the group. “I haven’t felt that before,” he added.
Then he asked if he could do it again.
Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2026.
Sonia A. Rao reports on disability issues as a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for early-career journalists.
AdvenChair all-terrain accessible hiking chair adventures Oregon
While in Oregon, I had the opportunity to participate in a group adventure at Smith Rock, a jaw-droppingly beautiful state park. Our group consisted of three wheelchair users including Geoff (AdvenChair), Kelcie (The Chronic Explorer) Kristy (Kristy Durso) and Phoenyx (Phoenyx Travels) and a team of volunteers that provided the human-power behind the AdvenChairs.
AdvenChair all-terrain accessible hiking chair
Geoff Babb has opened up a world of possibilities for visitors to Oregon by inventing the AdvenChair.
After suffering a stroke, Geoff discovered that the biggest obstacle to experiencing the great outdoors with his family again was not so much the limitations of his body, but his inflexible wheelchair. Not satisfied with sticking to a paved route in the great outdoors, Geoff worked with others to develop the AdvenChair. A chair that has taken Geoff off-road in Oregon and most recently, along the Great Wall of China.
While in Oregon, I had the opportunity to participate in a group adventure at Smith Rock, a jaw-droppingly beautiful state park.
Our group consisted of three wheelchair users including Geoff (AdvenChair), Kelcie (The Chronic Explorer) Kristy (Kristy Durso) and Phoenyx (Phoenyx Travels) and a team of volunteers that provided the human-power behind the AdvenChairs. The volunteers team up to do a mixture of pushing and pulling the accessible hiking chairs. The amount of people-power required depends on the trail surface and inclination of the hike.
What makes the experience with the AdvenChair richer is the collaboration with Wanderlust Tours who offer a unique brand of interpretive hikes and adventures. Thanks to the partnership, people of all ages with mobility challenges can now experience some of Oregon’s most iconic natural places with greater depth, education, and appreciation.
Knowing that there is a no one-size-fits all approach to accessibility and equipment, I was particularly impressed with the flexibility of set-up of the AdvenChair. Each member of our party had the chair adjusted to their needs and additional support is offered when needed, such as a headrest.
The footplate can either allow a user to have their legs in a raised level position or in a standard seated position.
After everyone had returned from the hike I had a go to test the suspension and comfort of the AdvenChair. I found the seat supportive and comfortable.
It’s particularly wonderful to see a group able to participate and enjoy nature together. There’s something special about bonding over such stunning scenery.
If you don’t require the AdvenChair and have off-road wheels or have a power wheelchair, I would still recommend a visit to Smith Rock State Park. Pathways are a mixture of gravel and small rocks. Without doing an ambitious trail you can still appreciate the grandeur.
If you are interested in reading more about Geoff’s story, the development of the AdvenChair or booking a tour with AdvenChair and Wanderlust Tours, visit the AdvenChair website.
If you are visiting Oregon and looking for other ways to connect with nature, you may like to read Have Wheelchair Will Travel reviews below –
AdvenChair & Wanderlust Tours Ready to Roll for 2026
AdvenChair, a local trailblazer in all-terrain wheelchairs, and Wanderlust Tours, Central Oregon’s long-time leader in guided adventures, have just announced the schedule for their third series of accessible outings known as “AdvenTours.” On the heels of a virtually non-existent Central Oregon winter, the two partners are virtually chomping at the bit to get started.
AdvenChair, a local trailblazer in all-terrain wheelchairs, and Wanderlust Tours, Central Oregon’s long-time leader in guided adventures, have just announced the schedule for their third series of accessible outings known as “AdvenTours.” On the heels of a virtually non-existent Central Oregon winter, the two partners are virtually chomping at the bit to get started.
“The one good thing about a winter with very little snowfall is that many trails are dry and ready to go,” said Geoff Babb, AdvenChair’s Founder and Chairman. “After two years of working with Wanderlust Tours to create life-changing experiences for people with special needs, we can’t wait to get rolling again.”
The collaboration between two outdoor industry pioneers that launched in 2024 has given people with mobility challenges of all ages the chance to experience some of Oregon’s most inspiring natural places. Combining AdvenChair’s unmatched durability, safety, and comfort with Wanderlust’s unique style of education, interpretation, and environmental appreciation earned them the prestigious Partnership Award at the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism last year,
With more people from the Pacific Northwest and beyond discovering the quality and variety of the AdvenTours, it has become a real labor of love for the team at Wanderlust Tours.
““The options and opportunities for exploration and discovery that the AdvenChair provides are virtually endless,” said Courtney Braun, Owner of Wanderlust Tours. “And with family and friends encouraged to participate, all of the tours have been extremely rewarding for our guests as well as our guides.””
AdvenTours begin where the pavement ends.
In addition to Wanderlust’s regularly scheduled public tours in 2026, the next six months feature a popular array of AdvenTours that explore the best of Central Oregon and beyond:
Accessible Guided Scenic Hike at Smith Rock State Park, Sunday, May 24, 8am-1pm (Additional date available on Sunday, July 19th)
Accessible Guided Hike Deschutes River Trail: Benham Falls, Sunday, June 21, 8am-1pm
Accessible Guided Fort Rock Sunset Hike & Stargazing, Friday, July 10, 7:30pm-Saturday, July 11, 12:30am
Accessible Guided Crater Lake National Park Hike, Saturday, August 29, 8am-5pm
AdvenTours Accessible Guided Paulina Creek Hike, Saturday, September 19, 8am-1pm
AdvenTours Accessible Guided Scenic Hike at Tumalo Creek/Shevlin Park, Saturday, October 25, 8am-1pm
All AdvenTours depart from Wanderlust Tours headquarters in Bend’s Fred Meyer Shopping Center on SE Third Street and cost the same as their regular guided hikes. Guests are encouraged to visit advenchair.com/events for the latest updates and information.
Follow your own path. Not the beaten one.
“It’s been the most amazing experience I think I’ve ever had!” said Hannah. “Being able to do something that I can’t do on my own has been absolutely fantastic! I feel on top of the world!”
In addition to the pre-arranged AdvenTours, AdvenChairs are also available to Wanderlust guests for special custom tours with advanced reservations. A perfect example of this was evidenced last September when Hannah Crutchfield from Alabama discovered AdvenTours through Visit Central Oregon. With the help of the AdvenChair and a small team from Wanderlust Tours, she and her partner had no trouble reaching the top of Tumalo Mountain with its breathtaking view of the Cascades.
Says Braun: “Seeing Hannah summiting a mountain together with her partner was pretty special! I’m looking forward not only to getting more folks out into the beauty of Central Oregon’s outdoor spaces on our regular tours, but also to learning what other places guests want to see and explore.”
With countless trails already in peak condition, AdvenChair’s Geoff Babb is equally excited to offer more custom tours to places that many folks have only dreamed about.
“I’ve witnessed the smiles from so many people who wouldn’t be out in the wilderness without the AdvenChair,” said Babb. “Whether it’s a family with a child who is disabled or a grandparent who can be with their grandkids on their favorite trail as they pass the love of the outdoors on to future generations, it’s very heartwarming to see.”
About AdvenChair:
AdvenChair is an all-terrain wheelchair designed for people with mobility challenges who want to venture off the beaten path and experience the grandeur of the wilderness. It is the brainchild of Geoff Babb, a fire ecologist and avid outdoorsman from Bend, who loved to ski, mountain bike and backpack with his wife and twin boys until a near-fatal brain stem stroke on November 10, 2005 forced him to use a wheelchair.
While the stroke forever changed his ability to move, Babb soon discovered that the biggest obstacle to experiencing a simple outing on local trails with his family again was not so much his body, but the frailties of common wheelchairs. Rather than lobbying for wheelchair-accessible wilderness trails, Babb chose to develop a wheelchair capable of adapting to the trails, and the AdvenChair was born.
On November 10, 2017, exactly 12 years to the day after his stroke, Babb survived a second brain stem stroke, which was a major setback. Yet it made him more determined than ever to share his all-terrain chair with other people dealing with permanent or temporary limited mobility. While developing the first AdvenChair, Babb also launched The Onward Project, LLC, to inspire, encourage and enable outdoor adventures for people of all abilities.
About Wanderlust Tours:
Since 1993, Wanderlust Tours has welcomed guests to vibrantly share the natural and cultural history of Oregon in order to instill appreciation and protection of the environment. We hold great respect for the natural surroundings of our beautiful central Oregon landscape and hope to introduce people to these delicate ecosystems while maintaining a low impact on the environment. Wanderlust Tours is made up of people who are passionate about the intricacies of nature. We thrive on sharing our knowledge and passion for the natural world with those who join our tours!
We are so excited to be partnering with AdvenChair and to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair, we can empower every member of our community in their quest for adventure!
Powered by Tourism: Visit Bend Grants $500,000 to 11 Impactful Community Projects, including The Onward Project for AdvenChairs
The Onward Project will double its fleet of rugged, all-terrain “AdvenChair” wheelchairs, allowing families and friends to hike together regardless of mobility challenges, thanks to the Bend Sustainability Fund! From replacing hundreds of thousands of single-use containers at food cart pods to building one of the only adaptive cycling centers on the West Coast, 11 local projects will receive funding through the 2026 Bend Sustainability Fund (BSF), a key grant program in Visit Bend’s broader destination-stewardship strategy that ensures tourism continues to support the long-term health of our community.
POWERED BY TOURISM: VISIT BEND GRANTS $500,000 TO 11 IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Now in its fifth year, the Bend Sustainability Fund has reinvested more than $3.8 million of visitor-tax dollars into tourism-related projects that benefit the people, environment, and economy of Bend.
The Onward Project will double its fleet of rugged, all-terrain “AdvenChair” wheelchairs, allowing families and friends to hike together regardless of mobility challenges.
For immediate release – March 17, 2026
(BEND, Ore.) From replacing hundreds of thousands of single-use containers at food cart pods to building one of the only adaptive cycling centers on the West Coast, 11 local projects will receive funding through the 2026 Bend Sustainability Fund (BSF), a key grant program in Visit Bend’s broader destination-stewardship strategy that ensures tourism continues to support the long-term health of our community.
An independent advisory council of Bend community members reviewed applications that collectively requested more than $1 million. With $500,000 to award, the council recommended funding 11 grant recipients. Projects that expand outdoor access for people of all mobilities will receive nearly half of this year's funding, which comes entirely from a fee visitors pay to stay at hotels, vacation rentals, and other lodging properties in Bend:
Oregon Adaptive Sports will create an Adaptive Cycling Center at Pine Nursery Park — just the third on the West Coast — offering state-of-the-art adaptive cycles.
The Onward Project will double its fleet of rugged, all-terrain “AdvenChair” wheelchairs, allowing families and friends to hike together regardless of mobility challenges.
Central Oregon Trail Alliance will install “ride-over” cattle guards at the Cline Butte / Cascade View trail system, removing barriers for all cyclists, including adaptive riders.
Mt. Bachelor will upgrade Sunrise Lodge so adaptive skiers can move between the lodge and chairlifts more easily.
Grants this cycle also support venues and spaces that strengthen year-round community and cultural infrastructure. Funding will upgrade the Tower Theatre’s lighting system, improve the Volcanic Theatre’s sound and production capabilities, enhance wayfinding and infrastructure at Skyline Disc Golf Course, and install new signage at the Petersen Rock Garden, preserving a 91-year-old historic folk art landmark.
Harnessing Bend’s visitor economy to support environmental stewardship remains a core pillar of Visit Bend’s work. The largest grant this cycle, $100,000, will help The Environmental Center launch a regional reusable dishware “Wash Hub” — a centralized commercial dishwashing and collection system designed to replace more than 250,000 pieces of single-use packaging at food cart pods and events.
The Base Trail on Pilot Butte will also receive significant improvements. The Deschutes Trails Coalition will replace aging stairs, improve drainage, and maintain safe, continuous access on one of Bend’s most iconic and heavily used trails. Meanwhile, Glick Forestry will install 14 boot-brush stations at high-traffic trailheads — including Rim Rock, Tumalo Falls, and Green Lakes — to help prevent the spread of invasive species.
Grants range from $5,148 to $100,000. In total, the Bend Sustainability Fund has now awarded $3,883,094 across 42 projects since its inception in 2021. These investments directly reflect what Bend residents consistently say they value: environmental protection, infrastructure improvements, and expanded access to recreation, while enhancing the visitor experience.
Projects were evaluated on shovel-readiness, demonstrated community support, long-term impact, and visitor benefit as defined under state law. After scoring, Visit Bend's board of directors approved all 11 of the council’s recommendations. Eight of the 11 recipients are first-time awardees.
Visit Bend is asking residents to rank this year’s funded projects through a two-week online community ballot. The top two vote-getters will each receive an additional $1,000 in support. The ballot is open now through April 1 and will be shared through Visit Bend’s website and social media channels. It is also available here.
How the Bend Sustainability Fund works
The Bend Sustainability Fund is supported entirely by a portion of Bend’s transient room tax (a 10.4 percent lodging tax) paid by visitors who stay overnight at commercial lodging properties and vacation rentals within city limits. The majority of that revenue — more than $9 million annually — goes directly to the City of Bend to help fund roads, police, fire, and other core services, offsetting costs that would otherwise fall more heavily on residents.
Visit Bend uses a separate, restricted portion of those visitor-generated dollars to fund the Bend Sustainability Fund. By law, those funds must support projects that create, steward, or protect tourism-related facilities with a life of at least 10 years. Projects eligible for BSF funding must demonstrate meaningful visitor use while delivering lasting community benefit.
Past investments have included trail restoration, cultural facility upgrades, recreation infrastructure, and environmental initiatives designed to sustain Bend’s outdoor spaces.
By directing visitor-generated revenue into tangible community assets, the Bend Sustainability Fund ensures tourism continues to support local organizations and businesses while strengthening the quality of life for residents.
Find a full list of funded projects since 2021 and additional information about the Bend Sustainability Fund at sustainability.visitbend.com.
2026 Bend Sustainability Fund Grantees
About Visit Bend
Visit Bend is a non-membership, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the visitor experience while stewarding a vibrant and sustainable community in Bend, Oregon. We serve as a leading source of information on Bend’s lodging, dining, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and vacation planning.
About the Bend Sustainability Fund
The Bend Sustainability Fund reinvests short-term lodging tax revenue paid by visitors into tourism-related facilities that create and steward sustainable experiences within Bend’s community. Established in 2021, the fund supports projects designed to protect, enhance, and sustain Bend as a special place to live and visit for generations to come.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Tim Neville
Visit Bend Lead Storyteller + Communications Manager tim@visitbend.com, 541.241.6845