New countywide initiative puts responsible recreation at the center of tourism while supporting local businesses, communities, and public lands.
LONE PINE, Calif. — The Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce has officially expanded its mission to become the Inyo Chamber of Commerce, reflecting a renewed commitment to serving businesses, residents, and communities throughout Inyo County.
As part of this next chapter, the Chamber is proud to announce the launch of Visit Inyo, a new countywide project dedicated to promoting responsible recreation, supporting local businesses, and helping visitors experience Inyo County with greater understanding and respect.
The project launches with the debut of VisitInyo.org, a new visitor resource featuring destination guides, trip-planning tools, seasonal inspiration, community stories, and educational resources designed to help visitors recreate responsibly while discovering everything Inyo County has to offer.
From the towering summit of Mount Whitney to the vast landscapes of Death Valley National Park, Inyo County is home to some of the most extraordinary public lands in the world. Visitors travel here to hike alpine trails, fish pristine waters, climb world-renowned granite, explore historic communities, experience ancient bristlecone pine forests, and enjoy some of the darkest night skies in North America.
As visitation to these remarkable landscapes continues to grow, the Chamber believes tourism carries a responsibility that extends beyond simply inspiring travel. Visitor education, stewardship, and community representation are just as important as showcasing beautiful places. Visit Inyo was created to help visitors understand not only where to go, but how to experience these landscapes responsibly while respecting the people and places that make Inyo 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.”
Unlike traditional tourism marketing that focuses primarily on increasing visitation, Visit Inyo emphasizes visitor education. Every guide, article, itinerary, and campaign is designed to encourage stewardship while helping visitors safely and responsibly enjoy the landscapes that define Inyo County.
Through destination guides, articles, and seasonal travel information, Visit Inyo helps visitors understand how to recreate responsibly before they arrive. Educational content covers topics such as Leave No Trace principles, wildfire prevention, trail etiquette, seasonal closures, weather and safety conditions, protecting wildlife, driving safely on rural roads, respecting private property and cultural sites, and supporting local businesses and communities. The goal is to help every visitor leave Inyo County with great memories—and leave the places they visit better than they found them.
Visit Inyo is guided by four core principles:
- Respect Indigenous heritage and culture.
- Promote responsible recreation and stewardship.
- Support local communities and businesses.
- Represent Inyo County as a whole.
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 respectfully incorporating Indigenous history, culture, place names, and perspectives into its visitor information in collaboration with Tribal governments and cultural leaders to help ensure these stories are shared accurately and respectfully.
The project proudly represents destinations across Inyo County, including Payahuunadü (Owens Valley), Death Valley, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, and Bishop. By promoting the county as a collection of unique communities rather than a single destination, Visit Inyo seeks to distribute the benefits of tourism more broadly while helping reduce pressure on heavily visited areas.
Visit Inyo will also work in partnership with local businesses, chambers of commerce, tourism organizations, public land agencies, Tribal governments, stewardship organizations, content creators, and community groups to strengthen the visitor economy while protecting the landscapes that make Inyo County extraordinary.
The Chamber believes responsible recreation benefits everyone. Visitors enjoy more meaningful experiences, public lands receive greater care and stewardship, local businesses benefit from sustainable tourism, and communities retain the character that makes them worth visiting.
“Tourism should leave a positive impact long after a visitor returns home,” said Liz Branson, Chair of the Inyo Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee. “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 of Visit Inyo marks the beginning of a long-term effort to build a tourism program rooted in stewardship, collaboration, and community. As the project grows, the Chamber will continue developing educational resources, destination guides, responsible recreation campaigns, and partnerships that help ensure Inyo County remains a place where visitors and residents alike can thrive.
To join Visit Inyo please contact Melissa Reinig or call the 760-876-4444
About the Inyo Chamber of Commerce
The Inyo Chamber of Commerce is a countywide organization dedicated to supporting local businesses, strengthening communities, and advancing initiatives that contribute to the long-term economic vitality of Inyo County.
About Visit Inyo
Visit Inyo is a project of the Inyo Chamber of Commerce. Through visitor education, responsible recreation messaging, community partnerships, and destination storytelling, Visit Inyo helps visitors experience Inyo County responsibly while supporting local businesses, celebrating Indigenous heritage, and protecting the landscapes and communities that make the region extraordinary.
Media Contact
Melissa Reinig
Executive Director
Inyo Chamber of Commerce
760-876-4444
Rebecca Brinegar
Marketing Director
Awe Media & Marketing
760-209-6341