Bet you can't name Oregon's No. 1 tourist draw

GRAND RONDE -- Since they moved to Portland from upstate New York a year ago, Janiece and John Desocio have driven the historic Columbia River Gorge Highway to Multnomah Falls. They've seen Mount Hood and Astoria.

Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer tourist season, took them to the state's No. 1 visitor attraction: Spirit Mountain Casino.

That's right.

According to visitor tallies reported to the Oregon Tourism Commission, Spirit Mountain hosted 3.3 million people last year, clinching the No. 1 tourist spot. Multnomah Falls came in No. 2 with 2.5 million visitors. Crater Lake National Park saw 506,219.

What's the deal?

Hint: It was cloudy and damp at the Multnomah Falls Visitor Center Sunday morning. Crater Lake had 7 feet of snow on the ground. Light crowds were expected accordingly.

At Spirit Mountain, the Desocios happily waited 30 minutes to get into the $6.75 lunch buffet. John Desocio said he's glad that Spirit Mountain, operated since 1995 by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, edged out some of Oregon's natural wonders.

"Maybe it makes up for the injustice we did to the American Indians," he said.

Inside the casino, Myong and Jae Yi of Vancouver were celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary. She stood at a $1-a-pop slot machine, waving a newly printed "cashout" ticket worth $92. By 2:15 p.m., the couple were joined by more than 1,000 others.

Spirit Mountain brought in 700 employees to handle the Memorial Day weekend crowd. The adjoining lodge was 100 percent booked.

The purchasing manager ordered 1,400 pounds of prime rib, 200 gallons of milk and 3,800 rolls of toilet paper to get through the three-day holiday weekend.

Between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday, 3,298 people passed through the buffet line. More than 1,000 others ate at the fancier restaurant or at the snack bars. On Sunday, the kitchen would go through 45 dozen eggs and 200 pounds of salmon.

"We have a lot of people who don't gamble. They just come for the meal," said executive chef Toby TenEyck.

People such as Barry Hobbs of Salem. He swore he came only for the buffet -- as he stood in line to cash $9.62 won on a 2-cent slot machine.

Hobbs was surprised to learn Spirit Mountain is Oregon's No. 1 visitor attraction.

"There are so many places to see around here," he said.

Count Carole Varsandar of Beaverton is among those who don't care much about seeing Oregon's natural sights. Dressed in a striking black hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and a plaid jacket bejeweled with rhinestones, Varsandar said: "When we can't go to Vegas, we come here."