Wyn Wiley, also known as Pattie Gonia, is an ardent environmentalist and drag queen determined to make the outdoors more accessible to an intersectional group of people. Though they are originally from Nebraska, Wiley has since relocated to the town of Bend, Oregon.
This interview is part of The World Made Local, a global collaboration between the seven international editions of Condé Nast Traveler in which 100 people in 100 countries tell us why their home turf should be your next destination.
What drew you to Bend?
Bend is where the high desert meets the Cascade Range, and the native land of the Warm Springs people. You can feel Mother Nature everywhere here: The heat carries the scent of pine in the air, and the Deschutes River winds right through town. I moved here because it’s one of the only mountain towns that also have a predominant Queer community. I feel very thankful and very privileged to live here, and ready to help create community for other diverse outdoorists.
What are some of the places to check out?
Get breakfast burritos at Strictly Organic. For lunch, Bo’s Falafel, and do Spork for dinner. For a non-touristy spot, check out Summer Lake Hot Springs, the Lava Fields, and Paulina Peak.
Shop at Somewhere That’s Green plant shop and Megaphone coffee. The best place to stay is LOGE Hotels. For views, hike up Mount Tumalo. And for more spots, Out Central Oregon is the Queer community organization here in Bend. Check them out!
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Give us the elevator pitch on how we should travel
Bend, Oregon, and the U.S. overall, is rich in its rural spaces and off-the-beaten-path beauty. I recommend skipping spending tons of time in big cities and instead spending your time visiting smaller towns, our national parks, and the great outdoors.
What is buzzing in Bend right now?
A diverse outdoor movement is growing. From Latino Outdoors chapters to Vamonos Outside to the work I do with the Pattie Gonia community—I feel so excited to help be a part of it as a community organizer. When I leave the neighborhood, one of the things I miss most is how kind everyone is and how much they exhibit allyship.
Finally, what’s that place you return to again and again?
Three Sisters volcanic peaks in Oregon.
Follow Pattie Gonia on Instagram @pattiegonia
