The local Winchester Bay Merchant Association promotes economic development in this small community of Winchester Bay, Oregon. Tourism is a significant component of the economy with recreational vehicle use on the nearby sand dunes, tours of the Umpqua River Lighthouse, and crabbing in the bay as the primary attractions. Winchester Bay, formerly referred to as Whistling Basin by the small Native American population, has seen a marked increase in tourism despite being a sparsely populated outpost.The Winchester Bay Merchant Association has dubbed the community as the “Crab Capital of the World.”