Dan Buck came to Grants Pass by way of California — and found what had always been missing. A river to anchor him. Trails to move on. A community that stuck.

After years as Creative Director at Dutch Bros, helping shape the voice and culture of one of the most beloved brands to come out of Southern Oregon, Dan now serves as Executive Director of Visit Grants Pass — the organization charged with telling this place’s story to the rest of the world. He’s been quoted saying “the story of Grants Pass has always been about discovery.” That tracks.

We talk about hiking the Rogue River Trail in February with zero experience or preparation, the love story that took him from Alaska to LA and finally here, choosing Southern Oregon and choosing to stay, what it means to remember what matters — and that answer being outside, his journey through Dutch Bros, raising kids in Grants Pass and watching them want to build a future here, the adventure scene that’s been quietly becoming something real, and what it looks like to bet on a place you love.

Find Dan at the Lonely Pine.

Links
Visit Grants Pass: visitgrantspass.com
The Lonely Pine: thelonelypinegp.com

Active Listener Offers
Las Cascadas Lodge — Code GOWILDLY for a complimentary in-house experience on new bookings: lascascadaslodge.com
Arrowhead River Adventures — Code GOWILDLY for 10% off any half-day rafting trip in 2026 or 2027: arrowheadriveradventures.com
Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d
SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com
ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips
Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go Wildly
YouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast
Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast
Instagram: @gowildlypodcast
Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast
Theme Music: “Rainmaker” by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords
Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Dan Buck, Visit Grants Pass, Grants Pass Oregon, Grants Pass tourism, Dutch Bros creative director, Dutch Bros Southern Oregon, Rogue River Trail, Lonely Pine Grants Pass, Southern Oregon adventure, Grants Pass community, outdoor lifestyle Grants Pass, river town Oregon, moving to Oregon, choosing small town life, raising kids outdoors, uplifting community stories, place-based storytelling, discovery travel Oregon, Rogue Valley, whimsy