San Juan County honors the legacies of Charlie DeLorme and Cindy Tumah, two individuals credited with helping place the region on the international travel map. Their work in developing tourism and business infrastructure has left a lasting impact on the community of Bluff and the surrounding county.
Charlie DeLorme began his career in Bluff during the early 1980s as a river guide for Wild Rivers. According to Jenn Davilla of La Posada Pintada, DeLorme worked to build the company and focused on connecting visitors to the history and culture of the land. Davilla noted that during the 1980s, Bluff was highly interdependent, with businesses relying on one another to survive.
DeLorme was known for his global connections and his commitment to promoting San Juan County. Allison Yamamoto-Sparks, who worked in the San Juan County Economic Development and Visitors Services office under DeLorme, stated that he maintained relationships worldwide and spent significant effort promoting the area.
Cindy Tumeh was a key partner in efforts to promote Bluff. Alongside her husband, Amer, she spent twenty years developing what became a world-class resort featuring the Desert Rose, Duke's Restaurant, and various lodgings overlooking the San Juan River. Her brother, Steve Simpson, noted her passion for building both her business and the community.
Natalie Randall, director of the office previously led by DeLorme, described Tumeh as the Tourism Tax Advisory Board chair who worked tirelessly to support the board. Randall mentioned that Tumeh even opened a store in Moab to market the beauty of San Juan County.
The loss of both DeLorme and Tumeh is felt deeply by the local business community. Linda Sosa of the Business Owners of Bluff (BOB) remarked that their energy and spirit had a great impact on the town for many years. The San Juan County Economic Development and Visitors Services office expressed recognition and thanks to the families of both individuals.
