BEND OREGON
Bend is the largest city in Central Oregon in Deschutes County. It is located on the sunny side of the Cascade Mountain Range and is a popular year-round destination known for its scenic beauty and surroundings, mild climate, and a multitude of recreational activities for all ages to enjoy.

Population:
Bend: Over 65,000
Deschutes County: 141, 838 (as of 2005)
Median age: 34.8 years

Elevation:
3,623 feet

Property Tax Rate for 2004/2005:
$15.111 per thousand

Climate:
Bend enjoys the dry climate of the high desert. 300 days of sunshine a year, low humidity and cool nights provide a common weather pattern.

• Average annual precipitation in Bend is 12 inches
• Average temperatures in January, highs of 40 and lows of 20 degrees
• Average temperatures in July, highs of 83 and lows of 45 degrees

Top Employers in Bend Oregon:

• St. Charles Medical Center
• Mt. Bachelor, Inc. 
• iSky
• Beaver Motor Coaches
• JELD-WEN Windows & Doors
• Hap Taylor & Sons
• Bend Memorial Clinic
• Lancair International
• Fuqua Homes
• The Riverhouse

Bend History:
Until the winter of 1824, this area was known only to native Americans who hunted and fished here. Members of a fur trapping party led by Peter Skene Ogden were the earliest visitors. John Fremont and other Army survey parties came next. Then the pioneers heading further west came through and forded the Deschutes River at “Farewell Bend”. A small community developed around the bend in the river and in 1905 a city was incorporated with approximately 300 citizens. The Oregon Trunk Railroad was completed 1911 and Bend began to grow. In 1914, two major lumber companies and timber became the mainstay of the local economy. In the 80’s recession hit and the lumber industry suffered.

In early 1909, two competitive railroads began a battle to see who would lay track to Bend first. James Hill completed by October of 1911 and allowing for goods and services to be transported to the other side of the mountains. Bend would now be able to export timber and finished lumber throughout the country. Around 1915, two big lumber mills the Brooks-Scanlon and Shelvin-Hixon mills were to change the area from small agricultural town to a mill town. The timber and lodging industry were hit hard in the recession in the 80’s closing down the mills.

In 1957, Mt. Bachelor (formerly known as Bachelor Butte) was opened as a ski and recreation area. Bend started to become and grow into a visitor destination for both the summer and winter seasons. Populations from the rainy Western portion of the state come over to escape the rain to experience the sunshine and an abundance of outdoor activities.

Sports and Recreation:
There are over 60 developed city parks, including: Drake park, which is 11 acres of lawn and trees bordering the Deschutes River, on Mirror Pond in downtown Bend. Bend Parks & Recreation operates the Juniper Swim & Fitness facility has indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool and sauna, and weight room. The Parks and Recreation Department maintain playgrounds, tennis courts, horseshoe pits and provide recreational programs and various sports leagues for all ages. Contact Bend Metro Parks & Recreation at (541)389-7275.

The high alpine environment and a wide of variety outdoor enthusiasts, Bend is the perfect venue for sporting competitions. In May, US Bank’s Pole, Peddle, Paddle combines 5 different events that can be done by individual or teams. The race begins at Mt. Bachelor with a downhill ski, then a cross country leg, followed by a road bike race to Bend. Once you arrive into Bend, you paddle your way down the Deschutes River in a canoe or kayak and then sprint to the finish line in Drake Park. The town gathers to watch as teams compete for the bragging rights and prizes.

Cascade Cycling Classic is another big sporting event in July that draws world-class athletes to the area. This 5-day grueling stage race includes a nighttime downtown criterion, and many races along the Cascade Lakes Highway where the weather can be treacherous with hail one minute and then sunshine the next.

With over 24 golf courses in the area, several golf tournaments happen throughout the summer season. The biggest one is the Pacific Amateur sponsored By Central Oregon Visitors Association. The event happens in the late September/early October and draws over 500 participants to compete in this matched handicap play.

The Deschutes Country Fair and Expo Center, located in Redmond, is a great venue for rodeos, big name acts and concerts, and other sporting events.

Arts, Culture & Entertainment:
There are two theater groups that provide plays and entertainment year-round. Concerts ranging from classical, rock to jazz are held throughout the year with many held outside at Drake park.

Charming downtown Bend boasts over several galleries and the first Friday of every month there is an Art Walk. The galleries are open in the evening and it is a great way to view the art and on occasion, meet the artist. A variety of outdoor concerts include Thursday nights in the summer, people gather for the Munchin’ Music.

On the performing arts front, we have two local theatres Cascade Community Theatre and the Second Street Theatre which performs a variety of plays. Central Oregon Community College also offers a variety of performances of theatre and music.

The High Desert Museum exhibits various cultural and natural heritage of the area. There is a thriving art community with more than 10 art galleries and monthly art walks. Other entertainment options include nightclubs, dance halls, movie theaters and coffee houses.

Shopping:
Bend has several shopping areas which you can find just about everything. There are two malls, a charming downtown district, renovated Old Mill district and the prime outlets.

Transportation:
Bend is situated on Highway 97, which provides a direct north and south route. State Highway 20 provides access the east/west route that goes to Salem and eastern Oregon and Idaho.

Air Service:
Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM): (commercial & general aviation) 16 miles north. Both Horizon Airlines and United Express provide service into the area. They provide direct flights from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. National, Hertz, and Avis rentals are available at the airport.

Bend Municipal Airport: (general aviation is located 5.5 miles NE of Bend. Charters, service and car rentals.

Sunriver Resort Airport: (general aviation) 17 miles south of Bend. Charters, service and care rentals are available.

Rail Service:
AMTRAK provides passenger service.

Bus Service:
Greyhound Bus Lines has a terminal located in Bend.

Housing:
Bend has been experiencing enormous growth in recent years. The average price of home in Bend is $197,682. The median price was $163,000. The average price for a single family residence on acreage was $298,926. The approximate range for monthly rental in the area is $600-725 for a two bedroom, one bath unit. Money Magazine ranked Bend as one of the "Top 100 Places to Retire" in the nation.

Media:
Newspapers: Bend Bulletin - Regional daily paper; Cascade Business News - monthly editions-Business based; The Source: Weekly entertainment–basis paper

Radio:
There 13 stations based in Bend and additional stations in the Bend reception area.

Television: There are 4 local stations and several cable options to receive other stations and programs.

Education:
The area is serviced by the Bend/LaPine school district. There are 4 high schools (grades 9-12), 4 middle schools (grades 6-8), 12 elementary schools (grades K-5) and 3 magnet schools. There are several private schools within the area as well. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) along with Oregon State University (OSU) serves the community with both 2 and 4 year programs.

Healthcare:
St. Charles Medical Center serves as the hub for the medical community. It is a modern and comprehensive hospitality with a total of 181 beds. St. Charles is also a Level II trauma center and operates Air Life.

Employment:
The prime industries are retail, tourism services, secondary wood products, high technology/software, recreational equipment, aerospace/aviation and transportation/communication.

Neighboring Communities:

• LaPine: 30 miles south
• Redmond: 16 mile north
• Sisters: 18 miles west
• Sunriver: 15 miles south

Distance from major cities:

• 175 miles SE of Portland
• 130 miles SE of Salem
• 121 miles NE of Eugene
• 500 Miles NE of San Francisco
• 330 miles W of Boise
• 343 miles SE of Seattle
• 394 miles N of Reno

Annual Events:

• Bend Winterfest (February)
• Pole, Pedal, Paddle race (May)
• Old fashioned Fourth of July Celebration (July)
• Bend Summer Festival (July)
• Cascade Cycling Classic (July)
• Sunriver Music Festival (August)
• Cascade Festival of Music (August)
• Traditions at Sunriver Resort (Thanksgiving-New Years)
• Bend Tree Lightning & Bend Holiday Parade (December)
  

   

Bend Food & Drink Personalities
Being a mountain town, Bend has a wide variety of culinary delights to appease any appetite. Here's a little known fact - Bend has the highest per capita ratio of restaurants to residents in all of Oregon. Bend is home to the Deschutes Brewery. The downtown brew pub serves up delicious meals to compliment the beer and the brewery offers tours of the Brewery and bottling located on Colorado street . The other beer brewery is the Bend Brewing Company, called by locals as the BBC serves tasty pub grub as well. We also have Bendisterilley which distills its own vodka and gin. They have a have a great martini bar and tasting room located downtown and at the Old Mill district.

Other another local favorite is the Pine Tavern. This restaurant has an actual pine tree growing through the restaurant in the back room and overlooks the serene Mirror Pond. Fresh hot scones, seafood and fresh trout and delicious desserts will satisfy your appetite.

A variety of authentic and cultural cuisine from Greek, Thai, Mexican, Chinese and Italian restaurants are available to appease any craving.

Cascade Lakes Highway
This 87-mile loop of highway takes you through the most scenic region in the area. Starting on Bend’s west side, this loop takes through the mountains and clear, high alpine lakes of the region. It is a perfect day trip or make it several days by doing some camping or hiking.

It goes past Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and the Three Sisters. It winds past several green-blue alpine lakes, great swimming and fishing holes to enjoy. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) stops over at Elk Lake and is a wonderful place for the thru-hikers.

Speed boats, canoes, and other watercraft can be rented to explore the lakes. Enjoy watching the wildlife of birds, deer, and other animals as you glide across the smooth waters. Some of the larger lakes have restaurants or small stores for having picnic lunches to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area.

Family Activities
Got Kids? They won’t be bored in Bend. Take them one of the many parks throughout the city for playground equipment, games and outside fun. The Bend Parks & Recreation Department , the Boys & Girls Club, Sunriver Resort and the Sunriver Owners Association have many programs and special activities for your kids during your stay.  Juniper Swim & Fitness offers swimming, gym time and other activities to keep those active youngsters busy. 

To give a taste of nature, take them up to Mt. Bachelor or the Three Sisters Wilderness area for hiking or camping. Explore the Cascades Lakes Highway and stop to have a picnic at one of the many high mountain lakes.

Here on a rare rainy day? The High Desert museum has historic artifacts, hands on-activities stations as well as porcupines and otters to observe. The Birds of Prey exhibit is educational and informative, for all ages, view Owls, Eagles, and Hawks. Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory are also available for stargazing and educational programs. Kids love the Working Wonders Children's Museum, located in the Old Mill. With hands-on activities that are critical to childhood development, kids learn by doing and become part of the creative environment. Cave tours are an excellent way to stay dry while having an adventure. Wanderlust Tours offers 1/2 day guided cave tours in some of Central Oregon's most remote caves, just east of Bend.

Numerous commercial establishments also provide fun for all ages. Check out Lava Lanes or Sun Mountain Fun Center for bowling, go carts and much more. The Old Mill District, the renovated mill area of Bend located under the smoke stacks on the west side of downtown Bend, contains a number of well-known chain stores like REI, The Gap, Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, Pacific Sun Wear, as well as art galleries, Working Wonders Children's Museum, a number of restaurants from from fun to fancy dining like Red Robin, Anthony's Homeport and Bella Cucina. The Old Mill movie theatre, a 10-plex stadium style movie theatre showing the latest feature films, is always a sure thing on the occasional snowy or rainy day. Don't forget to check out the latest concerts and events happening at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, a grassy, outdoor concert arena.

The Deschutes River quietly drifts along The Old Mill area where many families flock on a hot, sunny day for river float trip. Grab your inner tube or raft and float away. During the summer months, you can even hop a ride on the river shuttle to get back to your car for a small fee.

Geological Background
The area is rich with geological history. From the Cascade Mountains to the high desert, the area is ready to explore. Look  what earth has created with volcanic activity in the region. Lava Lands visitor center is a great way to start along visiting the Lava Caves, Lava Butte and the Lava Cast Forest. Just to name a few places to visit and examine.

Mt. Bachelor
This year-round mountain boasts 10 ski lifts, including 7 high-speed quads. There is 3,683 acres for world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter with the vertical drop of 3,365 feet. There are 6 lodges around the mountain that offer variety of cuisine and a place to warm up. There is 56 kilometers of machine-groomed trails for Cross Country skiers. There is a park and ride in Bend that provides shuttle service to the mountain. Shuttle service from the Sunriver resort runs daily leaving at the Sunriver Resort lodge.

For the youngsters, there is “Snowblast” tubing park, “Air Chamber” Terrain Park, and the Superpipe to practice tricks, ride the rails and to challenge yourself. There is something for everyone from the easy groomers to the steep and deep. Mt. Bachelor has the variety of terrain for all levels. Private and group lessons are available.  

New for 2007, Mt. Bachelor's new lift chair will get you up the mountain faster than ever before.

Old Mill Revitalization
Just south of the downtown core is the Old Mill district, once a thriving area for the Brooks-Scanlon mills for the lumber industry. Today the district has turned the facilities into a multi-use used for light industrial, as well as offering a 10-plex movie theatre, shopping, dining and outdoor amphitheatre. The old smokestacks remain as a symbol of history and remembrance of the past.

All of the newer buildings have been designed to assimilate the industrial look and feel with a clean modern design. The stores have a variety of big name retailers like Gap, REI, and American Eagle mixed with smaller specialty shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Located right on the river, it is a perfect place to walk along the river or jump in with your raft or tube for a river float trip. The story of Old Mill’s redevelopment, from decaying to the gilded showplace of today, is a compelling piece of modern history.

Outdoor Recreation
Bend, an outdoor recreational playground, with lots of parks for all to enjoy for a family picnic or game of hoops. The largest park is Drake Park, named after Alexander Drake who founded the community in 1900. This 11 acre park is situated close to downtown sits on the smooth flowing Deschutes River. This venue is bubbling with activity from outdoor concerts to sporting events.

The Deschutes National Forest, Three Sisters Wilderness, Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo falls are areas to explore for a variety of outdoor activities for summer or winter such as: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, backpacking, hiking, camping, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking or just sightseeing to experience the magnificent scenic beauty of the area. 

Deschutes River is vital to Bend and the surrounding area for water and agriculture. River Trail is a great way to explore the Deschutes River. It is a great trail for walking, hiking or even mountain biking it goes from Bend to south of Sunriver. The river is slow-moving in Mirror Pond in downtown Bend but a few miles up the river Class III rapids can be found for white water rafting. Benham and Dillon Falls cascade over the lava rocks and tall pines come right to the edge of the river. Across the river, lava fields and lava butte can be seen showing the magnificent geological history of the area.

Fun Facts:

• Bend has the highest per capita ratio of restaurants per resident in Oregon
• The state’s highest ratio of dogs per residents can also be found in Bend
• With over 24 premier golf courses within a 15-mile radius, Bend is known as the “Palm Springs” of the Pacific Northwest.  Five of these courses rank in the “Top 100” in the nation!
• Water supplied by the City of Bend through deep wells and its extensive watershed has been ranked as some of the highest quality municipal water in the country

To find out more information on the liveability of Bend Oregon, please visit the Bend Visitors Association and BendWeekly.com - News for Bend Oregon