What to See in Bend - Top Sights and Attractions

Shopping center in Bend, Oregon. The Old Mill District is a historic area formerly occupied by two lumber mills in Bend, Oregon. Encompassing approximately 270 acres along the Deschutes River, the Old Mill District is now a mixed-use area known for its shops, galleries and restaurants. It draws thousands of visitors and employs more than 2,500 people. The area underwent significant development since the mid-1990s, when the land was purchased by developer Bill Smith, president of William Smith Properties. He maintained elements of the original buildings, including the area's three signature smokestacks. There are nine historically renovated buildings on property. The oldest is the Little Red Shed used to store fire equipment and is now Dewilde Art Glass. Notable additions include the Les Schwab Amphitheater and the nation's first 12-station Fly Casting Course.

William Smith Properties and its partners also restored 14,000 lineal feet of the river area, which had been off limits to the public for close to 80 years. The banks were blown out to accommodate the floating logs and the river itself was mired with debris. The restored area is now a habitat for native species, such as fish, mink, otters and birds.

It was work like this that led the Old Mill District to become the only project in the Western half of the United States to receive a national 2017 Excellence on the Waterfront Award from the Waterfront Center, become a finalist for the 2016 Urban Land Institute's Global Awards for Excellence and garnered Bill Smith, and William Smith Properties, a Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2014 Building a Better Central Oregon Awards.

The Old Mill District is located southwest of downtown, roughly between Colorado Avenue on the west, Bond Street on the east and north and Reed Market to the south.^[1]

Volcano in Oregon. Pilot Butte is a lava dome that was created from an extinct volcano located in Bend, Oregon. It is a cinder cone butte which rises nearly 500 feet above the surrounding plains. Bend is one of four cities in the United States to have a volcano within its boundaries. The other examples are Mount Tabor in Portland, Oregon, Jackson Volcano in Jackson, Mississippi, and Diamond Head in Honolulu.

The 114.22-acre (46.22 ha) Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, presented as a gift to the State of Oregon in 1928, is a Bend icon. Pilot Butte itself is a popular hiking destination with two trails to the summit, each gaining about 490 feet (150 m) in elevation. There is also a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) trail around the base of the butte. A scenic road also winds up and around the cone. In 2018, the park was the most visited Oregon state park east of the Cascade Mountains. From the top, the entire city of Bend is visible, as well as several major Cascade peaks. Most prominent are the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mount Bachelor, which are located about 20 miles (32 km) to the west. The City of Bend launches Fourth of July fireworks from Pilot Butte each year.^[4]

Park in Bend, Oregon. Drake Park is a 13-acre park in Bend, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was named for Alexander M. Drake, the original owner of the site.

The park is a popular downtown community gathering place and hosts many events, including the Old Fashioned July 4th Celebration.

Features include nearly one half mile of riverfront on Mirror Pond, acres of open lawn, an outdoor stage, restrooms and small picnic tables.

A major renovation project for the park was completed in 2003. The restrooms were upgraded, pathways throughout the park were replaced with pavers making the walkway wider, new irrigation and lighting systems were installed, bike racks were installed, a seating and viewing area was added at Mirror Pond and the High Wheel returned to the park after years in storage.

Drake Park is in the Old Bend Neighborhood. Drake Park Neighborhood Historic District is adjacent to the park.^[6]