Old Mill District facts for kids
Old Mill District in Bend
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| Location | Bend, Oregon, United States |
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| Coordinates | 44°02′46″N 121°18′54″W / 44.046°N 121.315°W |
| Opening date | c. 1992 |
| Developer | William Smith Properties |
| No. of stores and services | 60 |
| Total retail floor area | Site covers 270 acres (110 ha) |
The Old Mill District is a special place in Bend, Oregon. It used to be home to two big lumber mills. This area covers about 270 acres (110 ha) right along the Deschutes River. Today, it's a lively spot with lots of shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Thousands of people visit the Old Mill District, and it provides jobs for over 2,500 people.
The area changed a lot starting in the mid-1990s. A developer named Bill Smith bought the land. He made sure to keep parts of the old buildings, like the three tall smokestacks. There are nine old buildings that have been fixed up. The oldest one is called the Little Red Shed. It used to store fire equipment and is now an art studio.
The Old Mill District also has cool features like the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. It also has the first 12-station Fly Casting Course in the country. The river area was also cleaned up and brought back to life. It used to be closed to people for about 80 years. Now, it's a home for animals like fish, mink, otters, and birds.
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A Look Back: History of the Old Mill District
The Old Mill District was once home to two large lumber mills. In 1916, the Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company built a mill. It was on the west side of the Deschutes River. The Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company built its "Mill A" complex on the east side.
For the next 78 years, these mills were very important to Bend's economy. They brought a lot of money and business to the town. At their busiest, they were two of the biggest pine sawmills in the world. They ran all day and night. Each mill employed over 2,000 workers. They produced more than 500 million board feet of lumber every year.
How the Mills Changed Bend
The many mill workers caused Bend's population to grow very fast. In 1910, only 536 people lived there. By 1920, the population jumped to 5,414. By 1930, there were 8,821 people living in the city.
After more than 20 years of cutting down trees, the forests in Central Oregon started to run low. In 1937, the Bend Chamber of Commerce warned that the town could face big money problems. They said the mills needed to start planting new trees. But the mills kept cutting down trees at full speed. By 1950, the lack of trees caused Oregon's logging industry to decline.
Brooks-Scanlon bought the Shevlin-Hixon mill in 1950. They closed it just four months later. The Brooks-Scanlon Mill A also closed in 1983. After the mills shut down, the area became run-down. Then, in 1993, William Smith Properties bought the land. This is how the Old Mill District began to change.
Fun Things to Do: Events
The Old Mill District hosts many fun events all year long. Some popular events include the Bend Brewfest. There is also the Pole Pedal Paddle race. Many other sports and charity events happen here too.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater
The Hayden Homes Amphitheater is an outdoor concert venue. It was built in 2001. It sits right on the west bank of the Deschutes River. This amphitheater is part of the Old Mill District. It can hold about 8,000 people for concerts and other shows.
During the summer, big music acts perform here from May to October. The yearly Bend Brewfest is also held here. Famous performers like John Legend, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan have played on its stage.
Learn to Cast: National Casting Course
The Old Mill District has the first permanent fly casting course of its kind in North America. It's a great place to practice your fishing casting skills. The course has five holes. Each hole has different challenges for beginners, intermediate, and expert casters. You can practice different types of casts and hit targets.
This course is free and open to everyone. You can visit it from morning until night. You can get a guide brochure at the Ticket Mill. It has a map, casting tips, and a score card.
Explore Nature: Trails and Historical Plaques
The Old Mill District is also known for its many trails. There are four trails that loop through the area. They range from 1 to 2.4 miles long. These trails offer great views of Bend's mountains. They also connect to a bigger network of trails in Bend.
Discovering History on the Trails
Along the trails, you will find special signs called bollards. These signs give directions. They also have plaques that remember local people. These people helped Bend or its history in important ways. The signs also have old photos that show Bend's logging history. They tell stories like "Lumber and the Railroad Helped Create the Town of Bend." There are seven of these signs along the Deschutes River.
Every spring, you can join birding walks along the trails. These walks are hosted by the East Cascades Audubon Society. Many different kinds of birds fly through this area.
