1. Farewell Bend
began as a ranch on the banks of the Deschutes River. Once an established city,
the local post office shortened the name to Bend.
2. It’s against the
law to pump your own gas in Oregon. I
like to pump my own gas!
3. Pedestrians have
the right of way. A car will quickly
stop and let you cross the street.
4. It’s cold for
most of the year. Don’t let anyone tell
you differently.
5. During the housing
crisis, homes in Bend lost more value than any other real estate market in the
country. They have since regained their
value and then some!
6. Beer is a way of
life in Bend and in most of Oregon. Who
ever heard of hop spa? Clothing stores,
barber shops, art galleries; it seems almost every place serves beer!
7. The Deschutes
River runs through Bend. Surrounded by
forest and beautifully scenic, the river is perfect for kayaking,
paddleboarding or just floating along...
8. You can even surf
on the Deschutes at the man made Bend Whitewater Park!
9. Phil Knight, the
founder of Nike, is from Portland, and he donates significantly to the Bend and
many areas of the state. His influence
can be seen all over.
10. Bend is considered
a high desert environment, meaning a higher elevation but still dry. Not many insects!
11. There is a
misconception that it rains a lot in the area. On the west side of the Cascade Mountains this
is true, but not in Bend. Sunny or
partly sunny 300+ days.
12. Lumber mills used
to dominate the area along the Deschutes River.
Now, as the residents have become more environmentally conscious, the
old mills have been torn down or turned into shopping centers. REI is located in one of them!
13. With such wintry
weather, the growing season is very short in the area. Greenhouses are
common.
14. Mount Bachelor is
an inactive volcano that last erupted about 10,000 years ago. Today, it is
considered the Central Oregon’s top ski area.
15. Cannabis
dispensaries are more abundant than gas stations and probably every other
business.
16. Between 1964 and 1966, astronauts trained
on volcanic terrain in this area to prepare for trips to the moon
17. Driving a
Mercedes Sprinter Van is like driving a Porsche in Bend.
18. Look for what is
known as the car triumvirate - a bike rack, cargo box, and kayak rack - all on
one automobile. More common than you
would think.
19. Bend is one of
the fastest growing cities in the United States.
20. It’s funny, but
not unusual, to see a ‘Bend sucks, don’t move here’ bumper sticker on a vehicle
with out of state license plates.
21. With more roundabouts
than regular intersections, I feel like I’m driving in Europe!
22. Wall Street in Bend was
named for a lava rock wall that lined the street.
23. There are no
professional sports teams in Bend, but the Bend Elks are a local baseball
team. The actor Kurt Russel used to play
for them!
24. Worthy Brewing
built part of their local brewery with wood from the Oregon Sanitarium which
was the filming location of One Flew over
the Cuckoo’s Nest.
25. The beautiful Cascade
Lakes are a short drive from Bend. The
area is an outdoor paradise!
Stay tuned for more #funfacts about #Bend…
