Old Mill District
Encyclopedia
The Old Mill District is an 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 Orvis Casting Course Colorado Street Bridge fish ladder.
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.
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.
The influx of mill workers ballooned the town’s population. It jumped from 536 in 1910 to 5,414 in 1920, and by 1930, the city's population was 8,821.
After more than 20 years of non-stop logging, the forests in Central Oregon
were becoming depleted. In 1937, the Bend Chamber of Commerce warned of economic disaster unless the mills started sustainable forestry. The mills ignored these warnings and continued producing at full capacity. By 1950, the forests' depletion led to the decline of Oregon’s logging industry.
Brooks-Scanlon bought the Shevlin-Hixon mill in 1950 and closed it just four months later. The Brooks-Scanlon Mill A closed in 1983.
After the mills shut down, the site fell into ruin until William Smith Properties purchased the land in 1993 now known as the Old Mill District. Mill B continued to produce small amounts of lumber until 1993 when it also closed.
, a native of Bend, Oregon. The venue accommodates approximately 8,000 people for concerts and other events. During the summer months, the amphitheater presents free concerts by local and national performers most Sundays, plus national headlining acts from May to September. Past performers include Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Band of Horses, Goo Goo Dolls and Barenaked Ladies.
Each year, the annual Trout Unlimited Trout Festival is held in conjunction with the Orvis National Fly-Casting Competition on the course. Both amateur fly casters and professionals, in several different classes, compete for prizes along the course, while raising money for Trout Unlimited.
Each loop features bollards that include directional information and memorial plaques to commemorate local individuals that have contributed in a significant way to Bend or its history. The hand-painted signs feature historical photos that have been recreated by artist Jerry Werner and also provide information about Bend’s logging and timber mill history. These photos accompany stories such as “Lumber and the Railroad Helped Create the Town of Bend.” Seven total signs are located along the Deschutes River in the core of the Old Mill District.
The trail system won the 2010 Big Chainring Award for Business and the 2010 Safe Sidewalk Award from the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for improving walkability and biking in the county.
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
. 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
Les Schwab Amphitheater
The Les Schwab Amphitheater is an outdoor riverfront amphitheater built in the historic Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon, United States. The amphitheater was named in honor of Central Oregon businessman Les Schwab...
and the Orvis Casting Course Colorado Street Bridge fish ladder.
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.
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.
History
The Old Mill District formerly housed two competing lumber mills. In 1916 the Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company built a mill on the west bank of the Deschutes River and Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company built the "Mill A" complex on the east bank. For the next 78 years, the mills dominated Bend’s economy, pumping money and business into the town. At their peak, the companies were two of the largest pine sawmills in the world, running around the clock, employing more than 2,000 workers each and turning out more than 500 million board feet of lumber a year.The influx of mill workers ballooned the town’s population. It jumped from 536 in 1910 to 5,414 in 1920, and by 1930, the city's population was 8,821.
After more than 20 years of non-stop logging, the forests in Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
were becoming depleted. In 1937, the Bend Chamber of Commerce warned of economic disaster unless the mills started sustainable forestry. The mills ignored these warnings and continued producing at full capacity. By 1950, the forests' depletion led to the decline of Oregon’s logging industry.
Brooks-Scanlon bought the Shevlin-Hixon mill in 1950 and closed it just four months later. The Brooks-Scanlon Mill A closed in 1983.
After the mills shut down, the site fell into ruin until William Smith Properties purchased the land in 1993 now known as the Old Mill District. Mill B continued to produce small amounts of lumber until 1993 when it also closed.
Events
The Old Mill District hosts events throughout the year, including Bend WinterFest Art in the High Desert, and XTERRA Trail Running National Championship.Les Schwab Amphitheater
The Les Schwab Amphitheater is an outdoor riverfront amphitheater built in 2001 on the west bank of the Deschutes River as part at the Old Mill District development. The Amphitheater was named after Les SchwabLes Schwab
Leslie Bishop "Les" Schwab was an American businessman from Oregon. He was the founder of Les Schwab Tire Centers, a company which Modern Tire Dealer called "arguably the most respected independent tire store chain in the United States." A native of Oregon, he served in the U.S...
, a native of Bend, Oregon. The venue accommodates approximately 8,000 people for concerts and other events. During the summer months, the amphitheater presents free concerts by local and national performers most Sundays, plus national headlining acts from May to September. Past performers include Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Band of Horses, Goo Goo Dolls and Barenaked Ladies.
National Casting Course
In 2008, the Old Mill District and national outdoor retailer, Orvis, which has a store in the district, teamed up to build the only 18-hole, golf-style fly fishing casting course in the nation. The Orvis Casting Course at the Old Mill District is a free course designed to help anglers practice their casting skills. Anyone who successfully complete the first nine holes of the course get their names on the casting course awards board inside the Orivs store and receive a complimentary certificate recognizing their achievement.Each year, the annual Trout Unlimited Trout Festival is held in conjunction with the Orvis National Fly-Casting Competition on the course. Both amateur fly casters and professionals, in several different classes, compete for prizes along the course, while raising money for Trout Unlimited.
Trails and historical plaques
The Old Mill District is also known for its network of trails. Four trails, ranging from 1 to 2.4 miles, loop through the area, providing a view of Bend’s mountainous landscape. The loops connect with the greater network of trails maintained by the Bend Parks and Recreation District and are open to the public.Each loop features bollards that include directional information and memorial plaques to commemorate local individuals that have contributed in a significant way to Bend or its history. The hand-painted signs feature historical photos that have been recreated by artist Jerry Werner and also provide information about Bend’s logging and timber mill history. These photos accompany stories such as “Lumber and the Railroad Helped Create the Town of Bend.” Seven total signs are located along the Deschutes River in the core of the Old Mill District.
The trail system won the 2010 Big Chainring Award for Business and the 2010 Safe Sidewalk Award from the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for improving walkability and biking in the county.
Galleries
- DeWilde Art & Glass
- Lahaina Galleries
- Lubbesmeyer Studio & Gallery
- Tumalo Art Company
- Atelier 6000
Shops
- Acadia Footwear in the Old Mill
- American Eagle
- Banana Republic
- Bath & Body Works
- Chico's
- Children’s Place
- Claire's Boutique
- Coldwater Creek
- Desperado Couture
- Duck StoreUniversity of Oregon BookstoreThe University of Oregon Bookstore is the bookstore for the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is a not-for-profit corporation governed by an elected Board of Directors composed mostly of students. It serves primarily students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of...
- GameStop
- Gap/Gap Kids
- Helly Hansen
- J.Jill
- Motherhood Maternity
- O Mo Mo!
- Orvis
- Pacific Sunwear
- REI
- Salon Estilo
- Saxon’s Fine Jewelers
- Serendipity
- Sunglass Hut
- Talbots
- Vanilla Urban Threads
- Victoria’s Secret
- White House Black Market
- Wonderland Toy Shoppe
Restaurants
- Anthony's at the Old Mill
- Ben & Jerry's
- Café Yumm!
- Flatbread Community Oven
- Greg's Grill
- Hola!
- Jimmy John's
- Kona Mix Plate
- Level 2: Global Food & Lounge
- Pastini Pastaria
- Red Robin Restaurant
- Strictly Organic Coffee Company
Office Tenants
- Central Oregon Visitors Association
- Faceout Studio/ Faceout Creative
- FreshAir Sports Pilates
- Brandnavigation
- SocialEatia.com