Why you should be up for the high desert
By Gary Diedrichs
Looking for nature with personality? We’re talking petrified lava flows, dramatic high desert, Ponderosa-forested mountains, rushing rivers and scenic lakes. Oh, and with a bountiful blend of culture and cuisine in the mix.
Central Oregon sits a world apart from the verdant green of Portland, separated by high mountain passes where tire chains are essential in winter. Its dozen cities can charm and rejuvenate, from the craft brewing and distilling mecca of Bend to the historic theaters and artisan eateries of Redmond, to the year-round 88-degree waters of Warm Springs, home to the Wasco and Paiute Native American tribes. Easy airlift to Redmond with five major carriers adds to the allure.
Read More: Smart Moves in California, Oregon and More
Fun Fact
Sure, Southwestern states like Arizona and New Mexico get 300 days of sunshine a year, but despite the drizzly reputation of Oregon’s cities to its west, so does Central Oregon—it’s in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain Range.
5 Fabulous Places to Meet & Stay
Old St. Francis School McMenamins is in an atmospheric 1936 grade school in downtown Bend with eclectic settings for meetings. F&B minimums include wait staff, bartenders and table settings—and catering showcases McMenamins’ own handcrafted ales, wines and spirits. Plus, there’s a movie theater, brewery and pub on premises.
60 guest rooms; indoor event spaces accommodate up to 120 attendees.
Tetherow Resort photo by TetherowTetherow Resort, in Bend, sprawls across 700 acres, just perfect to fully enjoy its boutique hotel and 40 rental homes, three restaurants, event pavilion with retractable glass doors to sweeping Cascades views,18-hole golf course and golf academy. Environmentally friendly practices are in evidence throughout.
50 guest rooms in the hotel; 13,414 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 11 meeting rooms.
Deschutes Fair and Expo Center hosts everything from tradeshows to rodeos and concerts, with hundreds of events annually. Located in Redmond, it offers several venues—Three Sisters Conference Center alone comprises three event spaces and a capacity of 3,748 attendees. Full F&B catering is available. Cascades views come at no extra charge.
200,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space; 450 booth spaces.
Eagle Crest Resort, in Redmond, edges the Cascades on 1,700 acres with three championship golf courses, three on-site sports centers, a full-service spa and several dining options. Tennis and pickleball clinics, and miles of hiking and biking trails, too. The resort’s Central Oregon Conference Center offers versatile, pillarless space.
100 lodge guest rooms, plus 50 vacation rentals; 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
Riverhouse Convention Center is Central Oregon’s biggest single event space. On the Deschutes River a short drive from downtown Bend, its on-site restaurant offers full catering. Adjacent to the ballroom are two large meeting spaces divisible into breakout rooms. It’s all LEED Silver-certified.
41,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with outdoor options; ballroom for up to 1,600 attendees.
5 Reasons Meeting Profs Love Central Oregon
Team building. Nature calls in so many ways, from horseback riding to rafting. And golfing, of course. Stellar venue Brasada Ranch pairs endless adventures with meeting rooms.
Guided fun, inside and out. Among others, Wanderlust Tours leads excursions ranging from caving and kayaking to brewery crawls.
Desert discovery. High Desert Museum not only offers after-hours event space, but also shines as a “cultural gem set on 135 acres of awe.” Its Desertarium, for instance, is home to native wildlife like tortoises, snakes and lizards. Dioramas and exhibits showcase a collection of 29,000 objects, from Pacific Northwest artwork to basketry and photographs.
Indigenous history. The Museum at Warm Springs brings thousands of years of tribal history to life with one of the largest collections of Native American artifacts.
Suds and cider. More than 30 breweries and cideries call this region home. Most of these are in Bend, with a half-dozen in the walkable downtown. The oldest and biggest, Deschutes Brewery, still has its old-school pub. Ask for a Bachelor Bitter.
This article appears in the September/October 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
