Old Mill District

The Old Mill District is a historic area formerly occupied by two lumber mills in Bend, Oregon. Encompassing approximately 270 acres (110 ha) 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] Notable additions include the Les Schwab Amphitheater and the nation's first 12-station Fly Casting Course.[4]

Old Mill District
Old Mill shopping district in Bend
LocationBend, Oregon, United States
Coordinates44.046°N 121.315°W / 44.046; -121.315
Opening datec. 1992
DeveloperWilliam Smith Properties
No. of stores and services60
Total retail floor areaSite covers 270 acres (110 ha)
Websitetheoldmill.com

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.[5]

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,[6] become a finalist for the 2016 Urban Land Institute's Global Awards for Excellence [7] and garnered Bill Smith, and William Smith Properties, a Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2014 Building a Better Central Oregon Awards.[8]

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
Old Mill District Bend

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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[10]

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.[2]

Events

The Old Mill District hosts events throughout the year, including Oregon WinterFest[12] Art in the High Desert,[13] and many sporting and charitable events throughout the year.[14]

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 Schwab,[15] a native of Bend, Oregon. The venue accommodates approximately 8,000 people for concerts and other events. During the summer months, the amphitheater presents national headlining acts from May to September as well as the annual Bend Brewfest. Past performers include Phish, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, The Dave Matthews Band, The Decemberists, Goo Goo Dolls and Barenaked Ladies.[16][17][18]

National Casting Course

The first permanent fly casting course of its kind located in North America. Designed for practicing essential casting skills and each station of the 12-hole course has unique challenges for beginners, intermediate or expert casters that range from right and left handed roll casts, distance targets and accuracy challenges. Free and open to the public, open daily from dawn to dusk. The Casting Course Guide brochure is available at the Ticket Mill and includes a course map, casting tips and a score card.

The Old Mill Casting Course Community Partners are the Bend Casting Club, Central Oregon Fly Fishers, Deschutes River Conservancy, Oregon Council of Internal Federation of Fly Fishers, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Bend Parks & Recreation District, Trust for Public Land, Deschutes Land Trust and Trout Unlimited.[19]

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.[20]

Each spring, the East Cascades Audubon Society and the Old Mill District host birding walks along the trails, which run through the migratory corridor for several species of birds.[21]

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.[22]

References
  1. Old Mill District, The Central Cascades Geotourism Project of Oregon and Washington
  2. "The Old Mill District: Then and Now," The Bend Bulletin, August 16, 2009
  3. "Old Mill's Fuel Building to House Spirits, Sparkle," The Bend Bulletin, June 29, 2006
  4. Santella, Chris. "Oregon getaway: Bend's splashy water sports scene". The Mercury News. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. Once again Bend’s Powerhouse: Bill Smith and The Old Mill District, Oregon 150
  6. "Excellence on the Waterfront 2017".
  7. Monte, Jeremy. "Old Mill District – 2016 Global Awards for Excellence Finalist". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. "Building a Better Central Oregon Awards Presented in Bend, Oregon". Cascade Business News.
  9. Shevlin-Hixon Mill, Bend, Oregon, The Oregon History Project
  10. "Bend's Mill District" KOHD News, October 19, 2009
  11. Shevlin-Hixon Mill, Bend, Oregon, The Oregon History Project
  12. "Rail jam, motocross highlight WinterFest," Bend Bulletin, February 12, 2010
  13. ","
  14. VisitBend. "Bend and Central Oregon Calendar of Events". Visit Bend. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. About Les Schwab Amphitheater, The Old Mill District
  16. Who Has Been Here, The Old Mill District
  17. Rockow, Jasmine. "The Schwab's biggest year yet". The Bend Bulletin. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. "Upcoming concerts in Central Oregon". The Bend Bulletin. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  19. "The Old Mill Casting Course Ready to Fly".
  20. Bend Bulletin, "Bend’s History"
  21. "Old Mill District and East Cascades Audubon Society Team Up for Birding Walks". MyCentralOregon.com. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  22. Deschutes County, "Big Chainring" Winners Awarded June 21"
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