Bend – Oregon - Culture

Bend is Central Oregon's largest city nestled at the base of the east side of the Cascade Mountains. It is surrounded by natural beauty and plenty of recreational activities.

The Deschutes National Forest is one of the most popular forests in the Pacific Northwest because of the wide variety of recreational opportunities and other benefits it offers. Located in the high desert country of Central Oregon , the Forest attracts more than 7 million people every year for recreation, besides providing commodities ranging from timber to mushrooms. Within the Forest there are five wilderness areas, six Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Metolius Conservation Area, the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area and the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The forest encompasses more than 1.6 million acres of Central Oregon , extending for about 100 miles along the east side of the Cascade Mountains . With a scenic backdrop of volcanic mountains that form the crest of the Cascade Mountains, and alpine forests, volcanic attractions, dense evergreen forests, mountain lakes, caves, desert areas, and alpine meadows . A wide variety of recreational and scenic opportunities exist on the volcanoes of the High Cascades and in Newberry National Volcanic Monument .

The Cascades form the mountainous backbone running north-south across the entire state of Oregon. It divides the state into the "dry" eastern and "wet" western sides.

The Cascades form the mountainous backbone running north-south across the entire state of Oregon. It divides the state into the "dry" eastern and "wet" western sides.

The major mountain peaks in the Cascades include Mount Hood  and Mount Bachelor . Crater Lake  near the California border is formed by the caldera of an ancient Cascades volcano that erupted thousands of years ago. The High Desert Museum is located 3.5 miles south of Bend in Central Oregon on U.S. Highway 97. Many of the area's key destinations lie within a few miles, including Sunriver Resort, Newberry Volcanic National Monument, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort, and Smith Rock State Park and Climbing Area, and two hours Northeast of Crater Lake National Park.

In the 1994 Bend Municipal Airport Master Plan Update, the development of the Bend Airport dates back to 1942 when land previously used as a farm was deeded to the City to establish a municipally owned and operated landing strip. The site was used for pilot training during World War II and subsequently developed in the 50’s and 60’s, with the first comprehensive airport master plan begun in 1977 and completed in 1979. At that time general aviation was booming, and the plan forecasted significant growth in activity at the Bend Airport.