A look at what to do and see in and around this central Oregon town, which will host FMCA’s 78th International Convention this August.
By S.B. Jackson
June 2007
Central Oregon is known for scenery that includes mountains, caves, canyons, and waterfalls. The region is big enough, too, that you will find plenty of room to spread out and have some fun either before, during, or after the FMCA convention in Redmond August 13 through 16.
In Redmond, as throughout this area, good golf is easy to find. Public greens include the Missing Link, Crooked River Ranch, Eagle Crest, and Juniper golf courses.
If you are interested in sight-seeing, be sure to visit the breathtaking rock walls at Smith Rock State Park. Bicycling and walking is available in town on the 3-mile paved Dry Canyon Trail. Local fishing is popular at nearby Suttle Lake and Blue Lake, as well as along the Deschutes River. The younger crowd will enjoy skateboarding at the Redmond Skate Park. Kids and handicapped adults can fish for free at Fireman’s Pond, located south of downtown.
Bend, the largest city in this region, is 16 miles south of Redmond. Public golf courses in the area include River’s Edge, Lost Tracks, and Widgi Creek. Kayaking and rafting are popular at the triple waterfalls on the Deschutes River. Sight-seers can take in panoramic views of the city from Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, or get interior close-ups as they walk through lava tube caves, which were formed long ago by an area volcano.
Bend’s nationally acclaimed High Desert Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting the area. History is revealed through an original stagecoach, a Lewis and Clark exhibit, a real homestead ranch, and more. Wildlife shows and demonstrations, as well as animal exhibits, also captivate visitors. All ages and interests will find something they like. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, and admission is charged. Call (541) 382-4754 for more information, or visit www.highdesertmuseum.org.
Bend’s historic downtown area offers shopping, art gallery tours, and a variety of restaurants. The downtown jewel, Drake Park, is home to Mirror Pond, where, among other waterbirds, a pair of swans from the Royal Swannery in England now make their residence. The more adventurous may want to consider a drive (30 miles southeast of Bend) to the Pine Mountain Observatory, where on Friday and Saturday evenings visitors are introduced to the awe-inspiring world of stargazing.
One word of caution when visiting Bend: you might want to stay. The city is among the state’s top five places to retire, according to Money magazine in 2006, which in 2000 ranked it among the top five in the nation.
There’s more going on in Madras and its environs than just producing 80 percent of the nation’s carrot seed. This town is 27 miles north of Redmond and next to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino appeals to those who like to try their luck, as well as to golfers, for it has an 18-hole course and a driving range.
Not too far from there is The Cove Palisades State Park, where a lake takes center stage, and a full-service campground is available. The park also has nearly 10 miles of hiking trails.
Central Oregon’s oldest city is Prineville, 19 miles east of Redmond. The Prineville Chamber of Commerce offers a walking tour of the historic downtown area, and you can continue the trip down memory lane at the A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum. Its fascinating pieces of the past are arranged inside a historic building that once served as the town’s bank.
The Prineville Reservoir is where the locals go to enjoy fishing and water sports, and golfers are welcome at Meadow Lakes Golf Course. Dining out in Prineville can be dressy or casual, or you can eat while riding the Crooked River Dinner Train.
Prineville is unofficially called the Rockhound Capital of the United States, and a local map for fans of geology is available from the chamber of commerce office in town.
Twenty miles west of Redmond is Sisters, a charming Western-style town known for a wide variety of specialty shops, restaurants, and art galleries. If you wish to get away from civilization, head west of town to Black Butte, an extinct volcano with a nearly symmetrical, cinder cone shape. In summer you can drive halfway to the summit, and take a pleasant walk around to the stopping points to enjoy the views. Area golf courses are located at Black Butte Ranch Resort Community and at Aspen Lakes.
MORE INFORMATION….
For more information about these and other activities around Redmond, contact the Central Oregon Visitors Association at (800) 800-8334, or visit www.visitcentraloregon.com.
For Oregon travel destination ideas, maps, and more, contact the Oregon Tourism Commission at (800) 547-7842 or (503) 986-0000, or visit www.traveloregon.com.
DESCHUTES COUNTY FAIR & EXPO CENTER
FMCA will meet August 13 through 16 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon, for the association’s 78th International Convention. It is the home of the state’s largest county fair, and a fine location for all sorts of fun and fellowship.
This will be FMCA’s third visit to the Expo Center, and first-timers will soon understand why. The 132-acre site is in a beautiful setting surrounded by snowcapped mountain peaks. This is high desert country, at an elevation of approximately 3,100 feet above sea level. During August, the weather is typically sunny, with low humidity and temperature highs in the mid-80s.
The Expo Center is well-suited to FMCA convention activities. A variety of buildings are used to house seminars, evening entertainment, and indoor exhibits, while more than 100 acres of parking space accommodates coach exhibits, family parking, and more.
If you’ve never been to Oregon before, plan now to attend your first convention in these fine “digs.” And be sure to check out all that’s available to see and do in the area.
CONVENTION AREA CAMPGROUNDS
The following may not be a complete list, so please check your favorite campground directory or the FMCA Business Directory, published each January and June in FMC magazine and online at FMCA.com.
Redmond
Desert Terrace Mobile Estates
5063 S. U.S. 97
Redmond, OR 97756
(541) 548-2546
Green Acres RV Park
7777 S. U.S. 97
Redmond, OR 97756
(541) 923-0868
www.rverschoice.com/greenacres
Crooked River Ranch
5195 Club House Road
Crooked River Ranch, OR 97760
(800) 841-0563
(541) 923-1441
www.crookedriverranch.com
Bend
Bend Keystone RV Park
305 N.E. Burnside Ave.
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 382-2335
Crown Villa RV Resort, C2573
60801 Brosterhous Road
Bend, OR 97702
(866) 500-5300
(541) 388-1131
www.crownvillaresort.com
Sisters/Bend KOA
67667 U.S. 20 W.
Bend, OR 97701
(800) 562-0363
(541) 549-3021
www.koa.com/where/or/37151
Scandia RV Park
61415 S. U.S. 97
Bend, OR 97702
(541) 382-6206
Madras
Madras-Culver KOA
2435 S.W. Jericho Lane
Culver, OR 97734
(800) 562-1992
(541) 546-3046
www.koa.com/where/or/37149
Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino
6823 Highway 8
Warm Springs, OR 97761
(800) 554-4786
(541) 553-1112
www.kah-nee-taresort.com
Prineville
Crook County RV Park
1040 S. Main St.
Prineville, OR 97754
(800) 609-2599
(541) 447-2599
www.ccprd.org/parks_rv.cfm
Sun Rocks RV Resort, C7000
14900 S.E. Juniper Canyon Road
Prineville, OR 97754
(541) 447-6540
www.sunrocksrvresort.com
Sisters
Sisters Inn & RV Park
540 U.S. 20 West
Sisters, OR 97759
(541) 549-7829
www.sistersinnandrvpark.com
Cold Springs Resort & RV Park
25615 Cold Springs Resort Lane
Camp Sherman, OR 97730
(541) 595-6271
www.coldsprings-resort.com
CENTRAL OREGON STATE PARK CAMPGROUNDS
For more information about these or other Oregon State Park campgrounds, call (800) 551-6949 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, or visit www.oregonstateparks.org. To make reservations at any of the following state parks, call (800) 452-5687.
All of these facilities have full hookups, except for Jasper Point Campground and Crooked River Campground, which offer electrical hookups only.
LaPine State Park
15800 State Recreation Road
La Pine, OR 97739
(541) 536-2071
Prineville Reservoir
Prineville Reservoir Campground and Jasper Point Campground
19020 S.E. Parkland Drive
Prineville, OR 97754
(541) 447-4363
The Cove Palisades State Park
Deschutes campground and Crooked River campground
7300 Jordan Road
Culver, OR 97734
(541) 546-3412
Tumalo State Park
64120 O.B. Riley Road
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 388-6055