As the Deschutes River quietly flows by Bend’s Old Mill District, under the watchful eye of Cascade Mountain peaks, its flowers carry a sweet fragrance. A national recording artist performs at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater as visitors enjoy shopping and a bite to eat. The sprawling, 270-acre hub for shopping, fitness, and the arts is widely considered to be the spark that jump-started Bend’s 21st-century economic boom. Paralleling the Deschutes River between SW Reed Market Road and the Bend Whitewater Park, Bend’s Old Mill District fully encapsulates the spirit of Central Oregon’s unofficial capital city.

Longtime Bend residents know the Old Mill District as the cornerstone of local developer Bill Smith’s Central Oregon legacy. Smith, who passed away in 2022, began his Bend life working at the Old Mill site for the Brooks-Scanlon lumber mill, moved to president of their newly created development company, Brooks Resources Corporation, and then founded William Smith Properties. Smith’s work includes some of the best-known developments in the area, such as Black Butte Ranch, Awbrey Butte, and Mount Bachelor Village. But he was proudest of the work he did bridging the gap between Bend’s former and current economic mainstays, from timber to tourism.

Timber production ruled the area for nearly a century before the Old Mill District opened in 2000, anchored by Regal Cinemas, REI, and Ben & Jerry’s. At its peak, Brooks-Scanlon and its rival Shevlin-Hixon together employed more than 2,000 Central Oregonians and held the distinction of being the largest pine sawmills in the world. However, the slow but steady downfall of the timber industry wiped out the timber operations in 1994, leaving behind the three iconic smokestacks standing tall above what is now the REI location.

Though shopping is the focal point of the Old Mill District, its strength lies in the diverse options for the entire family. As a city within a city, the Old Mill District is a destination in itself. Visitors will find plenty of places to sit down for a bite to eat, grab a drink, get some exercise, see a show, and, of course, shop the nearly 70 local and national chain stores. So, whether you’re in town for the day, weekend, or week, Bend’s Old Mill District has plenty of options to fill your time.

The shopping is no exception. More than 40 local boutiques and big-name stores sit along the river. In addition to the food and drink options, the outdoor mall sells clothes, makeup, jewelry, gear to get you on the trails, and art. The picturesque brick sidewalks, paved trails, and footbridges lead locals looking for a last-minute item and weekend shoppers alike.

Those familiar with Bend and the Old Mill District have probably photographed the REI building, with its three brick smokestacks rising above the storefront. The flagship gear shop for the Old Mill District, REI still sells everything you need for an afternoon or month-long adventure.

Just north of the smokestacks, Saxon’s Fine Jewelers has been a locally owned fixture since 1983, its cases set with names like Hearts on Fire, Roberto Coin, and William Henry. Saxon’s buyers travel for much of the stock themselves — diamonds out of South Africa, colored stones from gem safaris in Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Confluence Fly Shop has outfitted Central Oregon anglers since Tye Krueger founded it in 2013, stocking rods, flies, and tackle and running casting clinics and private lessons on the Deschutes. Guided fishing and hunting trips come through a partnership with Deep Canyon Outfitters. A recent remodel added an eight-tap bar — beer, cider, and kombucha on rotation — with a sliding glass door opening onto patio seating.

National clothing and makeup brands lining the Old Mill District street include American Eagle, Anthropologie, Lush, Sephora, and Claire’s Boutique. Kara’s Kitchenware and Top Hat Spice Shop have everything needed to stock your kitchen. Round out the day at Lubbesmeyer Art Studio & Gallery, Tumalo Art Co., or one of the other galleries for something to adorn your walls.

The Old Mill District is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of locals and tourists alike. Shops opening in 2026 include Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe’s second location, out-of-town stores Madewell and Portland Gear, and Old Mill District’s first vintage shop, Elk Vintage. And, if you’re still looking for more shopping, head to the Upper Old Mill’s Box Factory, with 35 more shops and restaurants to choose from.

For entertainment, the Hayden Homes Amphitheater anchors the west bank of the Deschutes, accommodating up to 8,000 concertgoers and hosting more than 50 shows each summer season. A complete upgrade in 2021, from structural capacity and accessibility to sound quality, has lured some of the biggest names in music and comedy to Central Oregon. The 2026 season started in May and runs through October.

Locals know to buy their discounted tickets at the Old Mill District’s Ticket Mill, located on the second floor above J. Jill and Hello Sunshine.

If indoor movie fun is your preferred theater experience, check the listings for Regal Old Mill ScreenX & IMAX on the south end of the center. While it originally opened as a 10-plex with the opening of the Old Mill District in 2000, the movie theater has expanded to 16 screens, including IMAX and ScreenX formats.

For exercise, the draw is the Deschutes itself, its cold, clear current threading through the heart of the district. This section of the river runs from Farewell Bend Park to McKay Park, through Miller’s Landing Park and the Bend Whitewater Park, before heading toward downtown Bend.

Most summer Bend visitors know this stretch of the river as perfect for a lazy float, as they drift along with the current from the Old Mill to downtown’s Drake Park. Others know it as a great place to spend the day paddleboarding or kayaking. If you need to rent or buy gear, stop by Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, conveniently located on the water at the Colorado Bridge, for all your water recreation needs, including a Bend Paddle Trail Alliance Deschutes Paddle Trail River Guide map. Be careful of the crowds escaping the summer’s heat, and plan your trip accordingly if solitude is what you desire. Watch, too, for the river’s residents — beavers, otters, and the threatened Oregon spotted frog.

If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, check out the Bend Whitewater Park, located just north of the Colorado Bridge. Owned and operated by the Bend Park and Recreation District, this river recreation park features three distinctly different channels. The Habitat Channel is closed to humans and exists to enhance river health and protect the local and migratory wildlife, while the Fish Ladder adds gentle rapids to your float. However, the main spectacle of the park is undoubtedly the center Whitewater Channel’s four wave features, catering to all levels of whitewater enthusiasts. Most summer days see a lineup of wetsuit-clad surfers and boogie boarders waiting to drop into the manufactured waves, as well as many onlookers watching the tricks and inevitable crashes. Engineered river-surfing parks like this one are rare, and on a hot afternoon the Whitewater Channel draws as many spectators as surfers.

For those looking to stay dry, trails on both sides of the river await hikers, runners, and cyclists. This section of the Deschutes River Trail, named the Old Mill Reach, runs just under three miles, with three footbridges connecting the two sides to provide convenient loops for adults and kids alike. If you’d like to rent a bike for a few hours or a full day, stop by Wheel Fun Rentals. Not only do they rent cruisers and e-bikes, but they also have surreys for family fun. In summer, Free Spirit Yoga Ninja Play moves its yoga outdoors to the riverbank — and back inside, it pairs adult fitness classes with a kids’ ninja-warrior gym and open play, childcare included.

Hungry or thirsty visitors are spoiled for choice — a quick bite or a full meal to linger over at sunset, all within a short walk.

Start your day with a cup of joe from Sisters Coffee Company, and grab a bagel sandwich if you need fuel for the day. Lunchtime could take you to the new Stacks Diner and Delicatessen for a taste of New York City deli food made with farm-fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients. Hola! Old Mill’s Peruvian- and Mexican-inspired bites, paired with margaritas or mojitos, are perfect for a late-afternoon happy hour.

Overlooking the Deschutes from a patio at the water’s edge, Pastini offers 24 made-from-scratch pasta dishes that are Italian-inspired and crafted with local ingredients whenever possible. If a Prohibition-era-style cocktail is more your speed, drop by the Lady Bird Cultural Society. Stop by for happy hour or experience the restaurant’s eclectic dinner menu, which puts a refined spin on the farm-to-table concept, from caviar and oysters to handmade pastas and artisan wood-fired sourdough pizzas. If you are looking to transport yourself from the high desert to a tropical island experience, be sure to check out Rapa Nui Tiki Bar, where you can enjoy fresh-pressed cocktails and Asian fusion tapas-style bites. And when the family can’t decide what they’re craving, two cart pods just beyond the shops settle it — The Podski, between the Old Mill and downtown, and Crosscut – Warming Hut No. 5, a taproom with chef-run carts at the district’s upper edge.

By evening, the smokestacks catch the last light, paddlers drift the final stretch toward Drake Park, and the amphitheater stirs to life. From timber to tourism, the Old Mill District is where Bend’s two centuries meet the water.

Old Mill District; 520 SW Powerhouse Drive, #624, Bend; (541) 312-0131; the district’s shops, galleries, and restaurants — including those mentioned here — are listed with current hours at oldmilldistrict.com

Saxon’s Fine Jewelers; 360 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 110, Bend; (541) 389-6655; open Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; saxonsfinejewelers.com

Confluence Fly Shop & Craft Beer Bar; 375 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 100, Bend; (541) 678-5633; open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; confluenceflyshop.com

Hayden Homes Amphitheater; 344 SW Shevlin-Hixon Drive, Bend; 2026 season runs May–October; tickets at bendconcerts.com or the district’s Ticket Mill

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe; 805 SW Industrial Way, Suite 6, Bend; (541) 317-9407; open daily, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; tumalocreek.com

Bend Whitewater Park; 166 SW Shevlin-Hixon Drive, Bend, at Colorado Avenue; operated by the Bend Park and Recreation District; bendparksandrec.org

Wheel Fun Rentals; 769 SW Columbia Street, Bend; (541) 408-4568; open daily, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (seasonal); wheelfunrentals.com

Free Spirit Yoga Ninja Play; 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend; (541) 241-3919; class schedule at freespiritbend.com

Crosscut – Warming Hut No. 5; 566 SW Mill View Way, Bend; open daily, noon to close; crosscutbeer.com

The Podski; 536 NW Arizona Avenue, Bend; open daily, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; thepodski.com