Our travel therapy adventures led us to spending 3 months in Prineville, Oregon.
It’s a small town outside of Bend. I normally wouldn’t describe a town as “predominantly white”, but Prineville is extremely white. You’ll see white supremacy banners, Trump flags, and confederate flags around town.
As a non-white person, you’re probably not welcome in Prineville, Oregon. The racism is so bad in Prineville that Barack Obama even tweeted a video from Prineville during the height of the 2020 election.
Oh, and my wife – who has darker skin but is 100% white – was called the N-word for the first time in her life when we were leaving a restaurant in Prineville, Oregon.
You know Bend, right? Prineville is like Bend’s weirdly racist, conservative uncle.
Yes, Prineville is rough around the edges. But we still had a great time exploring Prineville and everything it had to offer.
Aside from the sundown-town vibes and outward racism, we had a great time discovering things to do in and around Prineville, Oregon. It’s a beautiful town in a beautiful part of the country.
Here are the top 5 must see sights in and around Prineville, Oregon.
1) Drink
For a town with fewer than 10,000 people (I’m not being a snob – that’s twice the size of my hometown), Prineville has a surprising number of great places to grab a drink.
I’ve been to other small towns in America – like Edenton, North Carolina – where drinking was viewed as a sin. In conservative countries like Iran or the United States, some people think you’re the devil for drinking.
Fortunately, Prineville is a fantastic place to grab a drink. Some of my recommended places around town include:
- The Horseshoe Tavern
- Crooked River Brewing or Ochoco Brewing Company (Now Closed)
- Sons of Beer
2) Check Out the Bowman Museum
Why did someone create a town on the banks of a creek in a random valley in Central Oregon? The Bowman Museum can help answer that question.
Discover the surprising history of Prineville’s stick-it-to-the-man railway (Prineville built its own railway instead of waiting for the network to connect to them). Learn about how the town has changed – and stayed the same – over the years.
The Bowman Museum isn’t big but it’s the best (and only) museum in town. It’s worth a visit to get some context.
3) Visit a Brewery
Prineville has two breweries, both of which serve surprisingly good beer and food. I would recommend the food and beer at both of Prineville’s breweries:
- Ochoco Brewing Company
- Crooked River Brewing
Both are proper brewpubs, although they work in slightly different ways.
Ochoco Brewing Company (closed in 2020 soon after we left) has a full lineup of its own beers. Founded in 2009 by a local couple, Ochoco Brewing Company makes fantastic beers, and they sell growlers for just $9 to $13.
I lived above this brewery (literally) for 3 months – and it was dangerous. Their Taco Tuesday is also surprisingly tasty, with cod, steak, and fish tacos available for $2 apiece.
Crooked River Brewing Company also has a full-service restaurant on site, although they work slightly differently than Ochoco. Crooked River Brewing has a few of its own taps on the menu, although most beers are from other Oregon breweries. They make fantastic pizza, and I love the burger food truck outside.
Honestly, if you’re spending an hour in Prineville driving through, go to Ochoco Brewing Company or Crooked River Brewing. Both are fantastic breweries with great food – I would even call them two of the best restaurants in town.
4) Hike Brown Butte
You can do more in Prineville than drink. If you look at Prineville on a map, you might assume the entire town is flat. However, Prineville has more hills than most people realize, and those hills have hiking trails, mountain walks, and viewpoints.
Brown Butte is one such trail. Located above town, Brown Butte is an easy 2-mile hike suitable for all ages. You get a great viewpoint above town.
5) Visit Ochoco State Park for a View Above Town
Prineville is in a valley surrounded by cliffs. You can drive up to the top of one of those cliffs to get a great view above town.
Grab a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers, then come up here for sunset. Prineville isn’t the prettiest place in the United States, but it looks really good from up here as the sun sinks below the horizon and the lights come on below you.
6) Spend a Night at the Horseshoe Tavern
I lived across from the Horseshoe Tavern for 3 months. I saw fights. I saw Trump supporters, racists, and white supremacists proudly flying their flags. I saw bachelorette parties. I saw fantastic live music, including country bands and classic rock cover bands.
I’m from a small town, and the Horseshoe Tavern is everything a small town bar should be. Like Prineville, the Horseshoe Tavern is a little rough around the edges – but it’s something you should experience to get a good feel. As a random dipshit Canadian, it was an entertaining experience.
7) Drive to the Painted Hills
The Painted Hills are one of the seven wonders of Oregon (yes, that’s a thing).
They’re about 45 minutes east of Prineville and the biggest must-see sight in the Prineville area. Seriously. People drive through Prineville and spend the night just to see the Painted Hills.
The Painted Hills are worth it! Once you go east of Prineville, you’re in one of the most remote parts of the continental United States.
There’s…not much but scenic, unspoiled wilderness for hundreds of miles until you hit the Idaho border. It’s a fun drive.
8) Visit Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park is one of the best hiking spots in all of Oregon.
Located 20 minutes west from Prineville, Smith Rock State Park is a great weekend recreation area with multiple trail options – from easy river walks to steep hikes with big elevation changes and dramatic views.
9) Drive Through the Ochoco Reservoir
The Ochoco Reservoir is a recreation area south of Prineville.
There are campgrounds, a fun and windy road to drive, fishing holes, and viewpoints. It’s a nice alternative way to Bend – and it’s a great Sunday drive.
Where to Stay in Prineville
Prineville has like 6 hotels, but only 3 of them are on the usual hotel websites. We stayed in Prineville’s Country Inn & Suites before finding a place to rent, which is technically the best hotel in town (not a big deal).
You might be shocked at hotel prices in Prineville. For a random, small town in the middle of nowhere, Prineville hotels are surprisingly expensive.
Prineville has a small number of Airbnbs – some of which cater to the Facebook and data center workers (if you need a short-term, furnished rental for travel therapy, we recommend working out a deal with a local Airbnb, which is what we did).
Where to Eat in Prineville
Prineville isn’t a culinary destination, but there are decent places to eat in and around Prineville. We can personally recommend all of the following Prineville restaurants:
Ochoco Brewing Company: (Update – Closed in 2020)
Crooked River Brewing: Crooked River Brewing has an in-house kitchen for pizza and other basic food items. Their pizza is really good. They also have a food truck that makes fantastic burgers and fries.
Tastie Treet: People from all over central Oregon have heard about Tastie Treet. I love the sign, which makes me feel like I’m walking through 1950’s America. If you want a shake, a burger, and fries, then Tastie Treet is an excellent option.
Sandwich Factory: Great sandwiches from a little shack in the heart of downtown.
Fast Food Restaurants: Like any small town, Prineville has an assortment of fast food restaurants, including Subway, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and similar spots.
Final Word
Prineville, Oregon exceeded my expectations. The town has nice parks and walking trails. People are friendly. There are enough restaurants, breweries, and pubs in town to keep you entertained.
Like other small towns in the United States, Prineville also has some issues. You’ll see Trump flags, confederate banners, and other white supremacy paraphernalia around town – and again, my wife was called the N-word for the first time in her life in Prineville.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Prineville. But if you want a slice of small town, conservative American life, then Prineville, Oregon is 25 minutes off the highway from Bend and Redmond.
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