Top 10 True Western Towns of 2009
By: 01/01/2009
7. PENDLETON, OR
Into the highlands of the Blue Mountain foothills, through the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, locals bike past farms and ranches that are still found on the same land owned by their descendants a century later.
In historic downtown Pendleton, cattle ranch-raised Parley Pearce and Blair Woodfield saved a piece of Pendleton’s legacy by restoring the Hamley Saddle Shop, est. 1883, in 2005. Today, they run a complex of Hamley-related businesses to provide an authentic experience of the “real” West: the cowboy cathedral-looking Hamley Steakhouse, the Coffee and Wine shop serving “Peacemaker” and “Boots and Spurs” roasted coffee, and the Slick Fork Saloon with an 1890s oak bar where Western performers like Ian Tyson have performed. Pearce and Woodfield are innovators who bring the kind of quality, history-oriented development to downtown Pendleton that will keep this city at the top of many travelers’ lists.
Others looking to find similar success downtown include Al Plute, at work on the Temple Hotel, and Ted Betz, for his four storefronts. Both are utilizing the city’s Facade Restoration program. To date, $2.8 million worth of work has been scheduled on facades in the downtown area, with $1.6 million worth completed, City Manager Larry Lehman says.
Locals here don’t just save buildings; they also preserve traditions. When they weren’t busy working their wheat ranch, Mike and Jill Thorne, and Pendleton Round-Up organizer Jennifer Hawkins, were instrumental in raising money for the new rodeo grounds, in anticipation of the rodeo’s centennial in 2010. Two-thirds of the $1.1 million needed was raised by press date, and construction is due to start in 2009.
The city planners are doing their part too. As of 2008, the Court Avenue and River Parkway Enhancement Project is in phase four—bidding—with the next and final phase being the construction of the project that will connect the brick-front downtown to the Umatilla River, which settlers passed by in the 1840s while traveling on the Oregon Trail.
As Pendleton—pop. 17,310—prepares for the state’s 150th anniversary, one of its proud contributions to the celebration will be featuring commemorative blankets from the historic Pendleton Woolen Mills, which also celebrates a milestone in 2009: 100 years in the textile mill business.
Comments (2)
The city should make the downtown historic district more western all year long, that is what the tourists want to come and enjoy, just like Jackson Hole area. Wood sidewalks, old storefronts renewed, take down the horrible siding on all those old building and make it historic and western as much as possible. Pull all the businesses together and make a true western downtown. You don't have to all sell western items, just make the buildings western. You have a GREAT start with the Train Depot and surrounding areas!! Keep up the PLAN!! or MAKE A PLAN!! Cheyenne could be a truly great small city and as the State Capital SHOULD have a GREAT DOWNTOWN!!
Sir:
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He has been Special Forces and, I suppose Police work is what he wants.
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"Californian". 707-259-0949 or
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