Bend may be considered Beer Town, USA, but startup tech firms are cropping up at a rapid rate, helped in part by the annual Bend Venture Conference and the new Oregon State University-Cascades’ Innovation Co-Lab. The BVC has an annual contest in three categories: The Growth State, in which companies generally have a proven concept, […]
Made in Central Oregon
Posted inOutside
New Outdoor Adventures, Made In C.O.
Cascade Snowbikes—motorcycles on snow—and Central Oregon Jeep Tours are ready for outdoor adventures
As if there weren’t enough options for enjoying Bend’s awesome winters, Cascade Snowbikes added another one this year: motorcycles with a snowmobile-type track. Cascade Snowbikes is owned by Dave and Casey Reuss. The couple came up with the idea in 2016 and just opened the doors Feb. 15. The Reuss’ convert dirt motorcycles for riding […]
Posted inCulture
Made in Central Oregon: Fiber Arts
Bend fiber artist is one of dozens at Sunriver gallery
Bend fiber artist Mary Wonser has been showing her works at the Artists’ Gallery Sunriver Village for the past four years, enjoying the company of her fellow artists—all proud to be crafting works made in Central Oregon. Thirty artists share the gallery space, offering art pieces for sale in the sunny showroom at Sunriver’s main […]
Posted inNews
Laird Superfoods
Surfer and fitness guru makes awesome food
For the last 20 years, Laird Hamilton has been perfecting his private recipe to optimize coffee. About two years ago, he and Paul Hodge got together to come up with Sisters-based Laird Superfood, to give back to the community by building a dynamic business in Central Oregon, said Luan Pham, the company’s chief revenue and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Made in Central Oregon 2018
What’s Made in Central Oregon? Better Question: What’s Not?
Seemingly endless outdoor opportunities, rad local brews and a bustling social scene are not the only things that make Central Oregon a cool place to be (though you’ll read all about those important aspects of our culture often within the pages of this publication). Each and every day, the creative, ambitious and industrious among us […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Stock Your Pantry
Sweet and savory Central Oregon-made foods
In honor of the Made in Central Oregon issue, we round up some of our favorite foods that are made right here in the C.O. Bontà Natural Artisan Gelato Jeff and Juli Labhart trained under two different Italian gelato masters before developing their own ice cream recipes and starting Bontà Natural Artisan Gelato. Their gelato […]
Posted inNews
Dog Pack Collars
Durable dog collars, in pup’s favorite color
Dog Pack Collars was born in Central Oregon two years ago after Megan Griffin moved to Bend with her husband and two adopted dogs, Holly and Darrow. Griffin says she loves being a dog mom—and likes to dote on her pups by creating them matching accessories. Having a hard time finding collars that were cute […]
Posted inNews
Scavenger Woodworks
Mountain modern furniture from reclaimed wood
Kentucky native Trae Gaddis started building furniture from found wood four years ago, after he and his wife Brittany found out they had a child on the way. They’d previously sold everything and were traveling around in a motorhome. Brittany started posting items up for sale and their business took off from there. Two years […]
Posted inNews
Wild Roots & Cascade Street Distillery
Fresh takes on fun spirits
Nick Beasley, founder of Cascade Street Distillery, reconnected with Chris Joseph, founder of Wild Roots Vodka, in college, after hearing that Joseph was launching his own line of spirits. Beasley started working for Joseph at Wild Roots, which specializes in fruit-infused vodkas, but soon after branched out to create unflavored spirits under the name Cascade […]
Posted inNews
Light My Fire
Form meets function in sustainably sourced firestarter bouquets
Just a few months ago, sisters-in-law Allison Schultz and Julie Connell began making gorgeous bouquets of juniper, sage and other foraged materials, which, while beautiful, are also intended to ultimately be burned in a fire pit or fireplace. ‘Scuse me while I get all punny here, but it’s safe to say this new Central Oregon […]