Gilchrist, OR

Tucked into the pines along Highway 97, Gilchrist sits about 45 minutes south of Bend, right along the Little Deschutes River. Founded in 1938 by the Gilchrist Timber Company, it was one of Oregon's last fully planned company towns. The lumber outfit built the community from the ground up so mill workers had everything nearby, putting the mill on the west side of the highway and laying out homes, a school, and neighborhood shops on the east.

ATTRChris Light / CC BY-SA 4.0

That organized layout still gives the community a tidy, distinctive feel. Many of the original company-built homes remain along quiet residential streets, set against the backdrop of the Deschutes National Forest. The company sold off the houses to private residents in the late 1990s, and today the town offers a slow, peaceful pace of life. For anyone looking for an affordable, tucked-away spot with easy access to fishing, hiking, and Central Oregon trails, Gilchrist has a quiet charm all its own.