Why Prineville?

Prineville is one of Oregon’s earliest incorporated cities and resides in the center of the state on the east side of the Cascade Range Mountains. Located about 40 minutes from Bend, the largest city in Central Oregon, Prineville has retained its own identity and small town character. As Central Oregon has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade, Prineville has benefited from population increases in nearby Bend and Redmond, Oregon. This growth came despite the decline of the timber industry and related railroad services that served as the heart of Prineville’s economy since its formation in the late 1800s.

As the county seat of Crook County, Prineville hosts many government services. For example, the Crook County Parks and Recreation District coordinates dozens of indoor and outdoor recreation programs including the community swimming pool, skating rink, RV Park, Ochoco Lake Campground, and Prineville Skate Trac. The community swimming pool in Prineville operates from mid-June through August. Swim lessons are offered as well as public and family lap swimming. The local skating rink in Prineville operates from September through the end of May in the gymnasium of Crooked River Elementary School. The RV Park, with full service hook-ups, ADA accessible restrooms and showers, a barbecue area, nine sites for tents, and two log cabin rentals, is located a short distance south of Prineville by the Crook County Fairgrounds and is open year round. The Ochoco Lake Campground, with 22 camping spaces, is open seasonally and is located just seven miles east of Prineville. Ochoco Creek Park (pictured at right) is a great place for kids to play and families to spend a sunny Central Oregon afternoon. The Prineville Skate Trac is used all year and offers jumps, ramps, and night lighting for skating enthusiasts.

Prineville supports a library with a collection of over 59,000 items including books, videos, DVDs, reference materials, music, and genealogy support services. The A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum, built in the old Crook County Bank in Prineville, includes a wide range of displays about Crook County history including the City of Prineville Railroad, ups and downs of the timber industry, a military exhibit, and smaller exhibits with depictions of early local history and pioneer life.

The Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville is a wonderful high desert location built on a magnificent lake bottom surrounded by ancient lava flows. From here you can enjoy the outdoors and geological surroundings of Prineville on a 45 minute walk. Crook County Fairground’s continually schedules interesting events including the Crook County Fair. Other events have included an indoor circus and Oregon High School Rodeo Finals.

Prineville is home to Meadow Lakes Golf Course featured in USA Golf Journal. It is a recipient of Golf Digest’s National Environmental Leaders Award. This golf course accentuates the beautiful desert highlands of Prineville.

Many recognize Prineville as the birthplace of Les Schwab, the second largest private tire retailer in the United States. Although Les Schwab relocated to Bend, Oregon in recent years, Prineville continues to grow and thrive.

Prineville is a necessary destination on the way to nearby Prineville Reservoir covering 18 miles of the Crooked River. Prineville Reservoir supports water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, as well as fishing in search of various forms of trout, bass, catfish, crappie, and crayfish. The Prineville Reservoir brings many Central Oregon residents and visitors through Prineville for their summer vacations. A popular spot is Prineville Reservoir State Park with many camping sites including 22 full hookup, 22 electrical, 23 tent, and five log cabin options. A large scale boat dock provides for 32 boat moorages in the summer. Jasper Point Camping and Day-Use area nearby Prineville Reservoir State Park provides an additional 30 electrical camping sites and another boat ramp.

The many offerings found in Prineville and related communities have sparked tremendous growth in Central Oregon over the last decade. This growth has not taken away from Prineville’s appeal. IronHorse is a residential community in Prineville that showcases that many benefits of living in Central Oregon. IronHorse is a mix of community and custom homes located on the site of a former working ranch tucked against Barnes Butte in Prineville.

If you have interest in learning more about IronHorse and what Prineville has to offer, then let the IronHorse residential specialists assist you.