I’m going to go ahead and make Pendleton another stop on our trip, even though we spent the bulk of our non-car time this day in the Columbia River Gorge. There’s not a whole lot in Pendleton–a high-end woolen mill and a small downtown. But there are a few good restaurants and a rodeo in the fall!
Best Western Pendleton
We stayed the night at the Best Western in town, which was nice enough. But I failed to realize that there was NO ELEVATOR in this two-story hotel, and of course, we were on the second floor! We had to carry our heavy luggage (for the second time that day) up the stairs to our room. But then we consolidated a few things that night so we didn’t have to carry so much in the future.
This Sinclair gas station reminds me of Dinoco in the Pixar movies
Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub
The best thing to come out of our stay at the Best Western was a recommendation for dinner from the front desk. She directed us toward The Prodigal Son Brewery downtown and we were able to get a table on Saturday night with no wait. Well, we waited for our server and we waited for our food, but at least we didn’t wait for a table.
We were pretty disappointed at first and almost gave up during the 30-40 minute wait for our food, but once it came out, we were very happy with it. Mom & I got really lovely salads with chicken, apples, goat cheese, and toasted hazelnuts. Dad ate fish & chips and was pleased. No beer for us, but they have several great options on tap.
Pendleton Woolen Mills
The big factory in town seems to be the Pendleton woolen mill making high-end wool goods for home and to wear. We stopped in before leaving in the morning and they have a lot of really nice offerings. The blankets they gave us in Glacier National Park on the Red Bus Tour were from Pendleton so I thought I might buy one in the outlet for a souvenir. I found one I really liked, but even in the sale section, there wasn’t anything under $99.
You can take a FREE tour of the mills in Pendleton Monday-Friday at 9, 11, 1:30, and 3. We happened to be there on a Sunday, so we didn’t have the opportunity. The store with the sale room in the back is open every day, however.
Pendleton Underground Tours
For $15, you can take a Pendleton Underground Tour of the town’s seamier side. The 90-minute tour walks you through bordellos, Chinese opium dens, gambling halls and other rooms from the wicked days of the wild west.
You must call ahead for the current schedule and no tours are held on Sundays and Tuesdays. No kids under 6, and you need to be able to walk up and down stairs.
Pendleton Round Up
Depending on the time of your visit, you can see a real rodeo! The Pendleton Round-Up happens every September with a huge number of events surrounding a large rodeo arena. Concerts and smaller events sometimes occur at other times of the year, check the event calendar for times during your visit. We just missed it on our trip, but I think it would have been a hoot!
Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s
For the finest dining in Pendleton, of course with a wild west flair, get your steak at Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, a “Pendleton tradition since 1959.” Settle into plush leather booths or sidle up to the saloon bar for your filet mignon or sea scallops. Prices aren’t listed online, so you know they’re high. It seems to be a very old-fashioned place, which could be charming or tired, depending on your mood.
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