Explore the unique charm of McMenamin's Old St. Francis School in Bend, Oregon. Discover McMenamin's historic hotel, pubs, and secret rooms.

McMenamin's Old St. Francis School is located in downtown Bend. It was transformed from a 1936 Catholic schoolhouse to, in 2004, a hotel complete with classrooms-turned-lodging rooms, a pub, a brewery, a movie theater, a private meeting/event space, live music bookings, and a soaking pool. The McMenamin's takes up the entire block and there is so much to see and do here.

McMenamin's Old St. Francis School's main bar is a sight to be seen, and you can sit at the bar or a booth and enjoy some of their hand-crafted brews along with some bar food.

If you leave the bar area, you can walk around the McMenamin's Old St. Francis School. They have pictures of the old students along with benches and memorabilia.

The Bar and Hotel are huge, and I enjoyed walking around the Old School and taking in the sights.

Father Luke's Room holds up to 120 people and is used for weddings, social events, and parties.

There is also another area in the Hotel called the Rambler Room. This also holds gatherings of up to about fifty people. If you wish to book either of these rooms, here is a link to the website to get information. There is even a list of vendors here to help you plan your gathering.

Weddings - Old St. Francis School - McMenamins

If you leave the school area (Main Bar), you will go outside and see a picket fence, and this is another bar called Hugh O'Kane's.

Set in the schoolhouse’s former garage, O’Kane’s is now adorned with church doors – one of which dates back to before the turn of the 20th century – and natural light flooding the numerous stained-glass windows. The rare, historic Povey stained-glass windows were salvaged from a former Elks Lodge in Portland.

The Round Oak stove is from 1896, and there are numerous outdoor firepits year-round. O’Kane’s also features Whiskey in the Shed specialty menus exclusively for their Whiskey Club members.

In 2016, they completed two additional buildings - the Art House and Ed House - bringing the total number of guestrooms to 60. Optional amenities include patios, suites, and kitchenettes, but all rooms have bathrooms.

When you leave Hugh McKane's, you will see on the right the Ed House along with the Parish House.

They honor the property's former life by featuring extensive artwork that pays homage to the history of the school and the surrounding community. Photos, memorabilia, the artists' renderings, and students' artwork are on the walls, making the hotel a unique gallery of sorts. Take note of the unusual custom-made light fixtures and stunning tile mosaics that surround the soaking pool. In the Art and Ed Houses, wander slowly to discover secret hallways, secret rooms, and a secret bar!

Across from the Ed House and the Parish House is the Art House.

The Art House is a fascinating place, and if you want, you can spend the night in one of the rooms here. I would recommend taking a trip to the third floor and looking for the broom closet.

McMenamins is known for having secret rooms, and the Old St. Francis School is no exception. If you go in here, there are brooms all over the walls, a door labeled "Housekeeping," and an Ice machine. Push the walls that have the brooms hanging on them, and you will find a secret room that goes into the Broom Closet Bar. Another bar to hang out at and have a couple of drinks. Because this is a hidden bar, it is small and has about enough room for fifteen people.

If you wander around, you can also find the Old St. Francis Theater. When I came here, there was a documentary showing about the Bend, Oregon area. There was only one person in the theater. but it is free.

The Old St. Francis School is family-friendly and is worth the trip if you are ever in the Bend, Oregon area. The address is 700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, and if you plan on staying the night, you can call them at 541-382-5174. If you come here, you should also check out the last Blockbuster Video Store because it's pretty close.

Things to do in the Area:

• Newberry National Volcanic Monument

• Tumalo Falls

• Deschutes River

• Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway

• Smith Rock State Park

• Goody’s Chocolate and Ice Cream Factory

• Benham Falls

• Lava Lands

• Newberry National Volcanic Monument

• Crater Lake National Park

• The world’s last Blockbuster

• Paulina Lake Hot Springs

• Dee Wright Observatory

Places to Stay:

Hotel Peppertree

Waypoint Hotel

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