Joshua Savage wrote “100 Things to Do in Bend, Oregon Before You Die,” a travel guide chock full of entertainment, culture, recreation activities when he was a relatively new resident of Bend. A Memphis native, Savage settled in Central Oregon with his wife and two daughters after spending a year on the road.

On Sept. 15, Savage releases a new book with Reedy Press that delves deeper into stories of Bend’s past and present and uncovers some of Central Oregon’s more unusual narratives.

“Secret Bend, Oregon: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” formatted similarly to Savage’s previous travel guide, is also part of a nationwide series and written in easy-to-digest blurbs that are approximately 400 words.

The forthcoming book allowed Savage to explore the stories of well-known and not-so-known landmarks, he said.

“The Secret (Bend, Oregon) was a chance for me to dig a little bit deeper into the history of some of these places that I’ve come across and that people visit all the time. Everybody knows Pilot Butte, most people know about some of the hot springs, but they don’t know how it got its name, or this or that,” he said.

From the archives

Q&A with author Joshua Savage in 2019

Savage’s research led him to a Hobbit House on the south side of Bend, pristine lakes, mysterious balancing rocks, colorful alley art and other local peculiarities that illustrate the region. Additional points of interest include petrified wood stumps at Drake Park and a collection of over 300 belt buckles at L & K’s Barber Shop in downtown Bend.

Central Oregon author events

Meet Savage at an upcoming event promoting the book’s publication, beginning with Sisters Festival of Books on Sept. 15, Roundabout Books’ author event on Sept. 21 and at Desperado Boutique during downtown Bend’s First Friday Art Walk in November.

“Secret Bend, Oregon” is available for preorder on Roundabout Books’ website, a purchase which waives the $5 general admission fee to attend Roundabout Books’ author event.