Several years ago, I organized the Central Oregon Tour of Barns, a self-guided event designed to celebrate the unique agricultural and equestrian properties that make our region so special. The idea was inspired by the traditional tour-of-homes format, but with a Central Oregon twist — instead of living rooms and kitchens, we opened the doors to barns, arenas, ranch facilities, and rural properties of all shapes and sizes.
The tour brought together a wide variety of participants, from large professional training facilities to small private horse properties, working ranches, rescues, and even art studios located on farm and ranch land. Visitors were able to travel from stop to stop at their own pace, meeting owners, learning about different setups, and getting a firsthand look at the diverse ways people live and work with animals in Central Oregon.
One of the things that made the Tour of Barns special was that it wasn’t just about real estate — it was about community. The event gave people a chance to connect with local trainers, breeders, farmers, artists, and ranch owners, while also giving the public a rare opportunity to see behind the gates of properties they might otherwise only drive past. Demonstrations, open houses, and educational stops helped make the day feel more like a celebration of the rural lifestyle than a traditional tour.
The event was very well received, and over the years I have had many people ask if we will bring the Tour of Barns back. It is something I would love to do again in the future when the timing is right. Central Oregon continues to grow, but the interest in acreage properties, horse facilities, and working land is as strong as ever, and events like this are a great way to showcase what makes this area unique.
While there are no confirmed dates yet, the possibility of a future Tour of Barns is definitely still on the table — and when it returns, the goal will be the same as before:
to highlight the people, properties, and lifestyle that define rural Central Oregon.
