Celebrating Maupin’s Centennial Year
As the entire world emerges from a two-year pandemic, our little town of Maupin is waking up to another very special reason to celebrate: Our centennial anniversary! Maupin as a city has been around a lot longer than 100 years, but the great fire in 1921 meant that the city, if incorporated, could get federal funding to rebuild. And so it was done in May, 1922. Originally known as Hunts Ferry, the town was renamed Maupin in 1909 after local rancher and ferry owner, Howard Maupin. A long-time logging community, there were once three gas stations in town and the Mountain Fir Lumber Company ran its operations in both Maupin and Tygh Valley. Situated at the confluence of Oregon’s High Desert, Columbia River Gorge & foothills of Mt. Hood, Maupin has long attracted outdoor enthusiasts, particularly those seeking the flowing waters of the Deschutes. Recreational tourism, centered on fly fishing and river rafting , has been the economic driver since the end of the logging industry, which had run it’s course by the 1980’s. Nowadays, Maupin attracts visitors from across the state, all over the USA, and yes, even across the world. Folks can come for the day, stay the night at one of our locally owned hotels or often embark on a multi-day trip down the Deschutes. To mark our centennial anniversary year, the City of Maupin, the Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce, and other local partners are planning a summer-long series of events which will encompass all the best of what Maupin has to offer.
MAY 21st:
Maupin Daze
Kicking off the celebrations will be the return of our annual Maupin Daze community gathering on Saturday May 21st. The parade will open the day, and the whole town will be abuzz with activity: A street fair with dozens of craft and food vendors, a petting zoo, the Dig N’ Hoe Garden Club’s famous plant sale, live music from local bands, and local history storytelling to name a few. Dancers and drummers from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will offer a performance and the Legion Hall will be open for folks who’d like to bring in their Maupin memorabilia and historical items for display. Southern Wasco County Library will be hosting a book sale, and the new, updated edition of Chaff in the Wind will be for sale. Exclusive Maupin 100 swag that highlights the town’s centennial celebration year will be for sale at downtown retailers as well. This will be a full day of fun for the whole family and will set the tone for the rest of an exciting year in Maupin’s history.
JUNE 11th:
Maupin Madness
The Maupin Madness motorcycle rally will be in town on Saturday, June 11th bringing hundreds of bikers from across the western states. In its 9th year, riders will have the option of choosing from 4 different routes and the event will culminate in a raffle giveaway of a BMW R18 motorcycle. More information and tickets about Maupin Madness can be found at MaupinMadness.com.
JUNE 30th:
In a Landscape, Classical Music in the Wild
Maupin will welcome pianist Hunter Noak for a very special outdoor concert on the banks of the Deschutes. Dubbed a “soundtrack to your outdoor experience” Hunter’s ’In a Landscape’ series selects places of rich natural beauty as the backdrop for an immersive listening experience whereby music is transmitted to the audience via wireless headphones (which are provided). The result is an audience free to move about and explore the landscape as they listen – creating a rich & unique concert experience. In a Landscape events are offered primarily in rural communities and tickets will be free to local residents. Watch for posters and social media promotion.
SEPTEMBER 25th & 26th:
Ride Row Run
Finally, closing out the season of Maupin’s centennial year, will be our Ride Row Run event on Saturday and Sunday, September 25th and 26th. This super-fun and active weekend will include a corn hole tournament, tricycle race, city-wide BBQ, live music, and will be just in time to mark the completion of the Deschutes River Athletic Complex – Maupin’s brand new olympic training facility. The event will culminate Sunday with the namesake Ride-Row-Run triathlon! A 26-mile bike loop along the Deschutes scenic route, followed by a 3-mile paddle down river and then a 4-mile run back to the finish line. This will be an exhausting and fabulous display of athleticism by locals and guest participants. So, beloved community, mark your calendars! You won’t want to miss out on the fun. For those interested in volunteering at any of the events, please reach out to coordinator@maupinoregon.com The Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Maupin will be working to promote these events and you will see fliers, posters and social media campaigns as the summer season approaches.
