David Keyte’s view of Prineville
“natural playground with a country soul.”
David Keyte uses that description to open his Prineville tour. The outing connects local businesses with time outside: the workshop visit and Barnes Butte stop show a town you can explore through its people as well as its landscape.
“It’s a true escape and a stunningly gorgeous drive.”
That is David’s reaction to the Crooked River Highway portion of the episode. For a day trip, the canyon drive is part of the experience, rather than simply the road to the reservoir. The route below keeps those stops together while separating the filmed experience from current access and market information.
David Keyte, host of Bend Relo’s Check It Out series. Watch David’s episode on YouTube.
Prineville has its own pace and personality. This Check It Out episode takes us beyond a passing look at downtown: into a local furniture workshop, up toward Barnes Butte, through a beer-garden stop, and along the Crooked River toward Prineville Reservoir.
It is a good introduction to a Central Oregon outing with room for local craft, high-desert scenery, and an evening under the stars. You can enjoy the tour as a day-trip idea without turning it into a real-estate decision.
Watch the Prineville episode
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Meet the maker behind the furniture
One of the episode’s most interesting stops is the HyCutz furniture workshop. David talks with Josh about the cedar chairs and the process behind them. In the interview, Josh describes sourcing reclaimed wood and working with people in the region.
That conversation is worth watching for its own sake. It puts a person and a process behind something you might otherwise only notice on a patio or in a staged home. The interview is a look at his work and approach at the time of filming.
Get outside at Barnes Butte
The tour then heads toward Barnes Butte for a look across the valley. The appeal is the change in perspective: open high-desert space and a chance to get moving as part of the day.
Choose a route that suits your group and check current trail information before starting. Exposed terrain and changing weather make water, sun protection, and appropriate footwear sensible additions. Use the city’s parks and trails directory as a starting point for local recreation information. The episode is a scenic introduction, not a turn-by-turn trail map.
Take a food-and-drink break
Creekside Beer Garden is the episode’s casual gathering stop. The video shows a food-truck and outdoor-seating setting, a useful reminder that a day outside can also include time to sit, eat, and catch up.
The Travel Oregon listing identifies it as a Prineville food-truck pod and beer garden. Check current vendors and operating hours when planning a visit. There is no need to assume the same trucks or menu will be there every day.
Follow the Crooked River toward the reservoir
The final stretch of the episode follows the canyon toward Prineville Reservoir. Oregon State Parks describes a 15-mile-long, 3,000-acre reservoir and a certified International Dark Sky Park. Those clear nights are part of the draw, but dark-sky certification does not mean there is no light pollution at all.
Plan the water portion around current conditions. Low water can close boat ramps or change access, so check the park’s notices before towing a boat or choosing a launch. Day-use parking requires a permit. If you are visiting the designated day-use area after hours to stargaze, the park provides a stargazing permit to display in your vehicle.
Let the visit answer your questions
The original 2025 video also discusses home prices and the local economy. Those figures belong to that period; they are not current market quotes. If you are thinking about living here, spend time on the routes and errands that would shape an ordinary week, then compare specific homes and their full costs.
Start with the Check It Out collection for more Central Oregon tours. When you want to explore housing, use our property search or ask us about the places you are considering.
Talk with David & the Bend Relo team
Buying, selling, relocating, or evaluating a specific property? Tell us what you are working through. We are happy to help.
