Millican: Echoes of a Vanished Dream in Oregon's Desert Heart

Unveiling Millican: A Glimpse into a Deserted Outpost's Lingering Presence

While Oregon is celebrated for its dynamic urban centers and nature-infused retreats, it also harbors a collection of silent ghost towns. Millican, a diminutive and overlooked locality situated between Bend and Brothers, traverses a secluded highway cutting through the Oregon Badlands Wilderness. At its zenith in the early 20th century, Millican was home to just sixty inhabitants. Today, all that endures is a solitary general store and the skeletal remains of an old gas station, its fuel prices perpetually etched in time, serving as a silent reminder of a town that never fully materialized.

The Genesis and Unfolding Saga of Millican, Oregon

Named after George Millican, who established a ranch in the area during the 1800s, the town officially began in 1913 with the opening of the Millican Post Office, a remarkably small facility that once served a handful of regular patrons. The construction of U.S. Highway 20 in the 1930s prompted many residents to seek more prosperous lives elsewhere, leaving only Billy Rahn, who resided alone until selling the town to Bill Mellin in 1946. Mellin managed Millican for 42 years until his death in 1988, following a series of misfortunes that befell his family. After Mellin's passing, the town lay desolate for twelve years before the Resnick family acquired it in 2000, changing hands multiple times thereafter. Despite its various owners, no one remained in Millican for an extended period. In 2017, the entire town was offered for sale at $1.5 million, yet found no buyers, leaving Millican's ultimate destiny uncertain.

Navigating the Desolate Trails to Oregon's Forgotten Millican

Unlike some ghost towns that have been revitalized into popular tourist destinations, Millican has not experienced such a revival. Visitors should not anticipate welcoming signs or quirky gift shops. Instead, the sole remaining testament to its past is the faded "Millican Store" sign adorning the roof of its decaying building. Located approximately 25 miles southeast of Bend, Millican is a mere 30-minute drive via U.S. Highway 20, the very road that contributed to its decline. The closest air travel hub is Redmond Municipal Airport, about a 45-minute drive away. Despite its isolation, the town occasionally draws visitors, with recent social media posts reflecting on past encounters with former caretaker Bill Mellin. For those seeking outdoor adventures, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, spanning over 29,000 acres of high desert landscapes, geological wonders, and ancient volcanoes, lies within Millican's vicinity. Nearby, Dry River Canyon offers a 4.6-mile trail through craggy cliffs and ancient juniper trees, while the Horse Ridge Loop Trail provides a challenging 12.7-mile route ideal for mountain biking.