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Mitchell, Oregon: Henry the Bear (Closed)

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Directions:
Take US 26 to Mitchell, then turn south onto Main St. Henry is in a cage on the north side of Main, at the Little Pine Truck Stop, which is the town's only gas station.
Hours:
No longer at the gas station.
Status:
Closed

Henry the Bear and Hugh.

Henry the Bear

Henry weighed 800 pounds and lived in a comfortable cage next to Mitchell's only gas station.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [09/13/2009]
Mitchell, Oregon - Henry The Bear, Chick Magnet
Henry The Bear: Hugh Reed, the human friend of Henry the Bear, has observed a measurable difference between the way that women and men react to his 800 lb. black bruin. [09/14/2009] Complete Story...

Henry the Bear video.

Mitchell, Oregon - Snack Time for Henry the Bear
Henry the Bear:

The town bear, Henry, enjoyed devouring snacks with his friend Hugh. We climbed in the cage with the 800-lb cookie monster... briefly.

Watch Video.

Visitor Tips and News About Henry the Bear

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Henry the Bear

Henry and Hugh. Hugh spotted me and my kids eating in the diner across the street 4 years ago. He told them to go get an apple, and they could feed it to his bear. Needless to say, they were ecstatic. Not one of my proud mother moments, having a loved child feed a bear, but ah well, they still live. And Hugh is HUGE, and I am fairly sure could take the bear on if something happened.

Everyone needs to layoff the first post-er. In 2002, Mitchell did have the store in a trailer, it was a kick. Run by an ol' timer that everyone knew. You could buy interesting things in there, but had to watch the past due dates. That is now closed. There is also a trailer at the other end of town, next to the road. At one point a rummage sale type store, now it looks like a home. So, if you were going to go whizzing through town in 2002, you would see a couple trailers, one of them the grocery, a bunch of closed store fronts, and the Blueberry Muffin Cafe. It is different now, and a bunch of owners trying to create a viable business district. They are the closest place to the Painted Hills! A Last Note: And the hotel on the hill -- The Skyhook is not the Bates! Becky and Dennis are astoundingly nice folk and run a very clean and quiet place.

[Andrea M., 04/18/2009]

Henry and Pam share a snack.

Henry the Bear

Henry the Bear is still very much a part of downtown Mitchell.

Depending on his mood (Henry, not Hugh!), Hugh will offer up an invite to buy an apple from the store across the street and come in to the cage to feed Henry.

If it's offered, take it! You'll be treated to a very snuffly and sweet bear kiss as Henry eats the apple out of your mouth. Definitely a rare and memorable stop in this great little old town.

[Pam Falcioni, 01/12/2009]

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