Where Oregon History Lives at Every Table

At Worthy Brewing, you’re not just sitting down for a beer. You’re sitting inside a story. The bar tops, tables, and benches throughout the pub are crafted from Douglas fir timber salvaged from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem — the very place where One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was filmed in 1975. What was once part of one of the most iconic film locations in American history now lives on here, woven into every pint poured and every meal shared.

A Piece of Cinematic History

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on Ken Kesey’s novel, went on to become one of the most celebrated films of all time — winning all five major Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was filmed entirely in Oregon. And today, part of that story lives right here in Bend. There is no other bar in the world where you can say that.

Collected with Intention

This wasn’t an accident. It was a pursuit. For Worthy founder Roger Worthington, the connection to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest began long before Worthy existed. In 1975, while growing up in Corvallis, he found himself at Gill Coliseum during filming, where he met Michael Douglas as the production captured scenes from the now-iconic story. That moment sparked a lasting fascination with Ken Kesey, the novel, and the film that would go on to define a piece of Oregon’s cultural identity. Years later, that early connection became something tangible. Roger tracked down timber from the Oregon State Hospital with a collector’s level of dedication, determined to preserve a meaningful piece of that history and give it new life. What emerged is more than a design choice. It’s a deeply personal connection, a story that began in 1975 and now lives on in every table, every pint, and every guest experience at Worthy.

A Pub That Doubles as a Museum

Look around, and you’ll see the story continue beyond the wood itself. Signed photos, film memorabilia, Ken Kesey quotes, and hidden details throughout the space turn the pub into something deeper than a place to eat and drink. It becomes a place to discover. Ken Babbs, Kesey’s lifelong friend and fellow Merry Prankster, has even visited Worthy to share stories from that era, bringing the history full circle.