Discover the Last Remaining Blockbuster in Oregon – A Must-Visit Experience

The floor is a patterned gray and the walls are mottled yellow. With the smells of popcorn and plastic in the air and a 90s rom-com playing on TV screens, the scene — of the one remaining Blockbuster — is not just a nostalgic fantasy, it’s a reality in Oregon.

Yes, the world’s last Blockbuster is still operating in the town of Bend, about 160 miles south of Portland.

In the early 2000s, the Blockbuster empire thrived, boasting more than 9,000 locations. However, by the time the company filed for bankruptcy in 2010, only around 1,700 stores were left. Consequently, more than a decade later, only one location remains.

The Last Blockbuster and Its Nostalgic Experience

The experience in Bend is exactly like you remember: you wander the aisles with films categorized by genre, and select your movie. When you head to the cash register — where, of course, there’s merchandise and treats waiting for you — the cashier removes the security tag and adds the movie to your account using an IBM floppy disk computer from the 80s. When you’re finished, you simply return the DVD via the drop box before doing it all over again.

Unique Features of This Iconic Location

As DVD players become scarcer, this final Blockbuster has adopted a different business model compared to stores of the past. The shop now relies primarily on merchandise sales and tourism to sustain its operations. Nevertheless, it remains a functional Blockbuster, and visitors do not need to be locals to partake in the experience.

Anyone with a valid ID can easily create a Blockbuster account for free. Your membership card will even serve as a unique souvenir, crafted by Blockbuster staff. This personal touch adds to the overall charm of the location.

Merchandise Offerings and Visitor Experience

If you’re just passing through, you can pick up merchandise in Blockbuster’s iconic blue and yellow. Hoodies, shirts, and socks are available, many featuring the famous motto, “Be kind, rewind.” This adds a fun, nostalgic element to your visit.

If you can’t remember to rewind your movies, at least you’ll have a memorable experience at the last remaining Blockbuster.

Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for iBestTravel, currently based in Brooklyn. You can find her on Twitter or Instagram.