Jefferson County's only McDonald's is coming back — bigger and better than before. After six months of waiting on permits and navigating insurance, construction has officially begun on the Madras restaurant that's been dark since a fire on February 20.

Owner Paul Rodby confirmed that permits are secured and work is underway. The rebuild is expected to take up to three months, putting a grand opening on track for late 2026.

"We're excited to get going again and appreciate the Madras community for their patience over all these months!" — Paul Rodby, owner

How It Started

Employees arriving for an early morning shift on February 20 discovered smoke at the front of the building and called fire crews. Firefighters found active flames at the drive-thru window. The restaurant was closed that day and didn't reopen — the damage requiring a full rebuild rather than a simple repair.

In the months since, Rodby kept his Madras crew employed by reassigning more than 30 workers to his Redmond and Prineville locations — a move that kept local paychecks coming while the rebuild timeline sorted itself out.

What's New

The rebuilt McDonald's won't simply restore what was there before. Rodby outlined a comprehensive upgrade package:

  • A state-of-the-art kitchen with updated commercial equipment
  • A fully renovated dining room
  • An upgraded Playplace for families
  • An expanded drive-thru featuring a third window for faster order fulfillment

The third drive-thru window is the headline improvement for regular customers — it's designed to reduce bottlenecks during the morning rush along US-97 and US-26, one of Central Oregon's busiest highway corridors. The McDonald's serves both Madras locals and a steady stream of travelers passing through on the way to Bend, Portland, or the coast.

Hiring Coming This Fall

For Jefferson County job seekers, the reopening brings a concrete opportunity: Rodby plans to hire 30 to 40 new employees when the restaurant reopens. Those interested in applying are encouraged to watch the McDonald's careers website and local social media channels for announcements as the opening date approaches.

The late 2026 target puts the reopening squarely in the holiday season — welcome timing for a community that's been making the drive to Redmond or Prineville for a Big Mac since February.