Bear Valley and Surrounding Residential Communities

Bear Valley

Today's Bear Valley is a master planned community, founded in 1954 by cattleman Bruce Orvis. It was a highway toll station from 1863 to 1910, and for thousands of years before that it was a summer home to the Washo Tribe. The Old Subdivision has dirt roads and no architectural controls. The New Subdivision has paved county roads, underground utilities, and architectural controls. Subdivision roads are not plowed in winter; homeowners and guests park in community lots in the village center and go over the snow to the cabins. There's a well organized oversnow transport system. Condominiums and shops in the village center area are always accessible by car.

Fast Facts:

426 Single Family Lots
271 Single Family Homes
160 Condominium Units

Fees and Assessments:

Lake Alpine Water Company - Water - $339 Qtr
Bear Valley Water District - Sewer - $229.50 Qtr

Sky High Ranch

Ski High Ranch, 5 miles west of Bear Valley, has 249 lots, a mutual water system, and paved county roads. The first stretch of Skyline Drive is plowed up to the clubhouse/pond area.

Fast Facts:

Fees and Assessments:

Homeowner's Association Dues: $900 per year
includes Water, Snowremoval

Tamarack

Tamarack (originally known as Onion Valley) is actually 3 small subdivisions, begun in the 1930's. Dirt roads, overhead utilities, no architectural controls, mutual water system.

Sherman Acres

Sherman Acres was home to the Lombardi family's dairy cattle operation plus sawmill until the creation of the subdivision in the 1930's. Dirt roads, overhead utilities, no architectural controls, mutual water system.

Lake Alpine

Lake Alpine is the best stocked trout lake next to a highway at this elevation anywhere in California. The Lake Alpine Lodge offers cabin rentals, bar, restaurant, and store. Tucked in the trees around the Lodge are 45 summer cabins on Forest Service land. The cabins rarely come up for sale.