"Wilderness Ranch" a nice place to live? (Boise: homeowners association, home)

[snowangels]

Can anyone please give me some pros and cons to this area. Example, if needing to commute, if the weather is bad is it still doable, are forest fires an issue, crime, school system, welcoming to newcomers, etc. Thanks so much

[Torrie]

Originally Posted by snowangels

Can anyone please give me some pros and cons to this area. Example, if needing to commute, if the weather is bad is it still doable, are forest fires an issue, crime, school system, welcoming to newcomers, etc. Thanks so much

Wilderness Ranch is pretty neat area. I would say the main thing you need to be aware of is they can get a lot of snow. I think last year was pretty tough for those who live up there because the snow season had been quite heavy. I think they received somewhere around 72 inches! I'm not sure what they're average snowfall is, but I know 72 inches is not typical. My guess would be somewhere around 30 inches sounds more like it. You can google it, but I'm not sure how accurate that information might be. I've heard that some people leave their cars down below and use a snowmobile to get down the hill and closer to the main road. You're looking at about a 45minute commute to Boise, and possibly a bit longer if there's a heavy snowstorm. The main roads are well maintained so that shouldn't be a problem for you.

The people of Idaho City are very friendly. They like newcomers to know that they may "seem" like simple people, but that doesn't mean they're "simple" minded. I've been told that's a common misconception among new arrivals. I've also heard there's a strong sense of community- people might be stand-offish at first, but once they get to know you, they are very friendly.

Below is the Wilderness Ranch Homeowners Association website, I think it will answer some of your questions:

Welcome to Wilderness Ranch Owners Association - Living in the Boise Idaho Mountains

[lilmonsters]

I have to say that I love the area. The road are always plowed. The highway is always free of snow in a reasonable time. The school is great, and there isn't a lot of crime. The commute is 20 minutes to Boise. 30-40 minutes depending on how slow you want to take the roads in the winter. But living in Boise for a while, it's quicker for me to drive from the subdivision to Boise than from our home in Boise to the same stores. There are no stop lights that you have to worry about, and there isn't any delays on the highway. It's the best of both worlds. The wildlife come right into your yard, the neighbors are great here, and surrounding subdivisions. There is a boat dock near by, and parks to play in. Our subdivision has a place to ski in the winter, and also nearby trails to park and ski. It's an overall wonderful place to live. I highly recommend the area to anyone!