Lake Isabella general area for rural living? (Bakersfield, Tehachapi: new home, quality of life)

[sue-z]

We were planning to relocate to OR but now that the CA market is bad considering looking at closer to current location (high desert). I've not been to the Lake Isabella/Kern River valley area in close to 20 yrs, but liked it at that time, am curious how it is now? What I am interested in is researching the availability of say an acre or two with mfg.home, good water, reasonable price and cost of living for retirees, horse and animal friendly area with quiet rural living? Any locations in the area fit these requirements still? Downsides to life there? I assume closest major shopping would be Bakersfield, how is the traffic and road, I seem to remember it as significant weekend traffic even that long ago?
How bad are the weekenders coming to the area as far as affecting quality of life for permanent residents?
What's the climate like now, is it still a 4 season climate? Thanks for any insights. sue-z

[Roaddog]

Been there many times but i don't know about the housing, the town has grown some and shopping won't be a problem, traffic is no problem, weekenders are fine no problem there, the climate is probably the same, hot in the summer and cold in the winter, I don't like the wind and it seems to blow everyday up there. I don't really know but I would think you could pickup a place for a decent price.

[jdavid93225]

The road (Hwy. 178) through the Kern River Canyon can be treacherous at times. It is a narrow, winding road, and, like most places, people tend to drive too quickly on it. This is the main route between Lake Isabella and Bakersfield. If you lived in the Lake Isabella area, though, I don't think you'd have to make that drive too often. There are major stores in the Isabella area for things like groceries and home improvement products. I'm not sure about department stores, though.

Another place you might want to look would be Tehachapi. It offers more in the way of amenities that Lake Isabella, and is still fairly affordable. It is a larger community, so it should also offer more in the way of housing opportunities. It is about the same distance from Bakersfield, but is along Hwy. 58, which is a much easier drive most of the time.

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by sue-z

We were planning to relocate to OR but now that the CA market is bad considering looking at closer to current location (high desert). I've not been to the Lake Isabella/Kern River valley area in close to 20 yrs, but liked it at that time, am curious how it is now? What I am interested in is researching the availability of say an acre or two with mfg.home, good water, reasonable price and cost of living for retirees, horse and animal friendly area with quiet rural living? Any locations in the area fit these requirements still? Downsides to life there? I assume closest major shopping would be Bakersfield, how is the traffic and road, I seem to remember it as significant weekend traffic even that long ago?
How bad are the weekenders coming to the area as far as affecting quality of life for permanent residents?
What's the climate like now, is it still a 4 season climate? Thanks for any insights. sue-z

I have friends and family who live in that area. I think you can find what you are looking for. Major shopping is still Bakersfield and the same for doctors. They have one hospital and some local doctors but anyone needing a specialist must drive to Bakersfield. The road to Bakersfield can be dangerous and busy at times, no change there. No change in climate, hotter than heck in late summer and cold in winter. Often windy around the Lake. There is some drug life in the area, some areas better than others.

[Fat Freddy]

I heard that Lake Isabella dried up due to the drought.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

I heard that Lake Isabella dried up due to the drought.

You heard wrong, the dam is leaking so they have dropped the level in the lake as a precation, before that the lake was really high, it is very low and looks sad.

The road 178 isn't to bad, I ride it all the time in the summer and sometimes in the winter.
I agree that Tehachapi would be a nicer place to live.

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

I heard that Lake Isabella dried up due to the drought.

I believe what RoadDog said about the dam to be the reason the level is so low. About 15 years ago (maybe even 20), the lake level was really low due to several drought years. Back at that time, there were quite a few people who stopped calling it "Lake Isabella." The name they gave the lake at that time was "Lake Wasabella."

[TrixtersMomma]

Actually, JDavid, being a lifelong Lake Isabella citizen, the knickname for the lake has been "Lake Isapuddle." lol

As far as quiet, rural living, the original poster may want to look at Squirrel Mountain Valley. It is a very nice area, nice homes, very peaceful and quiet.

[NorthernCalifornia]

There are major concerns about the dam. If the dam goes it'll take out 178 and you'll find yourself taking the slow road back down to the valley. Bakersfield will not be worth visiting (as if it were now) after that.

The towns are ok but the way to live out there is out of town. Can be very nice, certainly rural.

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by NorthernCalifornia

There are major concerns about the dam. If the dam goes it'll take out 178 and you'll find yourself taking the slow road back down to the valley. Bakersfield will not be worth visiting (as if it were now) after that.

In November 2007, the US Army Corps of Engineers identified the Lake Isabella Dam as one of six dams that are critically near failure or have extremely high life and/or economic risk.

It's interesting that they recently built all those new homes along the 178 corridor where the Kern River comes out of the pass and heads toward Bakersfield. Wouldn't want to live there if that dam breaks.