Springville vs Three Rivers (Porterville, Nice: apartments, rentals, houses)

[cinhawaii]

What can you all tell me about Springville? I grew up going to a ranch in Three Rivers and I looooved it. Any thoughts on their comparisons ( or which is better) I would be looking there but I am a social worker in Corrections, so I am hoping to get a job at Mountain Home (is that the name? If anyone knows anything about that place please let me know. All I know is that it exists!) Here is a little about me I am a very liberal bi-sexual single mother and vegetarian. I am from LA an live in Hawaii now. I have never lived in snow but really want to. That said I am from LA and live in Hawaii what do I know about cold? Nothing...so it cant get too too cold. I want to raise my daughter in a beautiful place with a good community feel. I love Sequoia National Park, and which I could live there cuz I want to live in a forest. I love the rain and water, so we'd need a lake or river to swim in. I hate trafficI am young (26) and would like at least some people around my age. Are there any fast food places, or would we need to go to Porterville. Are there any apartments or do people rent houses there? I am not ready to buy yet. Any crime/drugs? How are the schools? How are the summers are they miserable? Are there lots of snakes?I think that covers most of it, but I may add more later. Thank you soooo much. Also, pix are always appreciated

[Roaddog]

I would think Springville is your best bet if you want to work at Mountain Home, Sprigville is a nice quiet town. I've been by Mountain Home a hundred times but I'm not sure what it is, I know the prisoners fight fires and such and I tried to search it but came up empty handed. Good luck

[cinhawaii]

Thank you for trying to look that up, I couldn't find anything either

[James1975]

Springville is SMALL but widespread. In my opinion I would live there BEFORE Porterville. Besides, Pottyville is only a 15 minute drive.

Yes, there are rattlesnakes, scorpions, black-widows, mtn lions and other dangerous creatures out there. There's not much to do in Springville although the you're in the foothills and are REALLY close to the mountains. You are CLOSE to snow but probably won't see much of it unless you travel up the Mountain.

Summers are HOT......winters are foggy and 50's

[Beth56]

Balch County Park is in the middle of Mountain Home State Forest, part of Sequoia National Forest above Springville. It's a wilderness area, so you aren't going to find anything but bears and campers up there. It is very beautiful though, been there several times, but remote.

Springville is extremely hot in the summer. Hope you like cowboys and rodeo's because you will find plenty there. Not sure about fast food places but there are several good places to eat.

There is another area we love to visit if you travel up Hwy 190 from Springville to Camp Nelson. Nice area. Great fishing in the Tule River. Lots of vacation rentals or stay at the Camp Nelson Lodge.

And further up the road is Ponderosa. Lot's of snow up there in the winter months. Ponderosa Lodge is about the only place to eat up there. In this area you will find the Golden Trout Wilderness. Dan Shew operates wilderness pack trains in this area and in Balch Park I believe. We once took a day trip by horseback to fish. Fabulous.

I also love the Three Rivers area...

[gypsy27]

Originally Posted by Beth56

Balch County Park is in the middle of Mountain Home State Forest, part of Sequoia National Forest above Springville. It's a wilderness area, so you aren't going to find anything but bears and campers up there. It is very beautiful though, been there several times, but remote.

Springville is extremely hot in the summer. Hope you like cowboys and rodeo's because you will find plenty there. Not sure about fast food places but there are several good places to eat.

There is another area we love to visit if you travel up Hwy 190 from Springville to Camp Nelson. Nice area. Great fishing in the Tule River. Lots of vacation rentals or stay at the Camp Nelson Lodge.

And further up the road is Ponderosa. Lot's of snow up there in the winter months. Ponderosa Lodge is about the only place to eat up there. In this area you will find the Golden Trout Wilderness. Dan Shew operates wilderness pack trains in this area and in Balch Park I believe. We once took a day trip by horseback to fish. Fabulous.

I also love the Three Rivers area...

Beth, I think I befriended you before... I apologize for not responding...
I have been trying to find info on Camp Nelson, CA. You see, my husband and I are going to be inheriting a cabin there that used to belong to his Grandfather. We are seriously considering moving there with our two kids (ages 2 and 7) at some point; and would just like some basic info about the place. I realize it is tiny, only 180 year round residents according to city-data... but the scenery looks beautiful, and we love to camp and fish, etc. My husband will have the option to work from home, so a commute to porterville wouldnt be necessary. Is there anything in particular you know about the place? There is very limited info on the web. Specifically, how remote does the place "feel"? I don't want to be next to a metropolis; but still want to be able to stock up on food and other things as needed... You are the only person on here that actually referenced Camp Nelson, as far as I can tell. ; ) Thanks for any info you can offer.

[gypsy27]

CinHawaii,

Did you end up moving to the Three Rivers area? My husband and I and our two kids are contemplating moving to Camp Nelson, CA from Virginia... we will be living in a rustic old cabin.... ; ) please let me know what the place is like in general, and whether you and your daughter have made a happy home there... Thanks!

[Clarks]

At Camp Nelson, you will see sweet peas along the roads. My grandfather planted them in the 1930's. I know a bit about the place, and the area, if you have specific questions, ask and maybe I will have an answer. If you want an interesting story about fishing in the area 80 years ago PM me and I will give you the story.

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by gypsy27

Beth, I think I befriended you before... I apologize for not responding...
I have been trying to find info on Camp Nelson, CA. You see, my husband and I are going to be inheriting a cabin there that used to belong to his Grandfather. We are seriously considering moving there with our two kids (ages 2 and 7) at some point; and would just like some basic info about the place. I realize it is tiny, only 180 year round residents according to city-data... but the scenery looks beautiful, and we love to camp and fish, etc. My husband will have the option to work from home, so a commute to porterville wouldnt be necessary. Is there anything in particular you know about the place? There is very limited info on the web. Specifically, how remote does the place "feel"? I don't want to be next to a metropolis; but still want to be able to stock up on food and other things as needed... You are the only person on here that actually referenced Camp Nelson, as far as I can tell. ; ) Thanks for any info you can offer.

Camp Nelson is pretty isolated. There is a general store in town where most staples like milk and bread can be picked up. But most services are in Springville which is about 16 miles down the winding mountain road. I believe Springville may be where the only schools are requiring your children to be bused daily. I know there is a gas station at the top of the mountain in Ponderosa. But there is lots of snow in winter at the Ponderosa. But what a beautiful area. Pierpoint Springs may have gas but otherwise that would also be something found in Springville. And no shopping that I know of for clothing, shoes, household items, etc.

Camp Nelson has a volunteer fire and rescue where anyone needing medical attention would be taken down the mountain. No doctors or dentists nearby to my knowledge. There are a couple of places to eat around town. Used to be pretty good when I was last there. Lots of rentals in the area used for vacation homes.

The area also includes an abundance of animal life. You may find deer, bear, etc. wandering around your cabin. Fishing was great along the Tule River, but with so many cutbacks in the Forestry department, I'm not sure if they are still planting the trout in area streams.

The community seems pretty tight. Everyone knows each other. I always thought it was a friendly area. But there's no night life unless you count one of the local bars. I'm not sure what they might have if anything for kids to do. This is the sort of area where activities would be at home. During the summer months things pick up and you will find music festivals, chili cook offs, etc. But all-in-all I consider the area remote. You must be able to keep yourselves busy and happy without any community activities. I'm not sure how many children are in the area.

The Internet should be available as I know the Real Estate offices have it. I believe propane is used for heating and cooking. Pretty sure all homes are on a septic. The winters are cold and the summers maybe around 90 degrees. So cabin insulation would be a consideration for full-time living.

Camp Nelson and Springville are neighbors, but I don't want to steal this thread from the OP, so please DM me and I will answer any other questions you have if I can.

Beth

[Clarks]

Fishing was great along the Tule River, but with so many cutbacks in the Forestry department, I'm not sure if they are still planting the trout in area streams.

A note on nomenclature. In California, "Forestry Department", refers to California Department of Forestry, now known as Calfire, the majority of their work is firefighting.

The Federal service, the folks that run the National Forests is the Forest Service, referred to as, the Forest Service, not forestry, although people do that. In addition there is only one Ranger per district, that is the title of the person who runs the district. The Federal employees we usually see in the forests are usually titled, forestry technicians.

Fish planting is done by the state, Department of Fish and Game, a separate entity from CDF (Calfire).