LaPine (Bend, Prineville: to live in, moving to, commute to)

[Faithatwindermere]

La Pine is beautiful most times of the year. The mosquitoes are Huge! Don't let the little dogs run out of site or the coyotes will get them. It is a boom town though because of its affordable housing and proximity to Bend. Oh, and she is right about the gardening. Only native plants thrive unless you grow in containers and raised beds that you have truck in the soil for. We owned property out there for 3 years. I loved the winter but it was to hot in the summer and I couldn't take the mosquitoes. It is rural OR and you need to go to Bend if you want more than home cooked food or a good theater.

[reel_scream]

Just wondering about life in La Pine, can anyone give us some details, schools,enviroment, way of life, crime, etc? As I said we are moving up there come this summer/fall, just looking for some imput. Taking a ride up next weekend to check things out.

[reel_scream]

Thanks Faith for the info. How hot is to hot for you in the summer?

[Gary Wright]

LaPine is indeed growing and property prices are lower than Bend, but not by much. Summer heat can reach 90's, 100 for a couple days, but cools down to 40/50's at night. Yep, it's rural, has a sherrif's office substation, good fire dept., nice library, good school system and has it's share of crime. Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and winter sports are all close. It is advisable keeping property brush free because of forest fires. If you want more rural living try Silver Lake, Crescent, Sprague River, Paisley.

[bobmulk]

LaPine is a good area to invest in right now. It's commutable to Bend and recently voted to incorporate. This means that development will be coming because eventually they'll have to have sewer and water and an urban growth boundary and enough land zoned for development. Since Bend has gotten so exhorbitant, everyone is moving to the outer areas. LaPine is poised to explode. I wish I had $150K.

[heidinbend]

yeah I have heard it has gotten better.. used to be pretty rednecky...lol no really beautiful , growing, but stillpretty small and rural

[reel_scream]

My wife and I visited LaPine last weekend, found a place called Ponderosa Pines and love the area. Friend of ours came down from Terrabone and took back all the misconceptions they had been told. Definatly rural, but compared to the place in CA that we are moving from, this place is about the same. Big difference, is about 20 years of growth with no industry and no incorporation. Mckinleyville Ca. had the reputation of a red neck town (where horses have the right of way). Now it is the bedroom community for Eureka and Arcata which is the home of Humboldt State Un. Cute town on the ocean, wish I would have purchased 10 lots.

Rob

[sweeetcharity]

We moved to Duluth, Minnesota from Alaska almost 5 years ago and are ready to head back West, but aren't ready to go all the way back up to Alaska. We are still enjoying being able to drive places to go exploring. We went out to Oregon last summer hoping Medford would be the place - but disliked the area so much we didn't even stop there. We did enjoy Bend, but all the houses available for less than half a million are in la Pine and Prineville. Where in Oregon (or Washington) has winter, summers not too hot, is green, is a large enough community to find jobs and facilitate kids' activities, but affordable enough that a middle income family can have an acre or two of land and DOESN'T rain 6 months of the year?
I was leaning strongly towards LaPine and we have been looking at houses - but the concerns expressed here about the schools and bad roads and lack of local entertainment/ activity opportunities have me second guessing.
Thank you to the original poster and all those who have replied - your experience and advice have been deeply appreciated. I hope more discussion follows - and that those of you actually making the move keep us posted. ; )

[reel_scream]

There are plenty of lots/houses that are on a paved road and are very nice and are affordable (buyers market). Night life, not much but Sunriver and Bend are 15 min and 30 min away. Schools fall in Bend district and is dictated by them. Our opinion of the schools after touring, meeting staff and Priciple is good. Poorer area, but dynamics are changing and most important thing to remember is schools are about faculty. Stay involved and things will be fine in a good district!!!
Growing area, good value {advertisemnet cut} are top notch!!!!!!!!

[wutnamenow]

Got a question about the job market in Lapine, Oregon. What types of jobs are available there? Just being a nosey mom of a son chasing a GF there. So those that live there and read this, let me know so that I can sleep at night, or maybe not.
Thanks a bunch!!!