Opinions about Roseburg Area (Portland, Salem: for sale, custom home, construction)

[yakker]

Where do you think are some of the best locations to settle in the Roseburg area? We will be visiting again in July and August of 07 and are interested in something semi-rural. I loved Glide for the access to the North Umpqua but there's no way I could ever convince my wife to go that country. I'm still working on her though. There's Winston, Winchester, Sutherlin, Oakland, and Myrtle Creek. Which one do you prefer, and why? What sections of Roseburg would be better to avoid when considering a move?

[Clear2land]

Hi Dave:

If you want to live in Roseburg, I would live on the West side of I-5. Just out Garden Valley Boulevard are some nice subdivisions. My second, favorite area is Melrose. I was told there is some nice new homes in Winchester, which is just a bit North of Roseburg. When you find the right house for you, it will likely be in an area you will like.

Vickie was doing some research on weather and Roseburg is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than cities along the Rogue River. Retirees looking for the best weather inland should take a long look at Roseburg. The economy looked real good when I was there in October. Homes in small cities can be a little harder to sell based on the limited number of jobs in small towns like Myrtle Creek or Canyonville. Homes seem to be a good value in Roseburg why, I don’t know. The mountains and rivers that surround Roseburg make it a beautiful place to live. The people who live there are top drawer as well.

I have lived in Roseburg, Salem, and Portland. Of the three, I liked Roseburg best because of the weather and mountains!

Dan

[Clear2land]

Dave, I asked my niece Lisa who lives in Roseburg to comment on the area.

“Myrtle Creek is beautiful but not much there other than the river. We know a family that moved from California that found a little spot there that is stunning. They have a little pond. Beautiful home too.

I live in S. Roseburg in a little area called Green. Winston is closer to us than Roseburg, and I wouldn't suggest Winston.

Winchester has nice homes, but not very rural. Oakland, I haven't been there much. Nice place to visit, but I don't think I'd move there. Sutherlin is really developing. I know they have some nice homes, not sure about how rural it is, and where they have property.

I honestly would prefer Roseburg. And you have the right idea. Well if you turn up there, their are some really stunning homes. Keep driving past them. If you go far enough, their is like a little community up their on the mountain. Huge estates!

Out Garden Valley if you keep driving and don't take the turn to River Forks Park there are many semi-private roads with beautiful country, very secluded homes. I always have dreamed of someday having the money and building my own little oasis out there.

Love, Lisa”

[grapeguy]

Originally Posted by yakker

I loved Glide for the access to the North Umpqua but there's no way I could ever convince my wife to go that country. I'm still working on her though.

Glide caught my attention as well. I've never visited the area, but did some on line research on some properties near there.
It looks fantastic (at least for 3 seasons) for outdoor activities.

One thing that was a little surprising though was the comparison of a few weather data between Roseburg and Glide, even though they supposedly differ in elevation by only about 200ft:
Annual Precip was 33" for Roseburg, vs. 48" in Glide

and (sourced from the Western Regional Climate Center)
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmor.html :

Growing degree days (base 50) was 2760 for Roseburg, but only 2071 for Idleyld Park (4mi E of Glide, 300ft higher than Roseburg).
(For example, 2760 is an ideal, Bordeaux region-like number for growing fine wine grapes, but 2071 is too considered little heat summation to grow any kind of wine grapes)

Also, the 90% frost free probability period is 250 days for Roseburg, but only 165 for Idleyld.

So if horticulture is your thing, better to stick with Roseburg.

[seashelly]

I 'happened' upon an pretty area recently just before you reach the town of Glide, along the Little River Road. Maybe some of you Roseburg people are familar with the area and can add something to this but it was just west of Roseburg about 15 minutes out along the 4-lane highway and then right about another 10 minutes up a 2-lane highway near a covered bridge. We were stopped there during road construction when I noticed all the new large homes with land and it looked like a growing residential area. This looked like the new urban sprawl of Roseburg with an easy drive into the town for work and shopping. I'm kind of curious to see what others have to say about this area.

[yakker]

Dan and Lisa,

Thanks for the responses, that's the really good specific information I was looking for. I've heard about Melrose from several different sources and now we'll be sure to check it out.

Grapeguy and Seashelly, thank you also for your responses about the Glide area. We stayed at two different places in Glide, one of which I would gladly recommend, and if anyone wants to know which one, just PM me and I'll tell you about it so I don't get in trouble with the Administrator. I forgot the name of the river that we followed looking at homes until you named it Seashelly. Little River is beautiful and joins the North Umpqua right in Glide, where they have a nice outlook at the confluence of the rivers. You're right, the houses that line Little River are really nice, we even followed some for sale signs and found a small development with custom homes on about 2.5 acres each. One of them overlooked the small valley below and my wife and I had a Kodac moment right there, dreaming of being able to live in that house and waking up to the sights they must see out of their livingroom window to the valley below. There are actually quite a few homes for sale in the area, and the prices seem reasonable. That particular developement was more than we're looking to pay though, with prices in the high 400's and low 500's.

There could be no pictures taken that could do justice to the beauty of the North Umpqua. I think it's just something you have to experience. However, here are a few in the general area of Glide and a little further east.

I took our camera on our raft trip with the intent of taking some pictures of the rapids, but I was doing good just to keep myself inside the boat.

Umpqua River

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There are a lot of places with submerged rock shelves that project into the river. This one was below the place we were staying and this picture was taken from the balcony outside out room.
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Just down the road is Susan Creek Falls, which is an easy hike.
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The trail to the falls at Tokatee is a rougher hike.
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Tokatee Lake
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Thanks again,
Dave

[seashelly]

... I forgot the name of the river that we followed looking at homes until you named it Seashelly. Little River is beautiful and joins the North Umpqua right in Glide, where they have a nice outlook at the confluence of the rivers....

I believe that area is referred to as Colliding Rivers. That in itself sounds treacherous to me. lol. By the way, your pictures are awesome. Yep, looks like Oregon. Today we're dealing with some gusty 100 mph winds here along the coast along with another awesome storm but I'm looking forward to getting back to exploring that area again in the Springtime.