Looking for info about the area of Cave Junction, Oregon (Medford: sale, real estate)

[freedom]

Originally Posted by westvillemama

There is absolutely no public transportation in CJ.

THere is a bus that goes to Grants pass.

It's a fairly isolated and economically depressed rural community.

Tourism dependant.

The highway which runs through town (scenic route 101) is a main route from Grants Pass to California

Actually its hwy. 199

but not much happens around town. AFA karaoke bars, none that I know of, although there are bars.

THey do have a couple Karaoke nights in town.

No senior activities either.

THere is a senior center and there is a golf course that is being completely redone with hundreds of home sites being developed around it.

There is one state cop which serves the entire southern Josephine County, according to my grandparents, so property and nuiscance crimes are pretty much ignored.

THere is a Sheriff substation that is manned by County Sheriffs, and there are also 2 state officers that patrol Hwy. 199 daily.

There's a good sized population of hippes, as well as hardcore conservative libertarians about.

they are dying off due to malnutrition and emphysema.

A quaint, quiet, pristine little country town it is not. Poverty is quite high, boredom amongst the youth is also quite high.

WHere are kids not bored? I grew up in So. Ca. and we always said we were bored.......

My grandpa rides his little golf cart into town every day to have coffee with the other old guys at a diner, but that's all he's got to do for social activities.

Maybe that's all he needs.

There just aren't any resources. The high school's funding gets cut year after year, there's not really anything in the way of activity centers or community programs or community service.

The High school budget goes up every year, it is controlled by the state.

It's a great place to move if you don't mind driving 25 miles to Grants Pass for work every day??

This is accurate.

The area is dry and prone to fires. Many backwards people. Progressive people too, but not much to do, like I said. Sorry.

What is a backward person????? You need to get your facts straight.

freedom

[Bmav]

Driving 25 miles to Grants Pass is nothing if your moving.
Try 13 miles and taking 45 minutes. I'm sick of that drive.

[westvillemama]

I love you too, "freedom."

It's pretty apparant you don't like me. That's okay! No skin off my nose, as they say.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by westvillemama

I love you too, "freedom."

It's pretty apparant you don't like me. That's okay! No skin off my nose, as they say.

No...no....no...nothing personal, just clarifying for the masses.

I love you too! westvillemama. THe get your facts straight came out harsh, sorry for that.

freedom

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Frzzlmom

My husband and I are researching property in Cave Junction area....any info will be helpful...Public transportation any ground water issues...Good Karaoke bars...senior activities for mom...pics of Cave Junction...etc...

I've only been through there a little, but enough to know that your questions are out of that town's league.

That is a laid-back teeny little town with one scrawny grocery store, a DQ, few restaurants and miscelleneous stuff.

Most of the main town is on one strip passing through on 199, and in about 2 minutes, you're heading out of it one of two ways. Toward the redwoods, or toward Grants Pass.

Grants Pass might have enough to supply answers for some of your curiosity.

I don't think that "depressed" would describe the town. It is developing and some improvements are occurring.

Cave Junction would work for me only one of two ways. Either I'd retire and live there, probably keeping to myself and going into Grants Pass to shop. Or, buy a local business that might be for sale and become involved that way.

Not sure how many people work for BLM or the forest service around there.

[native of oregon]

i was born in gp but lived in cj most my young life, i think cave junction is great the summers are awesome, and the people are friendly and the schools really encourage you to get involved. i now live in coqouille wich is about 20 miles out of coos bay, i would move back to cave junction in a heart beat if i had the money. coquille is boring and depressing and rains alot. and cave junction isnt met to be a big town with all kinds of indoor activities. atleast you can go swimming in clear rivers there, and get a tan in the summer. most of my family live there, my dad was born there and died there. if ya want alot of big city activity drive to grants pass. and yes i agree cave junction is a hippy town but there are worse places to live.

[gladtobehere]

So you want some input about Cave Junction. Well, my family has been here for 10+ years. We came from Southern Califronia. Where Gangs try to kill you if you dont follow their sick lead, and the people are so scared of each other you cant get anyone to exchange a friendly glance in fear of there lives. Where if road rage and traffic dont kill you, well then you have the smog!
So lets make a comparison, in the city including Grants Pass and Medford, you have gangs rooted like cancer in a human. Quietly growing in the community, not making itself known, but you know its dangerours. There have been reports of kids being threatened to join their gangs, just like in the big city, kids starting to live in fear.
Then you have Cave Junction, we have NO GANG PROBLEM HERE, nor will our community idaly stand by and allow one. We here still have the sence of community, unlike Grants Pass and Medford. Grants Pass and Medford are just too big to have that small community feeling.
When we go to the market, we are greated by friendly people. Its like everyone in this community knows everyone.
Yes and people still care about what happens to their neighbor! When someone has a problem and the community knows about it, the community comes together to help.
We do have some public transportation, We have a shuttle bus that comes at 7:am & 12m and 6m,
I also just saw a sign this morning of another busline that is comming through town to take people to Grants Pass, Rogue River, Central Point, Ashland and the medford airport.
We have an extention campus from Rogue Community College offering some classes
There is the Senior Center which has pleanty of activities for Seniors.
I personally do not go to the bars, but I do sing in church which there are good home town churches here.
Our schools may have funding cuts, but show me where they dont.
That is a problem across our Nation.
Not across township lines
I love Cave Junction and I love the people here. I call this a healing place. A place you can go and get in touch with nature. explore your inner self, slow down and see the beauty of the world we live in. I have always said that Cave Junction is A Best Keep Secret, Its a shame that grown people are so negative. That so called mature adults can be so judgmental of a place they dont live and still think they can judge it from a distance. I personally am so busy here I need to slow down a little.
My kids love it here. The only complaint and negative thing they have to deal with is all the small minded people outside of our area finding themselves with nothing better to do than bash Cave Junction.
I dont know how old your child or children are but this is a great place to raise healthy happy clildren. All you need to do is be an involved parent.
Well hope this helps. Obviously this is my opionion but I have countless friends that feel the same way I do.
Good luck with your search
gladtobehere

[Hawk J]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Westvillemama pretty much said it great. Concerning the "backwards" people in the Illinois Valley... I'm a Grants Pass native and my friends from the area and myself always say that no one will believe us when we tell them about the people in Cave Junction (or up north in Wolf Creek for that matter). You just have to see to believe! It's kind of endearing to us though, but I'm sure those not native to the area might find it less endearing and slightly more...scary?

& What is wrong with Wolf Creek .............................: D............i Love it heer way back in the mountains to the west.............................


Close to Cave Junction is Striped Bass fishin' in the Smith River & the Beauty of "The Oregon Caves".............................:co ol:

I don't know if'n he is still thar but a very talented man used a chainsaw to make wood art carvings in Cave Junction.............................. ................................ ........


A few miles from CJ is Lake Selmac. Thar are some Trophy size Lunker BASS in thar & campin'......................Lake Selmac Resort


Beauty is in the eyes of the Beholder........

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by Hawk J

& What is wrong with Wolf Creek .............................: D............i Love it heer way back in the mountains to the west.............................


Close to Cave Junction is Striped Bass fishin' in the Smith River & the Beauty of "The Oregon Caves".............................:co ol:

I don't know if'n he is still thar but a very talented man used a chainsaw to make wood art carvings in Cave Junction.............................. ................................ ........


A few miles from CJ is Lake Selmac. Thar are some Trophy size Lunker BASS in thar & campin'......................Lake Selmac Resort


Beauty is in the eyes of the Beholder........

To me, nothing is wrong with Wolf Creek! I'd live there in a heartbeat!

[aslinged]

So it sounds like a pretty mixed bag of opinions. Is there any truth to the rumor of a right wing cult leader? How's the meth problem in CJ? Other crime?

I went down there last summer and thought it was amazing country. There was some amount of oddity in the people as compared to a big city, but that doesn't really bother me. I kind of prefer that people are themselves. And the truth is that within the space of five minutes I met super friendly, helpful people and some rougher, silent people. So it seemed impossible to lump everyone into a single sort of category.

What else can the native of CJ tell me? I'd love to hear more about your experiences in the area, especially of late. Is it true that alot of the hippies are moving or dying off? Have you seen any increase in crime or malfeasance due to the recession?

Comments appreciated. As for my brief experience, I thought the area was really nice. But that was as a tourist, though native Oregonian.