Thoughts on Crestline/Lake Gregory? (Downey, Nice: rental market, insurance, houses)

[Rogueeditor]

Hello, would love any thoughts or opinions on this. Apologies in advance to locals who object to weekenders.

We are considering buying a vacation cabin at Lake Gregory. It is located within walking distance of the lake entrance opposite the Splash Island area and has a nice view of the mountains and tiny bit of lake.

I am wondering about Crestline in general. I understand it can be a little rough but it seems like the area around the lake is nice.

Any thoughts on what will happen once the contract is up with the company that revitalized the lake? Are there concerns in the community about the future? I understand it's a man-made lake that wasn't kept up by the county a few years ago. Concerned too about drought effects in the future.

Can anyone give me a realistic view of the rental market? We have not decided if we would go that route or just use it ourselves on the weekend.

We're not able to afford property with lake rights in Arrowhead, Big Bear is too far up the hill.

Any input is tremendously appreciated.

[lae60]

I have owned a home in Crestline since 1999 and was a weekender before that since before I was born....

1. The County operated the lake prior to the current contractor, before that it was the
San Moritz Club. When the current contract is up, after at least 3 years, the county could operate it again, or they could put it out for rebid.

2. The current operator did not revitalize the lake. They put in floaties, started charging for things that were previously free--fishing, parking, etc. They raised all the prices for everything. The lake needs a major upgrade to the plates/dam area. The County has not paid to get that fixed for years. That is why we can not have the lake level at where it used to be. They county studies it, but does not fix it. The problem is that the dam could release during an earthquake if the water level was higher. there is an earthquake fault that runs through the lake. The drudging that was done was not done by the new company, but by the county, under a different contract, last year. Drought---well the lake gets water from snow and rain, so when we get them, the lake is fuller. It is not used for drinking, but is used for fire control.

3. Future community concerns: we are loosing our private Crest Forest Fire Department next year and will have county services. There will be a mega cost to us, through taxes, to pay to convert all the firemen to the county retirement system. We still have bonds and payments through the Crest Forest system that we will also have to pay off. We will be in double debt for decades....and with reduced service. Fire is a biggie up here.

4. Police/courts are pretty much a book 'em and release so the druggies will use your home as a free supply depot to get stuff to sell for drugs. Someone should be home, or get nosy neighbors...or an alarm system with monitoring.

5. Rental market, just be careful with who you rent to, many scammers who damage the property and do not or can not pay to fix it. e.g. a sports team stayed in one rental for a weekend and put their empty beer bottles through the drywall in the living room. It looked like a bottle house when they were done and the whole room had to be redry walled and painted...plus it stunk of beer and urine.

6. The school system here sucks--low scores, bullies allowed to run rampant at the schools, principals changed every year, teachers who do not care to teach.

[Mery_ay]

Hi.. Rougeeditor,

I wonder if you end up buying any property at Crestline? I have similar idea as you, cannot afford Lake arrowhead + lake right issues, and big bear is too far. If you read this post will appreciate any thought, advice, property tax %, utilities bills or any issues. I read couple things about green algae during summer times, is this gonna be every year problem or just certain years? what about the drought? drugs issues in the neighborhood?

I am planning to get sml cabin for vacay house, I have 2 sml girls, they enjoy water and snow.

Hi.. lae60, very informative, I do not even think about that until reading your post.

[Rogueeditor]

Hi Mery_ay, wow, this is an oldie! We did not end up buying the cabin, but good luck with your plans. -R

[Ghostgecko]

I was thinking of trekking to Downey each day for work to relocate to the mountains and heal. We went up to look at houses today and was sadly less impressed. Not very walkable or easy to get around, a small area with a nice vibe, quiet (serenity now my eleventh year going into LA) and enjoyable, but the commute to and from my work to pay a bit less for a house that would be full time living...just didn’t work for us.

I know the OP wants a part time residence, but after reading these posts, I think my intuition was dead on...something seemed off about such a friendly and open place, that you can’t really get around easily, and would be a nightmare in a storm or fire situation. The big attraction other than nature, obvious...homes for easily $700k less than our street we live on now. Owning your life versus paying for it.

[Fisherman99]

Originally Posted by lae60

I have owned a home in Crestline since 1999 and was a weekender before that since before I was born....

1. The County operated the lake prior to the current contractor, before that it was the
San Moritz Club. When the current contract is up, after at least 3 years, the county could operate it again, or they could put it out for rebid.

2. The current operator did not revitalize the lake. They put in floaties, started charging for things that were previously free--fishing, parking, etc. They raised all the prices for everything. The lake needs a major upgrade to the plates/dam area. The County has not paid to get that fixed for years. That is why we can not have the lake level at where it used to be. They county studies it, but does not fix it. The problem is that the dam could release during an earthquake if the water level was higher. there is an earthquake fault that runs through the lake. The drudging that was done was not done by the new company, but by the county, under a different contract, last year. Drought---well the lake gets water from snow and rain, so when we get them, the lake is fuller. It is not used for drinking, but is used for fire control.

3. Future community concerns: we are loosing our private Crest Forest Fire Department next year and will have county services. There will be a mega cost to us, through taxes, to pay to convert all the firemen to the county retirement system. We still have bonds and payments through the Crest Forest system that we will also have to pay off. We will be in double debt for decades....and with reduced service. Fire is a biggie up here.

4. Police/courts are pretty much a book 'em and release so the druggies will use your home as a free supply depot to get stuff to sell for drugs. Someone should be home, or get nosy neighbors...or an alarm system with monitoring.

5. Rental market, just be careful with who you rent to, many scammers who damage the property and do not or can not pay to fix it. e.g. a sports team stayed in one rental for a weekend and put their empty beer bottles through the drywall in the living room. It looked like a bottle house when they were done and the whole room had to be redry walled and painted...plus it stunk of beer and urine.

6. The school system here sucks--low scores, bullies allowed to run rampant at the schools, principals changed every year, teachers who do not care to teach.

Recently sold elderly moms old family weekender cabin (not far away in Cedarpines Park) that has been in the family a few generations. Nice, but am always busy doing work (like weedwacking for fire season, repairs, etc.) half the time when up there...as it is on many lots. The "old fire" barely missed our cabin back in 2003...I thought it was gone for sure. Our insurer dropped fire coverage on our place recently...new neighbor across the street had to cut all of the trees down in front yard just to get fire insurance. Used to have really good full time neighbors that would watch over our weekender cabin...most moved out, with many new moving in. I have been worried about fire threat up there for years...a weight off my shoulders finally selling, although it is a little sad since it is nice up there if you are willing to take the risk with more rural living in the forest. Have contacts of some of the old timers still up there and will check up on them from time to time...as well as checking out my old fruit tree "orchard" of about 15 trees (Apple, Plum, Apricot, and a Nectarine) still alive 30 years after I planted them.