Alta Sierra blends foothill scenery with golf and a private airport
The rolling landscape of the Sierra Nevada foothills serves as the setting for the sprawling planned development of Alta Sierra. This Nevada County community dates to the 1960s, when ranchlands were being built out to hold thousands of homes, a golf course, a school and a private airport. Still, housing prices remain relatively affordable, particularly for entry-level homes. “You can actually get a fairly good value, because there are quite a few homes on the market there,” says Mimi Simmons, an area Realtor at Team Simmons and Century 21 Cornerstone Realty, with about 40 years of experience. “It has the attraction of being below the snow line, and easy access to Highway 49 for commuting to Sacramento or up to the slopes.”
Housing variety abounds, in age, style and price
Alta Sierra has almost 3,000 homes, and they’re far from cookie-cutter. Some houses date to the 1960s, when the development first sprouted. Others were built as recently as the 2000s. The area’s eclectic mix of architecture includes ranch and Mediterranean styles, contemporary homes and farmhouses. Roomy yards are a common denominator — Alta Sierra’s median lot size is roughly a half-acre. Prices for homes with less than 2,000 square feet often fall between $260,000 and $500,000, while properties exceeding that size consistently sell for $510,000 to $990,000. Simmons notes that the Alta Sierra Property Owners Association is volunteer-only. Residents can join the association for a fee of $49 per year.
Pleasant Ridge Union schools provide after-school programs
The vast majority of Alta Sierra is part of the Pleasant Ridge Union School District, which maintains a B-plus grade on Niche. The development houses the B-plus-rated Alta Sierra Elementary, which offers the statewide Expanded Learning Opportunities Program after school, with academic support. Magnolia Intermediate also has a B-plus grade. After-school programming at Magnolia Intermediate includes multiple sports teams, from cross-country to basketball. A northeast portion of Alta Sierra is zoned for the C-plus-rated Grass Valley School District, where options include the B-rated Grass Valley Charter. The charter school covers prekindergarten through eighth grade and provides hands-on instruction with its on-site science garden.
Students in grades 9 through 12 can move into the B-plus-rated Nevada Joint Union High School District. Bear River High, 10 miles south, has a B rating and a Career Technical Education department with computer science and digital media arts programs.
Below the snow line but close to ski resorts, golf and mountain trails
The Alta Sierra Country Club, with its 18-hole golf course, is one of the community’s signature features. Country club memberships are available to residents and nonresidents and are separate from Alta Sierra Property Owners Association memberships. The course is open to public play in the afternoons. Those in Alta Sierra also have quick access to the Alan Thiesen Trail, a 1-mile path that allows bikes. Mathis Park in the community has a pond open to fishing.
With an elevation of roughly 2,300 feet, Alta Sierra is often below the snow line — the point when rain turns to snow. However, Alta Sierra residents can hop on California state Routes 49 and 20 for skiing and snowboarding at places like the Donner Ski Ranch, about 55 miles away. Those with a knack for higher-flying recreation can take advantage of the private Alta Sierra Airport — some of the community’s homes back right up to it. “That certainly can be very attractive to people who have planes,” Simmons says.
Summer nights bring music, food and more
Area communities including Grass Valley and Nevada City host a range of community events. Simmons says Hot Summer Nights in Nevada City is the most popular. Held on three Wednesday evenings in July, the event features multiple stages of live entertainment and dozens of vendors with food and other products. “It’s basically a big street fair,” Simmons says. A Fourth of July celebration is among the festivities in Grass Valley, which starts with a pancake breakfast, includes a parade and ends with fireworks.
Route 49 connects people with other communities
California state Route 49 runs adjacent to Alta Sierra and is a straight connection to downtown Grass Valley, an 8-mile trip, and Nevada City, 12 miles away. Grass Valley’s Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital has a 24-hour emergency room. Route 49 also goes south to Interstate 80 for trips to Sacramento, 52 miles away. Sacramento International Airport offers direct flights to over 50 places. A bus stop in the Nevada County Connects system is just off Route 49 in Alta Sierra.
Grass Valley is a destination for restaurants and retail
Alta Sierra residents often head toward downtown Grass Valley for commercial attractions. Simmons says Tofanelli's Gold Country Bistro and Cirino’s at Main Street are two staples downtown. Tofanelli's is known in part for its breakfast, and the sandwiches at Cirino’s are popular. Mill Street is a section of downtown Grass Valley packed with locally owned shops like Empire Shoes and Foothill Mercantile, which carries toys, housewares and more. There’s also a Safeway supermarket downtown. People in Alta Sierra looking for a bite to eat closer to home can swing by Timbers Bar & Grill at the country club or Trailblazer Craft Pizza & Brews, just off Alta Sierra Drive.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
