Lone Tree Valley

When asked what draws people to settle in Lone Tree Valley, Michael Gallegos, a loan officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation and current resident, starts a list: "It's family-friendly, there's a lot of shopping close by, the schools are close. It’s really affordable, too, compared to other part of the Bay Area. You get more house for your money.” In a part of the Golden State that can feel congested and overly expensive, many Bay Area buyers are looking to spread out a bit, which is why they’re drawn to this community located in southern Antioch. “It’s just really nice,” Gallegos says.

Throughout Lone Tree Valley, subdivisions like Deer Valley Estates, Cielo at Sand Creek and Black Diamond Canyon brim with contemporary homes built in the 1990s, early 2000s and 2020s. House sizes and styles range from compact bungalows and ramblers to sprawling Millennial Mansions, most with low-pitched roofs, two-car garages and lots of windows to let in the sunshine. Front yards can be on the small side, but there’s still plenty of space for landscaped grass and colorful plants. Backyards are roomy enough for pools or big patios. Trees line the quiet streets where kids ride their bikes along the cul-de-sacs, and sidewalks are plentiful for those days when residents want to get a little exercise after dinner. Prices range from $520,000 for 1,400 square feet to $1.1 million for 4,000 square feet.

Area kids start their education at Lone Tree Elementary School and then move on to Dallas Ranch Middle School and Deer Valley High School. Lone Tree Elementary scores a C-plus on Niche, while Dallas Ranch Middle and Deer Valley High score a C and B-plus, respectively. Deer Valley High serves about 1,700 students from ninth through 12th grade and has a student-teacher ratio of 21-to-1. It offers multiple clubs and organizations to join, including Art Club, French Club and Tabletop Games Club. For families considering private education for their kids, there is one faith-based school in the area, Heritage Baptist Academy, which serves kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Contra Loma Reservoir is bustling in the summer, with residents looking to get outside in the fresh air. “It’s really popular,” Gallegos says. “You can take your boat out, which a lot of people do.” According to Gallegos, the cluster of parks near the reservoir is popular, too. Next to the water, Contra Loma Regional Park boasts year-round fishing and swimming in the summer, plus tennis courts and a playground. Next door, Worth Shaw Community Park is often bustling with packed athletic fields and picnic areas. And at the Lone Tree Golf Course, a public course off Golf Course Road, enthusiasts play its 18 holes solo or join a league and play with their friends.

Lone Tree Valley offers easy access to major amenities like the Antioch Water Park, where locals go during the summer to cool off. The park offers multiple water slides and splash pools, as well as a shallow pool for the little ones. In nearby Brentwood, locals flock to AMC Brentwood 14 to kick back and watch the latest blockbuster movie. Kaiser Permanente’s Antioch medical center is conveniently located in the community, off Sand Creek Road, for all medical needs.

Shopping is convenient, thanks to the many shopping centers that offer everything to complete weekly errands. There are large grocery chains Safeway, FoodMaxx and Raley’s, along with Walmart and Home Depot, plus services like dentists, optometrists and banks. For dining, residents take advantage of a mix of restaurants, from familiar favorites like Taco Bell and Burger King to neighborhood hangouts like Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, where they gather to indulge in pub grub and watch the game.

Conveniently located along State Route 4 to the east, commuting into the rest of Antioch, Oakland and San Francisco often starts there. Locals who’d rather take public transportation pick up the Bay Area Railway Transit (BART) train just a few miles north of the community.

Written By

Sara Huffman

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Hipsley

Video By

Matthew Link