Coarsegold provides seclusion in the hills
Nearly 180 years after gold mining attracted newcomers to this area, people are still finding their own treasure in Coarsegold. This Madera County community is where buyers can get a spacious property in the scenic foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The area offers privacy, but is also known for its residents' cordial demeanor and proximity to amenities in places like Oakhurst and Fresno. “The Coarsegold area is a very, very active, user-friendly community. People are happy to live there,” says local Realtor Donna Pride, who’s with London Properties and has been in the business since 1978.
Bass Lake and hiking trails are reachable
This region is teeming with trails, thanks to its mountainous terrain and location by the Yosemite National Park. The 400-acre Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park, roughly 14 miles away, features the 2-acre Ahwahnee Hills Loop. Sierra National Forest, 13 miles away, is home to the 2-mile Manzanita Lake Trail. Yosemite National Park itself offers some 800 miles of trails, and the park’s south entrance is about 23 miles from Coarsegold. Pride says nearby Bass Lake, a 15-mile trip, is also a draw for people from all over. The lake stretches 5 miles, plenty of space for wakeboarding, kayaking, fishing and swimming. The Coarsegold Community Center hosts yoga and barre classes, bingo and more.
Lots of at least an acre are standard
The quiet streets that wind through Coarsegold’s hills are lined with mostly ranch-style houses, many built from the 1960s to the 2000s. These homes come with lots that start at 1 acre. “A lot of cattle country, a lot of horse country,” Pride says. Sell prices can range from $200,000 to $670,000, but Pride says most go for $400,000 to $650,000.
Coarsegold Historic Village is a community gathering place
The heart of Coarsegold, known as Coarsegold Historic Village, hosts several events each year. “From all kinds of craft fairs to the Tarantula Festival,” Pride says. The Tarantula Awareness Festival comes around on the last Saturday of October and recognizes the time of year when the spiders come out into the open to mate. The event includes bubble gum blowing and pizza eating contests, a pumpkin pie bake-off, a trick-or-treat parade, and a tarantula derby race. The Coarsegold Peddlers Market takes over the historic village during the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, full of vendors selling crafts and antiques. There’s also a Christmas Tree Lighting and Chili Cook-Off in December. Another tradition is the Fourth of July fireworks show at Bass Lake. “That is the busiest time of the year in these mountains, with the fireworks over Bass Lake,” Pride says.
Eclectic shopping is available in the Coarsegold Historic Village
Several small businesses fill the Coarsegold Historic Village area, providing a diverse mix of products and services. Wild Fig Kitchen is known in part for its chicken and waffles. The hot chocolate at Zanders Coffee is a hit. Modee’s has handmade candles, soaps and lotions. Dirty Hippy features clothing, home goods, jewelry and more. Locals can grab groceries at Coarsegold Market. People also go to the community of Oakhurst, 8 miles north, for supermarkets like Raley’s and Vons. Fresno, just under 40 miles away, has plenty of big-box retail, including the River Park Shopping Center with Target and Macy’s.
Yosemite Unified schools have active parent-teacher associations
The area’s Yosemite Unified School District carries a B-minus grade on Niche. Coarsegold students can attend the C-plus-rated Coarsegold Elementary for kindergarten to eighth grade. The school’s PTO meets monthly and supports events like game and movie nights. Yosemite High has a B rating, and its PTA also meets monthly. Elective courses at Yosemite High include sports medicine, culinary arts and stagecraft. The Meadowbrook Community Day School in Coarsegold includes an alternative program for expelled students in grades 5 to 8.
Central highway links Coarsegold to bigger areas
California State Route 41 bisects Coarsegold and connects to places including Oakhurst and Fresno. The 169-bed Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center is about a 30-mile trip off Route 41. Travelers can catch direct flights to 16 cities from the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 41 miles away.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
