Interlaken is a rural corner of an out-of-the-way coastal town
Interlaken is a little-known neighborhood in Watsonville, California, a town that is itself often overlooked, despite its convenience to places like Santa Cruz, Monterey and even San Jose. “Watsonville in general draws a lot of people because of the prices,” says Realtor Winnie Kepler, owner of Coastal Properties of California, who has over 47 years of experience in the area. “There actually used to be more multimillionaires in Watsonville than anywhere else in California because of all the ranches that were out there.” Interlaken is just north of Watsonville, and is a collection of suburbs, custom lakeside homes and farmland in the shadow of Mount Madonna. It is the quietest, farthest-flung part of a quiet coastal town.
Quiet, rural living makes Interlaken an attractive place for homebuyers.
Interlaken embraces its agricultural roots.
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Suburbs near Green Valley Road, lakeside homes on Cutter Road
The communities on the neighborhood’s west side sprawl off Green Valley Road, wrapping around into tight clusters of single-story homes on green suburban lots. “Along Green Valley Road, you’ll find older tracks of homes,” Kepler says. These tend to be ranch-style homes with Modern Traditional features, many built between 1970 and 1990. Houses near Kelly Lake are often the most popular in the area. “A lot of people whose family used to own ranches in the area choose to live on Cutter Drive, by Lake Kelly,” Kepler adds. Home prices typically range from around $610,000 to $930,000, varying based on square footage, the year it was built and the number of bedrooms. Lakeside houses and some of the largest properties in the area can reach prices of over $2 million.
Unique architecture is scattered throughout Interlaken.
Many homes in Interlaken have well maintained lawns.
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Public schools in Interlaken mostly receive C-range grades
Students in Interlaken attend schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which receives a B-minus from Niche. In this district, students may attend magnet schools, apply for open enrollment or transfer to other districts, with selection based on capacity. Ann Soldo Elementary School, which serves most of the neighborhood, earns a C-minus. Lakeview Middle also scores a C-minus. Parajo Valley High, rated C-plus, offers expanded learning programs every weekday after regular hours.
Ann Soldo Elementary School inspires young learners from Interlaken every school day.
C-minus rated Lakeview Middle School serves the students of Interlaken.
Teachers at Pajaro Valley High School support students from Interlaken every day.
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Kelly Lake offers scenic views but limited recreational access
Although houses on Interlaken’s Kelly Lake are desirable, the water feature is not known for outdoor recreation. “Kelly Lake is very small and private. It’s surrounded by homes, and there’s even a castle on the lake – and when I say a castle, I mean literally a castle,” Kepler says. The views of the lake from Cutter Drive are scenic, but as Kepler puts it, “If you had three boats out at the same time, they’d bump into each other.” Pinto Lake on the west side of Interlaken is more popular for row boats and fishing, and the attached park has a baseball diamond and basketball court. Popular surf spot Manresa Main State Beach is about a 20-minute drive from the area.
Small boat launch deck provides fishing access at Pinto Lake County Park in Interlaken.
Surfing is popular at Manresa State Beach near Interlaken.
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Residents can shop local or head over the mountain to San Jose
Nearby supermarkets include Safeway and the Vallarta Supermarket in Freedom. Residents can also make quick trips to Harvest Moon Market to pick up breakfast and lunch, including tortas and burritos. The closest Target is located in downtown Watsonville. The city is also the closest hub for local eateries like Miyuki Restaurant and Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill, although many residents often travel northeast over the mountains. “Most people who really want to shop will go over to San Jose,” Kepler says. One of the most popular shopping centers in San Jose is Eastridge Center, an indoor mall with over 145 restaurants and retailers.
Harvest Moon Market is a local grocery store in Interlaken.
Interlaken residents travel to Watsonville to dine at the Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill.
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Interlaken locals depend on the highway and surface streets
California Route 152, also known as Lake Avenue, is Interlaken’s primary highway, connecting the neighborhood to downtown Watsonville and across the mountain to Gilroy. From Gilroy, commuters can take U.S. Highway 101 to San Jose. California state Route 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway, is the best way to get from Watsonville to Monterey. The only public transit in the area is the No. 72 bus line, which runs along Green Valley Road.
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