Mojave Desert enclave offers quiet nights and starlit skies
Lake Los Angeles’ name is a little misleading. This quaint ranch town sits in the middle of the Mojave Desert and is about as far as you can get from the City of Angels without leaving LA County. But for many residents, that’s the whole point. “It’s nice and quiet, and there are beautiful rock formations and desert plants everywhere you look,” says local real estate agent Carlos Paiz, who has been serving the area for over 25 years. “It’s the perfect place to truly enjoy the tranquility of the desert. At night if you turn off all your house lights and go into your backyard, you can see just about every star in the sky. And the only thing you’ll hear are coyotes in the distance.”
Acre-plus ranch-style homes with mountain and butte views
The local housing market is almost entirely composed of mid-to-late 20th-century ranch-style homes, many of which come with one or more acres of property attached. These typically range from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and cost $300,000 to $500,000, with the occasional outlier. The town’s wide, quiet streets are lined with drought-resistant shade trees and carefully cultivated low-water gardens, and feature views of nearby buttes and far-off mountains.
STEM-focused schools from Lake LA
Elementary to Littlerock High
Public schools include Lake Los Angeles Elementary and Challenger Middle, which integrates STEM concepts as well as local ecology into its curriculum. Little Rock High offers specialized career pathways such as biomedical science and agricultural studies.
Alpine Butte trails, ATV routes and state parks invite outdoor play
If you’re a movie buff, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Lake Los Angeles — or Lake LA, as the locals call it — without even realizing it. It’s home to multiple movie ranches and has been a popular filming location since 1938. It was the setting for multiple episodes of the hit ’60s TV show “Bonanza,” and scenes from blockbusters like “Terminator 2” and “The Fast and the Furious.”
While few locals are actually in the movie business, they all have access to the natural beauty that makes Lake LA so attractive to filmmakers. When locals want to enjoy a bit of nature, they can go for a walk through Alpine Butte and Big Rock Wash Wildlife Sanctuaries, reserve a campsite at Saddleback Butte State Park, or simply take a mountain bike or ATV down one of the dozens of mixed-use trails that criss-cross the surrounding Mojave Desert.
Those looking for a bit of local history to go along with the area’s natural beauty can visit Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park, where they’ll find an informative and beautifully adorned museum of native history nestled among some stunning rock formations. The site also hosts a popular annual American Indian Celebration each fall, featuring Native American art and food, as well as a traditional ground blessing ceremony. If you’re in the mood for a more everyday outdoor experience, there’s always Stephen Sorensen Park, where you’ll find an indoor gym and an outdoor splash park, along with all the standard park amenities.
DG Market and global eats serve daily needs in town center
While the nearest large shopping centers are about 17 miles away in east Palmdale, Lake LA residents can find a variety of everyday amenities in the shops at the center of town. They can pick up groceries at DG Market, tools at Ace Hardware, or just grab a book at the local library. As for dining options, they’re a bit more diverse than you might expect. The town is home to a variety of highly rated restaurants: you can scarf down some authentic tacos at Los Chiles Mexican Restaurant, try some tasty pupusas at Delicias Salvadoreñas, or enjoy a traditional curry at Vanda’s Thai Kitchen.
Photography Contributed By
Joseph Choo
