Outdoor adventures in Oregon's high desert
Lakeview is known as the "Tallest Town in Oregon." With an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet, it is also the "Hang-Gliding Capital of the West." With towering vistas and clear skies, locals can explore Oregon's Outback by gliding above the high desert hills, skiing the mountains or relaxing at the geothermal hot springs. With about 2,400 residents, this rustic community offers outdoor sports and agricultural properties centered around an old-fashioned downtown, removed from the bustle of urban centers. "People move out here because they love the isolation, the outdoors and the recreational activities. You're close to skiing, fishing and hunting," says Sean Gillespie, Realtor at Knipe Realty with experience in the area. "In Lakeview, you can live in a rural area and experience all the beauties of Oregon."
Eclectic homes at the base of the Warner Mountains
Eclectic, older homes sit on flat lots at the base of the Warner Mountains, surrounded by prairies and sparse woods. Lakeview features Craftsman and ranch-style homes, typically between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet. Many houses have stucco exteriors and metal roofs. The highest concentration of recently sold listings is from the 1950s and 1960s. Home prices range from $50,000 to $380,000. Manufactured homes go for $70,000 to $400,000. Property sizes vary, from less than 7,000 square feet to nearly 200-acre farms. "I sold a property to a farmer who brought all his horses here," Gillespe says. "People like the isolation, and they can have their own space."
This area may be at a severe wildfire risk. Additionally, Lakeview has a somewhat average air pollution statewide, as air quality will likely decrease dramatically over the next few decades.
Exploring ski slopes and hot springs in the Outback
Adventure awaits along the Outback Scenic Byway, a 170-mile drive through the various landscapes of southern Oregon. One area is Noni's Trail, a 3.5-mile mountain biking trail with valley vistas. Lake Abert, Oregon's only saltwater lake, is a waterfowl refuge in the Abert Rim with safari-like cliffs formed by ancient lava. Closer to the town center, Soroptimist Fitness Park is a community space with exercise machines and a nine-hole disc golf course. McDonald Park offers a splash pad and playground structures. During the winter, the Warner Canyon Ski Area offers 21 trails, which reach nearly 6,500 feet of elevation at the summit.
Hang gliding paradise and Western rodeo traditions
Lakeview is a paradise for hang gliding and paragliding, having held national championships in the 1990s and early 2000s. Launch sites are on mountain peaks like the Black Cap. The Free Flight Festival is an annual community hang-gliding event with distance races and spot-landing competitions on the first weekend of July. The Lake County Round-Up is a century-old rodeo tradition that draws thousands to the Lake County Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend. The rodeo celebrates Western culture with bronco and bull riding events. The Lake County Fair includes a parade, a royal court and a demolition derby on the same weekend. Another local attraction is Hunters Hot Springs, with resort pools and Old Perpetual, a geothermal geyser that erupts every 90 seconds.
Simple downtown with vintage cafés and dive bars
The Downtown area has well-established community staples and a quaint local restaurant scene. Tall Town Café & Bakery is a family owned breakfast establishment with vintage Western décor. The Nest is a dive bar serving soup and sandwiches in a dark space with pool tables and neon lights. The local supermarket is Safeway on F Street, and Dollar General is a nearby convenience store. "The town of Lakeview is undergoing a facelift," Gillespe says. "It's a perfect rural area with convenient access to many parts of Oregon."
Schools offer online resources, electives and dual enrollment
Fremont/Hay Elementary School earns a C-plus grade from Niche and offers many online resources for students to improve their skills. Daly Middle School has a B, with electives like band, agriculture and consumer sciences. Lakeview Senior High School receives a B-minus and offers college-level classes with dual enrollment for students to gain college credit.
Proximity to Bend, Klamath Falls, and Medford
This area is somewhat isolated from the sphere of cities, and there is limited public transportation. The Lake County Cloud is a reservation-based service for people needing medical and shopping transportation. Bend is about 175 miles north on U.S. Highway 395, while Klamath Falls is roughly 95 miles west on state Route 140. Rogue Valley International Airport is in Medford for passenger flights, approximately 175 miles west.
