Pine Mountain Club

Yearning for fresh air and wide-open spaces? Take a look at Lake of the Woods, a small, unincorporated area is nestled in Cuddy Canyon within the Los Padres National Forest. “Once you get off the freeway and get past Frazier Park, this area becomes very scenic. Lake of the Woods sits at a higher elevation than Frazier Park. Many of the homes are on pillars and have great views,” says Tanner Brown, a local Realtor with Jennings Realty. Although it looks and feels like a remote alpine retreat, Lake of the Woods is close to shopping and restaurants. Bakersfield is nearby. When the community was first established in 1925, it was named for a local reservoir. Unfortunately, the reservoir’s dam burst in 1962, so while the name still exists, the lake is long gone. Today, with a population under 1,000, neighbors in the community are close. Life is quiet and peaceful. “Lake of the Woods is very small and the neighbors all know each other and watch out for one another,” says Brown. Prices in Lake of the Woods range from about $80,000 for a two-bedroom manufactured home to around $800,000 for a 3,300 square foot, five-bedroom home on 5 acres. Architectural styles in the area varied, expect to find ranch-style, modern Craftsman, log cabins, chalets and Tudors. Homes tend to sit back from the road on large lots. Most homes in Lake of the Woods have sweeping views of the mountains and valley. This is a rural community, so there are no sidewalks. The neighborhood is car dependent. Frazier Park Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through Grade 4 and has a B-minus rating as well and a student-teacher ratio of 19-1. El Tejon Elementary School serves students in Grades 5 through 8 and has a C-plus rating. The school has a 21-1 student-teacher ratio. Frazier Mountain High School has a B-minus and a 21-1 student-teacher ratio. Students at the school participate in a variety of athletic and academic clubs including Viva! Spanish Club and Future Farmers of America. When one’s home is in the middle of a 1.75-million protected forest, there's plenty to keep outdoor enthusiasts occupied. Hiking, hunting, mountain biking, camping and off-roading are all popular on the scenic trails that seem to go on forever. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities. Wildlife lovers will enjoy catching glimpses of deer, rabbits, hawks, eagles, and owls. Families will enjoy spending time at nearby Frazier Mountain Park. Just a short 3-mile drive away, this 28-acre park has a skate park, baseball fields, a playground and natural spring where people enjoy going fishing. When you need essentials or other goods, there are two convenience stores, a pizza parlor and a service station in Lake of the Woods. Nearby Frazier Park has several retail shops including a pharmacy and a hardware store. Frazier Park Market is a small but well-stocked grocery store. Hungry? Start your day with a coffee and Danish from Vibrant Life Organic Market in Frazier Park. Stop in at Mike’s Pizza Co. in Lake of the Woods for a mountain calzone or a specialty pizza. In July, Pine Mountain Club holds its Wine in the Pines celebration. Sample wines and cuisine from dozens of wineries while enjoying the outdoors and listening to music. In August, Frazier Park hosts Fiesta Days, three days of family entertainment, featuring live music, logging competitions and local food. Frazier Mountain Park Road, which runs east-west, is the primary thoroughfare through the neighborhood. Access to Interstate 5 is 7 miles from the community. Los Angeles is 73 miles away while Bakersfield is 46 miles. Meadows Field Airport is 48 miles away. Kern Regional Transit provides bus service to nearby towns. Connections to Bakersfield can be made in Frazier Park. Amtrak service is available from Bakersfield.