Historic Truckee
Neighborhood in Truckee, California
Nevada County 96161
Casual and fine dining, boutiques and galleries
Historic Truckee is a touristy neighborhood, sure, but locals have their favorite spots. Despite its name and sign that reads “Free Beer Tomorrow,” The Tourist Club Bar is a mostly local joint, and regulars call it T-Club. Coffee And is two doors down for a casual breakfast. Established in 2002, Moody’s Bistro was one of the first fine dining restaurants in Truckee; local Realtor Christy Morrison says its jazzy vibes and craft cocktails helped bolster the town’s restaurant scene. It’s led, in part, to similar establishments like Pianeta and Trokey, where reservations have grown increasingly tough. Mixed in with this collection of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries dot this district, and tourists often wander into gift shops for a keepsake. Converted to an AmTrak line, the railroad still runs through town, and visitors can learn more in the Truckee Railroad Museum. The Museum of Truckee History is in the same building, and The Old Truckee Jail Museum is only a block away. Grocery stores, additional shops and the Tahoe Forest Hospital are about a mile west on Donner Pass Road, an area called Gateway.
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A neighborhood that changes with the seasons
With over seven ski resorts nearby and roughly 200 inches of annual snow, Historic Truckee attracts alpinists from across the country. “People come for the winter and stay for the summer,” says Nathan Riedel, a Truckee local and a Realtor with The Riedel Group. “People show up to ski, and then they realize that we have hiking, mountain biking and everything else. All the lakes are here, and summer isn’t 112 degrees like it is in Sacramento or Reno.” This warmer season is also marked by road construction and traffic jams. Fall and spring, by contrast, are usually pretty quiet. Springtime skiers drift into town occasionally, but April and May showers dampen visits. “The shoulder seasons typically belong to the locals,” says Morrison. “You don’t have to worry about reservations at the restaurants or parking downtown. After Covid, we didn’t really have any downtime because remote workers were staying the whole year. But those seasons are getting less and less busy again.”
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Signature events in Truckee
Because this neighborhood gets so many visitors, its downtown events are usually packed. Truckee Thursday is no exception. Held every Thursday night from June to August, crowds gather around booths along Donner Pass Road. Live music, games and other activities are in the mix, and the smell of funnel cake is always in the air. The Truckee Certified Farmers Market is here during these events, but from May through October, it’s over at the Truckee River Regional Park. Summer Music in the Park happens here from June through August. Held at the Truckee Tahoe Airport, the Truckee 4th of July Parade celebrates America’s birthday with colorful floats and a milelong fun run.
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Buying a piece of history
Constructed around the old brick storefronts of “commercial row,” Victorian homes in Historic Truckee have an equally long story. The Kruger C.B. White House, for instance, was built in 1873 for the owner of the lumber mill; the Eaton Home was built in 1880 and later became the company store. These two buildings are part of the Brickelltown district, an area west of the storefronts where most lumber workers lived. Jiboom Street, just north of Donner Pass Road, was a red-light district, and southernmost River Street was home to Chinese railroad workers. Today, most purchasable homes are in the hills above Brickelltown and the flats around River Street. Hillside homes sometimes have views of the town below, especially on High Street. Homes on East River Street and Riverside Drive are right on the water, while homes on West River Street are a block away. Despite their differences, properties usually have high-pitched roofs and colorful exterior paint, and they’re on small lots close to neighbors. They’re protected by the Truckee-Donner Historical Society, so renovations have to be cleared with them first. Some homes have already been updated, while others need a total revamp. Only a few properties are available each year, and there are no recently sold listings as of July 2024. Current prices range from $850,000 to $1.4 million. Car and rail traffic causes significant noise, especially close to the commercial row.
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Top ratings for Tahoe-Truckee Unified Schools
Most schools are about 2 miles west of downtown. Sierra Expeditionary Learning School is one of these schools, a public charter for kindergarten through eighth grade. This California Distinguished School gets an A from Niche; it also ranks as the No. 1 public elementary school in the Reno area, ahead of 100-plus others. Truckee Elementary, on the other hand, doesn’t require a charter application and serves kindergarten through fifth grade. It receives a B-plus from Niche. About 2 miles north of downtown, Alder Creek Middle is for grades six through eight and gets an A-minus. Truckee High is next to Truckee Elementary, and it scores an A.
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A natural environment: pine trees, lakes and more
Driving outside of the busy historic district, lodgepole and Jeffery pines are often the first thing to notice. These abundant trees are characteristic of the Tahoe National Forest, which covers most of Truckee and the surrounding region. “It’s a natural environment, and you can destress,” says Morrison. “You can have a freer, outdoorsy lifestyle here. The summers are so beautiful, and the lakes are so pure.” While the Truckee River flows directly through this neighborhood, Donner Lake is about 3 miles west, and Prosser Creek Reservoir is about 10 miles north. Boating is popular here in summer, and bigger vessels can head roughly 15 miles south to Lake Tahoe. Hikers and mountain bikers have over 60 miles of trails in Tahoe Donner, a hilly neighborhood west of downtown. Coyote Moon and Tahoe Donner golf courses are here for public use, and five other courses are scattered throughout the Truckee-Tahoe region. For climbers, Donner Summit is about 10 miles west, and its granite peaks are some of the most popular in California. Smaller recreation spaces are close to the neighborhood, as Truckee River Regional Park is just south of downtown. In addition to its riverside bike path, this green space has a skate park, disc golf course and an amphitheater.
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Walking and biking, tourist traffic
Historic Truckee is a small area, so it’s highly walkable and bikeable. Brick sidewalks are wide to accommodate all the pedestrian traffic, and bike lanes share the road with slow moving cars. While these cars may appear to stop randomly along Donner Pass Road, they’re likely pausing to let people cross. Jiboom Street is north of this thoroughfare and runs parallel, and a few businesses are centered here. These streets can get clogged during a busy summer, and abundant roundabouts help with the flow of traffic. Cars are the most common form of transport in the wider Truckee-Tahoe region, as it spreads across curvy Sierra Mountain passes. Interstate 80 runs along the neighborhood’s north side, and it has three exits near downtown. Snow chains are required for winter, and police sometimes set up checkpoints to check for them. Along the neighborhood’s south side, the AmTrak line travels west to Sacramento and east to Reno. Truckee Tahoe Airport is 3 miles south for regional flights, and Reno-Tahoe International Airport is 35 miles east for commercial ones.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Jeremy Jensen
Video By
Bob Yukich
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Ross Collins
Ross Collins
Better Homes and Gardens RE
(530) 414-7857
45 Total Sales
1 in Historic Truckee
$1,428,000 Price
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Janie Sharp
Janie Sharp
Responds QuicklyCOMPASS
(530) 494-3699
280 Total Sales
2 in Historic Truckee
$770K - $1.4M Price Range
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Celia Klein
Celia Klein
Responds QuicklyEngel & Volkers Truckee
(530) 460-6631
77 Total Sales
1 in Historic Truckee
$770,000 Price
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Mitch Clarin
Mitch Clarin
Mitch Clarin, Broker
(916) 587-8301
62 Total Sales
6 in Historic Truckee
$186K - $1.1M Price Range
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Christine Hinkel
Christine Hinkel
Sierra Sotheby's Int - Rock
(530) 507-7118
50 Total Sales
6 in Historic Truckee
$201K - $980K Price Range
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Barbara Wilkinson
Barbara Wilkinson
Dickson Realty
(530) 214-5210
75 Total Sales
4 in Historic Truckee
$186K - $299K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Truckee River Regional Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Historic Truckee | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Historic Truckee Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Historic Truckee, Truckee sell after 107 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Historic Truckee, Truckee over the last 12 months is $770,000.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,224,950
Median Sale Price
$770,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,520,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$2,104,650
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$705,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
7%
Last 12 months Home Sales
5
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$662
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
165
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1951
Months of Supply
9.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,696
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,125
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
978
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jun 229am - 2pm
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Thursday, Jun 263:30 - 9pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
801
Median Age
38
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.6%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$77,554
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$96,575
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.6%
College Graduates
43.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
12.9%
% Population in Labor Force
75.9%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
15°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
153''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
61
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
48
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Gateway
Truckee-area neighborhood tucked in the Sierra Mountain Range
Gray's Crossing
Golf course community in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, close to Lake Tahoe
Olympic Heights
Full-time neighborhood next to Truckee River, close to downtown
Prosser Lake Heights
Hillside neighborhood near Prosser Reservoir, close to Tahoe
Sierra Meadows
Truckee suburb with year-round residents, close to Tahoe and other recreation
Prosser Lakeview
Next to Prosser Reservoir, this neighborhood is popular with year-round locals
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