Home shoppers searching for a winter getaway in the Tahoe/Truckee region who value quick access to ski resorts should put the small, unincorporated community of Alpine Meadows on their list of places to explore.
With only about 500 residents, Alpine Meadows is located 13 miles south of Interstate 80 just off state Route 89, making for a relatively straightforward drive from many parts of the Bay Area. The Placer County community lies about six miles northwest of Tahoe City, where residents can purchase basic amenities such as gas and groceries.
Tucked between the ski resort of the same name and Squaw Valley, the quiet community offers homeowners access to more than 270 trails of varying skill levels mere minutes from their doorsteps. Both resorts normally receive more than 450 inches of annual snowfall and operate from November to May.
Although winter sports are the primary draw for vacation homebuyers, residents of the community enjoy plenty of other recreational opportunities during the summer months. Squaw Valley offers miles of hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, and a golf course, while nearby Tahoe City provides ample opportunities for recreation on the water.
Because it is exclusively residential, Alpine Meadows is a low-key place to call home, ideal for quietly relaxing after a long day on the slopes. A few businesses dot the community’s eastern edge near the Truckee River, including a cafe and a lodge with a restaurant and a bar.
Residents will find plenty more places to eat and drink at Squaw Valley Village, home to nearly 40 restaurants, cafes, and bars. About 20 retail stores are located in the village, many of which sell winter-sports equipment and clothing.
Alpine Meadows consists of three single-family home and five condominium subdivisions, which offer a mix of older and newer properties. But since Alpine Meadows is small, home shoppers will usually find relatively fewer properties on the market compared with neighboring communities; since the beginning of 2014, just 11 single-family homes and five condominiums have changed hands.
Due to the small number of sales, the median price for both single-family homes and condominiums can vary considerably from month to month. Thus far in 2014, the median single-family home price has ranged from $490,000 to $1.5 million, while the median condominium price has ranged between $280,000 and $375,000.
(Photo: Flickr/Dan Zelazo)