Wrightwood - Any thoughts? (San Francisco, Santa Clarita: ski resort, living, shops)

[mgall626]

My husband and I and our two boys (3 and 6) are looking for a mountain community in SoCal. We currently live in South Pasadena and pay astronomical rent. I have also lived in San Francisco, so I know CA is expensive. To be honest, I hate Southern CA, but I can't take my kids away from grandma.

So, we are over LA and would like to find a mountain town that isn't Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear. It doesn't have to be dirt cheap, though hopefully more affordable than South Pas. Also, commuting isn't really an issue, but I would prefer not to have as bad of a drive as Lake Arrowhead.

Ideally, we would like somewhere with a sense of community. Privacy, but not complete isolation. Also, not a lot of drug activity (see, Crestline).

I want my kids to have friends and be able to participate in sports, and also find some young families to hang out with.

Is Wrightwood anywhere close to this, or is it a pipe dream to think I can find this in Socal?

[Count David]

I would tend to think that the sense of community you're looking for would be more likely to be found in places like Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

When you say commuting isn't an issue, what do you mean by that? If you don't have to make a commute, that's great, but you also mention not wanting a commute like Lake Arrowhead.

I think Arrowhead and Big Bear are your best only shots at this, TBH. Most of the rest of the mountain communities likely don't have the family-type suburban infrastructure you seek.

[CA4Now]

You might have a real culture shock going from South Pas to Wrightwood. Wrightwood will have a completely different sense of community than where you're living now.

[Berrie143]

Wrightwood, while a nice little town, is exactly that- LITTLE. Your family may get culture shock moving from South Pasadena up to Wrightwood, as there is literally no large shops or chain stores of any kind and you have to drive to Phelan to do most of your shopping.

The general rule of thumb in So Cal is that the further east that you go, the cheaper the rent/housing. My husband and I were going to move to Yucaipa/Oak Glen (he changed jobs and now the commute no longer makes sense for him) and it's a really nice smaller city with a community feel. It's also right below the mountains and you're right there next to Oak Glen, too, which is where all of the apple orchards are. GL!

[nightlysparrow]

There's Idyllwild. At least you can drive down the mountain to some decent shopping and culture in Palm Springs.

[Gandalara]

At least you can drive down the mountain to some decent shopping and culture in Palm Springs.

Heck of a drive though.
If you take 243 to 10 to 111, it's about 50 miles but will take you over an hour to get there.
If you take 74, it's about 55 miles but will take you over 90 minutes to get there.
Idyllwild is nice though. Except for the dang tree beetles.

OP, don't forget to check Mt Baldy Village.

[kttam186290]

Pine Mountain Lodge is a small town about 70 miles north of L.A. on I-5. It's pretty remote.

Acton is not exactly a mountain town, but it's surrounded by mountains and it's about 45 miles north of L.A. on State Route 14. The closest towns are Santa Clarita and Palmdale for shopping and medical needs. Acton/Agua Dulce has lots of ranches and is very family-friendly.

Lake Hughes, Lake Elizabeth and Green Valley are directly north of Santa Clarita and very rural. They are about 60 miles north of L.A.

Wrightwood is alright, it's just that I'm not sure what's going on there in terms of families. I know it's a ski resort town and close to Victor Valley, which is not that great anymore.

Are pine trees out your front door an absolute "must"?

[AnthonyJ34]

Originally Posted by mgall626

My husband and I and our two boys (3 and 6) are looking for a mountain community in SoCal. We currently live in South Pasadena and pay astronomical rent. I have also lived in San Francisco, so I know CA is expensive. To be honest, I hate Southern CA, but I can't take my kids away from grandma.

So, we are over LA and would like to find a mountain town that isn't Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear. It doesn't have to be dirt cheap, though hopefully more affordable than South Pas. Also, commuting isn't really an issue, but I would prefer not to have as bad of a drive as Lake Arrowhead.

Ideally, we would like somewhere with a sense of community. Privacy, but not complete isolation. Also, not a lot of drug activity (see, Crestline).

I want my kids to have friends and be able to participate in sports, and also find some young families to hang out with.

Is Wrightwood anywhere close to this, or is it a pipe dream to think I can find this in Socal?

I'm 40 now, and have been going to Wrightwood every so often since I was a young boy. I always liked it up there; pretty, remote, clean air. It gets plenty of snow in the winter and summer temps are not as hot as the nearby valleys or deserts. Wrightwood is unique in that although it is situated at 6,000 feet, it has a definite high-desert influence. Compared to Running Springs, which is about the same elevation and very green/piney, Wrightwood has more of a desert/mountain landscape, with pines intermixed with desert foliage and scrubs.

As far as drugs -- I think most rural areas (including mountain and desert towns) have a fair amount of drug use and drug activity -- mainly meth use and manufacture.

I personally prefer Idyllwild, which has more of a remote, quaint feel.