Oakhurst is not the same as I remember

[coolredflame]

I brought my family to Oakhurst & Bass Lake last year and there were about 100 more businesses than in the 1970's when I was a kid visiting relatives. But I still like the place and would like to move there from the coast. What should I know about this new Oakhurst before I consider moving to the mountains?

[Dodgergirl]

Don't move where Hillview provides the water.

[John @ 3300ft.]

Welcome to Oakhurst,
now go home...
http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif

[Kahlua Kid]

Originally posted by coolredflame:
What should I know about this new Oakhurst before I consider moving to the mountains?

That a bunch of hip peeps like us OakhurstForums peeps live here now!

[Summer]

Oakhurst will very likely become a "city" in the very near future and it will REALLY not be anywhere the same as you remembered it. Like it or not, change is inevitable.

[beautiful_mess38]

I've been coming here all my life being my grandparents bought property on rd 620 in the 50s. 10 acres for 3000.

Oakhurst was nothing. In the 90s it really began to grow. My grandma would tell me what was new in town and I just couldnt picture it.

I lived in Wa. state in the 90s and when I came back here to live I couldnt beleave my eyes. I couldnt beleave the traffic either.

It's a nice a very beautiful place to live but very congested especially in the summer when the tourist are here.

[Yosemite Joy]

Originally posted by John @ 3300ft.:
Welcome to Oakhurst,
now go home...
http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif

I was going to make this as my license plate holder a few years back.

[beautiful_mess38]

Wolfie got me a new plate holder for my bday it says "if your going to ride my arse, spank it good and hard"

You no me being tailgated is one of my pet peeves.

[oakhurstleaf]

I've only lived here almost 1 1/2 yrs, though I have been coming up here for many more as I have a brother who's been up here for almost 15 years and parents who've been here for 3. The town has grown very much so in the last 15 years.

I would consider Oakhurst a progressive little town. Despite the fact that commercialism has taken away some of the "small-town charm", it has provided the community with modern conveniences and services. The town is bustling with commerce. And hi-tech to a degree.

Since living here i've met so many people by way of our business's nature...most everyone I get to know is from someplace else. Some have been here several years or just a few. Generally, from the Bay Area or Southern CA. Most have come here to retire, seek a slower-pace of life, raise their children and do business. They came here with the notion to better their lives. And most are very happy here and surrounding mountain towns. Despite the gripes you may hear and read (nothin's perfect), I'd say that most people here wouldn't trade the lifestyle here for anything...In my opinion, most people up here are happy folk and decent citizens. There's a know thy neighbor/help thy neighbor mentality that's been lost in most cities.

As far as setting up stakes somewhere in the mountain area...know that there are a lot of different areas to dwell, different property/lifestyle situations and it may take time to realize what would work best for you. I would suggest renting awhile and getting to know the different areas and seeing what's available before making a permanent move. Coming from the city, I found the transition into a neighborhood tract to be easy...but now I realize I would like a little more space. An acre would do me just fine...but perhaps, 10 acres would be better for someone else.

Anyway...make a few more trips and see what you think.

It is beautiful here...that's for dang sure. And no shortage of things to do. At least I think so. And Fresno is close if you need to go to Target http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif



Originally posted by coolredflame:
I brought my family to Oakhurst & Bass Lake last year and there were about 100 more businesses than in the 1970's when I was a kid visiting relatives. But I still like the place and would like to move there from the coast. What should I know about this new Oakhurst before I consider moving to the mountains?

[coolredflame]

Oakhurst Leaf,
Thanks for your reply. You say some people retire or start their own business. Are local people receptive to non-locals in business? What is the job market like? I have two young adult sons that will probably need jobs? Do a lot of people commute to Fresno or Madera for work?
As for housing, we live in a neighborhood now and need more space. I heard urban sprawl was going toward Awahanee. Are there ranchettes (3 or more acres) out that way? Are there any other neighborhoods in Oakhurst with acreage or are there other areas close to Oakhurst with acreage?
Thanks for any info,
Coolredflame

[Dodgergirl]

Originally posted by beautiful_mess38:
Wolfie got me a new plate holder for my bday it says "if your going to ride my arse, spank it good and hard"

You no me being tailgated is one of my pet peeves.

I want the one that says "If you're gonna ride my ***, at least pull my hair"

[Kahlua Kid]

Originally posted by coolredflame:
Are local people receptive to non-locals in business? Yes (the locals just don't like corporate chains/franchises!)

What is the job market like? Local jobs can range from working at local hotels/restaurants to contracting work. Not a lot of corporate type jobs though. Although the local telephone company and that sort of work is here too.

I have two young adult sons that will probably need jobs? Do a lot of people commute to Fresno or Madera for work? Yes, quite a few commute to Fresno - I'm one of those. The 41 isn't stop and go at this time, but I have seen it slowing down and getting more and more crowded in the commute times since we moved up here 3 years ago.

As for housing, we live in a neighborhood now and need more space. I heard urban sprawl was going toward Awahanee. Not much Urban sprawl to Ahwahnee - other than a True-Value will be built in Oakhurst on the 49... and a Kaiser Doctor building is that way. But more and more homes are being built all over the area. Vacant land is being snatched up and custom homes are being built.

Are there ranchettes (3 or more acres) out that way? Yes - Ahwahnee has a great range of acreages - homes are on 1 acre to 40 acres... just depends on your price points. Things have inflated up here like they have in other parts of CA, but its still reasonable and affordable... average home is probably now in the $350k range... but you can find acreage/homes for less and of course more.

Are there any other neighborhoods in Oakhurst with acreage or are there other areas close to Oakhurst with acreage? Yes, Oakhurst has "tract" 1/4 acre home sites to 40 acre sites too... but the larger the acreage, the more you'll find its outside the "city" of Oakhurst - but usually nothing is too far - a 10-15 minute drive.

Thanks for any info,
Coolredflame

[John @ 3300ft.]

...The 41 isn't stop and go at this time, but I have seen it slowing down and getting more and more crowded in the commute times since we moved up here 3 years ago.
Traffic on Friday nights from Four Corners to Coarsegold sucks since Chuckcheezy
Casino moved in.

[Mr. Man]

I live in the area, but do not live in Oakhurst. Yes, it is not what I remember, or what it seems to be. There are many business's but they open and close in a blink of an eye. Just dreams, I tried that once. The locals don't support them. A nice place to retire if you are independently wealthy I guess. Or want to commute to Fresno for a job. Jobs in Oakhurst are only available to a select few, and I don't know many who have one. Don't even think about that. There's always a traffic jam, but that's because Oakhurst is a place people pass through on their way to somewhere else. Mariposa is more of a real mountain town. That is my perception anyway.

[rimar]

Originally posted by Mr. Man:
Jobs in Oakhurst are only available to a select few, and I don't know many who have one.

What???

[monkey]

Yeah, send your them my way, I'm hiring and have been for some time. Seems I can't find anyone who wants to work, but I keep hearing people in the bars complaining that they can't find a job. When they are told to come fill out an application and that we are looking for people who want to start right away, I never hear from them again. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/sad3.gif

[civic accord honda]

I couldnt beleave my eyes. I couldnt beleave the traffic either.

It's a nice a very beautiful place to live but very congested especially in the summer when the tourist are here.


http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/confused.gifcongested haha http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gifthis is not even close to congested .i lived in LA and that is what i call congested

[Ironhorse]

Between this and the other thread, makes me wonder why someone this negative about the area and/or the "local" people stays here http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/confused.gif Maybe that's being used as an excuse for someone's own shortcomings?

[Mysteefied]

I think Mr. Man may have been having an extremely bad day. At least I'm hoping so. I think there are less negative ways to express ourselves. Or Maybe he just needs to go back to where he came from, sounds as if it must have been better than here. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/sad3.gif

[Mr. Man]

Hey, don't get me wrong. I love it here, and am very openminded. I resent that "go back to were you came from" comment. I live here by choice, and most of the people living here are not from here. Most are from the Bay Area, or La La Land, or wherever.
My income does not depend on the mountain community, so I do OK. There are "Jobs" available in this area. But nothing that would provide me with the income I need to live the lifestyle I live. I seems to me that the only jobs that provide a decent income here are only available to people that belong to certain "Cliques" or Churches etc. I've always been a business owner of some sort, so I've never had a "Job". My perception about the jobs available here comes from the locals I have talked to. I love the mountain area, and there are some great people here, and don't plan on leaving. I still say trying to open a business in Oakhurst is a fool's game though. I've only been here for about 6 years and have seen so many storefronts open and close it's ridiculous. The locals do not support them. They will drive all the way to Fresno to buy the same items to save a dollar or two. Then they complain when their local store shuts down. Maybe I just don't know enough people since I'm kind of new here, but there are a lot of people here who live here that are retired, wealthy, or don't depend on an income from the area. Anything is better than FresNO though, I lived there for a couple of years and couldn't stand it. So here I am. I'm not a city person, I'd rather deal with the raccoons and landscape munching deer than the vermin that live down there in FresNO. I wish Oakhurst had some side streets, that's why there is always a traffic jam on 41 and 49. Still better than dealing with Fresno traffic though. I freak out everytime I have to go down there and deal with that. So like most here, that trip only happens once or twice a month. Fill up the car with what you need and get the heck out and back up the hill.

[CatdaBrat]

As far as traffic goes, there may be much more of it in Fres-hole, but because of that, at least you have lots of traffic signals to manage it all (and red-light runners are almost as bad here as there). I have found that many times it is way easier to deal with the Fres-hole traffic than the mishmash snarl of cars up here. For such a small town to have two state highways as its main roads causes quite a mess.

I gave up trying to make a left-hand turn anywhere in Oakhurst, unless there is a dedicated left-turn signal. Also, I plan my stops according to which side of the road they are on.

[BGW]

Hmmmmm....I have a great job where I made great money and I have to work only 6 months out of the year; which would make me semi-retired in my early 40's...

Jobs are easy to find up here. Specially since the Casino opened and effectively drained the local area of any type of job pool. And, don't get me wrong about the Casino either, I have many friends that are living a wonderful life and lifestyle due to their Casino job.

I go to Fresno for concerts and sporting events only. I do make two huge shopping trips to Merced each year. Once in the spring the other in the fall. Otherwise, I never leave the hill.

Yes, I have seen the business' come and go but what I have noticed is that people relocate here to 'follow a dream' and didn't do their marketing research as well as they could have. And, is another cutsie gift shop really opened with the locals in mind?? Probably not. A business opened that will depend on or attract mainly the tourist trade has gotten off to a rough start to begin with.

Traffic??? 5 stoplights does not equate a traffic problem.

I am sorry that you have met so many negative influencing people. In the 10 years I have lived here I can't say that my friends and aquaintance list includes these types of people.

Other than growing up in my hometown, this is the longest I have lived anywhere. The reason, the Mountain Area has provided me with a better lifestyle and a better life than anywhere else I have ever lived.

I find that no matter where I have I have chosen to live there are always people that are disappointed in the town/area. I believe where ever you live is exactly what you make of it.

[Ironhorse]

Well said BG, but you left out the crime rate. While it has gotten somewhat worse up here, it's still a great deal lower than in the valley. At least I don't have to worry about bullets flying through my walls. And there are lots of jobs available around here. As for the shops, yep, to many boutique type places open and close. The locals are going to want those types of stores for everyday needs, so naturally they're going to go elsewhere. Otherwise my house would be full of tourist souvenirs type stuff, LOL! While it's inconvenient at times to go to Fresno for Wal mart, JC Penny's type stores, etc., I sure don't want big stores coming up here! It would seriously change the life style. JMO

[Yosemite_Wolf]

both of you are sooo right! I don't normally shop in Oaky for the reason that Vons is double the price of Winco in fresno. If I worked in Oaky, id shop more there. But since I work in Fresno, I stop at winco, target and sams club on the way home... the head up the mtn. I know its bad tonot shop in Oaky, but i do use the restaurants there.
Yeah, in summer, the traffic sucks in Oaky, but hey..where doesnt it suck? If we had no traffic..that would mean no tourists. We do have quite the amenities here though.. including doctors and an urgent care. Can Tollhouse boast that? (nothing against tollhouse... i used to live there).

[Kahlua Kid]

Traffic in Oakhurst - I'm cracking up! LA is a nightmare! Any big city now a days is a nightmare.

But really, is any place the same as we remember? Nope... everywhere continues to change and grow and we can't stop it.

I remember when Simi Valley was full of orange and walnut groves and a sprinkling of some homes. Now, not one grove remains. And all the fields are tract homes... now they are attacking the mountains with tracts...

Bummer nothing stays the same.