| The Russian River area
encompasses a handful of hamlets and villages,
located both along the river itself and
extending into the immediately surrounding
areas. Described as eclectic, quirky, socially
diverse and charming, each of these Russian
River communities has its own unique identity.
Many people are first drawn to the area
by its stunning natural beauty, from the
vineyards to the Russian River and surrounding
verdant green hillsides and redwood forests.
The river is a mecca for a variety of wildlife
including ducks, osprey, harbor seals, otters,
salmon, and steelhead trout. Flocks of wild
turkeys are abundant, and herds of deer
graze the hillsides.
Weather
Generally, the Russian River summertime
climate is cooler compared to warmer areas
like Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Cloverdale.
The winters are relatively wetter due to
its proximity to the coast. Because the
Russian River region covers several microclimates,
the weather varies widely. For example,
Cazadero receives nearly 60 inches of rainfall
per year where as Guerneville gets about
50 inches and Forestville gets about 40
inches. Anyone moving into any of these
communities for the first time would benefit
greatly from a realtor’s expertise
in understanding particular local characteristics
such as the various microclimates, areas
that flood, and the different cultures and
zoning issues for each community.
Click
here for current weather conditions.
Housing
Russian River housing remains among the
most affordable in Sonoma County, yet most
of the area lies less than a half hour commute
away from Santa Rosa. There are only a few
mobile home parks, subdivisions, and condominium
complexes, so the majority of the housing
inventory is unique. Options range from
quaint and cozy original cabins along the
Russian River, to farm houses, ranches,
and newer, larger homes, perhaps with a
guest cottage. Many homes in the Russian
River region enjoy spectacular views of
vineyards, rolling foothills, bucolic valleys,
the Santa Rosa city plain and night lights,
or the Russian River itself.
Click on links below to view town specific
information.
CAZADERO:
This peaceful, relatively undeveloped area
that is home to redwoods, ferns, birds and
deer is home for a small community of approximately
2000 people. Most services are to be found
in communities to the east, such as Monte
Rio and Guerneville. Although the climate
is much like that of Duncans Mills, Cazadero’s
terrain is more forested with steeper hillsides.
The housing stock is among the most affordable
of the Russian River area due to the remote
location relative to other river communities.
DUNCANS MILLS:
This Victorian style village in a lush valley
lies just five miles inland from the coastal
town of Jenner. Like most Russian River
communities, Duncans Mills sprang up with
the timber harvest and the arrival of the
railroad in the 1870s, and was named after
the mill owned by Samuel and Alexander Duncan.
After the timber was harvested and the great
depression ended, this community neared
extinction.
One hundred years later, in the 1970’s,
newcomers arrived and revitalized and restored
the town, buildings and businesses. They
also created an attractive ambiance for
tourists. Businesses now range from fine
gift stores to restaurants, bed and breakfasts
and camping making this a charming get-a-way.
Visit the rail road museum to learn about
the history of this area.
Due to it’s proximity to the ocean,
the climate is much cooler and milder than
much of Sonoma County, but the housing inventory
in this area is quite limited and each property
is unique.
FORESTVILLE:
Home to around 2000 residents, Forestville
is located in a special transition zone
between the vineyards, farms and orchards
and the coastal redwoods along the Russian
River. Roughly an hour north of San Francisco
and just 15 miles west of Santa Rosa, Forestville
has several large employers, including Korbel
vineyards and O’Reilly and Associates.
Recreation includes river rafting, canoeing,
kayaking or visiting one of many local farms
and/or vineyards.
Originally founded in1869, the town was
named after A.J.Forrester who owned a saloon.
Today, there are many smaller, world-class
wineries in this region that offer wine
tasting. Forestville is the farthest east
of the Russian River communities, and as
such tends to be among the warmest.
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Housing
in Forestville: |
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Forestville’s
housing inventory is generally newer
than some of the older Russian River
communities and is still relatively
affordable compared to the more upscale
southern neighboring town of Sebastopol.
There is usually a good selection from
which to choose. |
GUERNEVILLE:
The largest of the Russian River communities,
Guerneville is a town of over 5,000 people
known for their social and cultural diversity.
Despite being within easy commute range
from Santa Rosa, residents enjoy a much
lower cost of housing. Most housing is served
by the public water supply and sewer, contrasting
with most of the smaller communities in
the Russian River area which are still on
well and septic.
Guerneville’s housing inventory is
diverse, from original summer cabins to
condominiums to large new or remodeled homes
with river views. Many Guerneville residents
live within the flood zone which extends
quite far from the Russian River in some
places; flooding can be a problem during
especially concentrated rain storms; the
rainy season is between October to January
and sometimes as late as February.
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NOTE:
The community as a whole is experienced
in dealing with flood conditions, and
realtors provide disclosure maps of
which areas flood as part of every purchase
transaction. A lot of the housing inventory
has been elevated with federal moneys
subsequent to the storms of the late
1990’s. Ask if the home you are
interested in purchasing has received
an official elevation certificate. |
Guerneville is a major vacation destination
in the summer. The Chamber of Commerce maintains
a calendar of events. Two of Guerneville’s
most popular music festivals are the Russian
River Blues Festival in June and the Jazz
Festival in September. The town has numerous
restaurants, night-clubs, and a pee-wee
golf course for the kids. Another famous
outdoor destination is Armstrong Woods State
Reserve covering 750 acres with many trails
to explore magnificent coastal redwood groves
(sequoia sempervirens). Some of these trees
are over 2000 years old and stand as tall
as 300 feet. The park offers visitors a
way to experience a remnant of the vast
forests that were lost as a result of the
timber harvests that occurred a hundred
years ago.
MONTE RIO:
Situated at the crossroads of Highway 116
and Bohemian Highway, Monte Rio’s
working residents can commute east to Santa
Rosa or south to Sebastopol and beyond for
employment.
Monte Rio became “A Vacation Wonderland”
in the late 1800s as tourists traveled north
on the daily trains out of San Francisco
to enjoy recreation along the Russian River.
By the turn of the century, there was a
hotel and a restaurant, and by the roaring
20’s there were dance halls and even
a seven story hotel with the county’s
first elevator. By the mid 1930’s
the era of the train ended, negatively impacting
the city as automobiles became the preferred
mode of travel. But today, the town remains
a destination for summer tourists seeking
recreation and relaxation along the river.
Each summer, important political figures
and business men from around the world arrive
in black limousines at the secretive Bohemian
Grove. Members of the public are not allowed
in the Grove, but it does employ a cadre
of service providers each year. Originally
used exclusively by members of the Bohemian
Club, the nine-hole Northwood Golf course
is now open to the public. The town still
hosts 4th of July festivities complete with
fireworks and a huge parade of floats down
the river. Right at the crossroads sits
the Rio Theater, a quanset hut style movie
house serving quick dinners in addition
to the usual concession fare. Fans of live
theater enjoy The Pegasus.
Monte Rio has a public beach with free
parking and boat access with rental facilities,
plus volleyball & horseshoe courts (no
dogs). Locals often recommend the nearly
100 year old, recently restored Village
Inn, which offers fine dining (outdoors
when weather permits) and lodging right
along the Russian River.
RIO NIDO:
This tiny community became widely known
during the heavy rain storms of 1997 when
the Russian River area received national
television coverage as hundreds of people
were evacuated from their homes as a result
of mudslides. Many Rio Nido residents live
close to creeks and the Russian River. Flooding
can be a problem especially during periods
of heavily concentrated rains; the rainy
season is between October and January and
sometimes as late as February.
The local weather is still largely influenced
by the ocean and is thus cooler than Santa
Rosa, which is farther inland. There is
almost no rain between May through September,
when temperatures range between 40 and 80
degrees. Today, this enclave consists of
relatively affordable housing located mostly
among several canyons and in the forests
near the Russian River; the typical home
is a cozy redwood style home or cabin. Compared
to other Russian River towns, Rio Nido is
still mostly undeveloped and peaceful. Most
services, shopping, dining and entertainment
are located a few miles to the west in the
larger town of Guerneville.
History
Prior to the 1800’s the area was populated
by Native American coastal tribes of the
Miwok and valley Pomo. By the 1800’s,
trappers arrived, followed by timber harvesters.
Towns sprang up to support the timber industry,
and with the arrival of the trains, tourists
came north from the Bay Area, attracted
by the area’s beauty, climate, and
recreational opportunities. People loved
the area so much that they built summer
homes, most of which are now lived in year
around.
Today, recreation still draws thousands
every summer to enjoy rafting, canoeing
and kayaking down the river, to the many
arts, wine and musical festivals. As a result,
tourism is one of the leading economic forces
in the region, in addition to agriculture.
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