Info For Cabin Buyers

Communities

There are six primary mountain communities, each with their own characteristics, located above the foothill town of Springville. 

In addition, the areas of  the McIntyre Tract, and Mountainaire/Roger's Camp have cabins but most of the cabins in the McIntyre Tract are on leased land, and the cabins in Mountainaire/Roger's Camp have no electricity and typically utilize generators and/or solar power  instead. The road to Mountainaire/Roger's Camp is closed in the winter.

National Monument, Forest, or Park?

The mountain area above Springville is part of the Southern Portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument established in 2000. This part of the Monument is located within the Sequoia National Forest and is managed by the Western Divide Ranger District.  It is accessible via Highway 190 (though Springville) or via County Road M-56 (through California Hot Springs), which then turns into M-50 and the Great Western Divide Highway before reaching Ponderosa at the top of the mountain.

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Sequoia National Park is north of the Southern Portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument. It is accessible via Highway 198 through Three Rivers (not via the Southern Portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument -- you have to drive back down Highway 190 and take Highway 65 North to Highway 198). Once inside the Sequoia National Park, you can continue north to the Kings Canyon National Park and the Northern Portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument (Hume Lake Ranger District).

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The Giant Sequoia National Monument is named for the native Giant Sequoia tree and contains 38 of the approximate 67 Giant Sequoia Groves in the Sierras. Two famous trees in the Southern Portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument are the Stagg Tree (in Sequoia Crest) and the President George Bush Tree (by Ponderosa).

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• View or download a brochure on the Giant Sequoia National Monument

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• View or download a map of the Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument 

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• View or download a list of the Giant Sequoia Groves in California

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• View or download a guide on identifying the trees located in the Giant Sequoia National Monument

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• View or download a Visitor's Guide to the Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Utilities & Internet

In general, the cabins on the mountain have electricity (Southern California Edison), community water systems, septic tanks, and propane tanks. Internet and TV service are available in most locations via satellite and/or Spectrum Cable. Cell service on the mountain is very sporadic and should not be counted on, although there are proposals in the works for cell towers in Ponderosa and Camp Nelson. Most cabins can have landline phone service (AT&T) if desired; cabins with Internet service may wish to consider Internet phone service instead.

Shopping, Dining & Mail Delivery

The closest large grocery stores are in Porterville, though there are general stores at Ponderosa, Pierpoint Springs, and Camp Nelson where you can get groceries and other supplies when needed. Each location also offers a bar & grill; Pierpoint Bar & Grill has a family night on Tuesdays and Nelson's Tavern in Camp Nelson has one on Thursdays (though it's closed at the present time). There is also a small market/gas station and a few restaurants in Springville on your way up the mountain. For more information, see the Food & Lodging page.

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The closest big hardware stores are also in Porterville, along with a variety of retail stores including Kohls, Target, Smart N Final, and Walmart. The closest Costco is in Visalia. There are also small hardware stores in Camp Nelson and Springville.

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Your best bet for gas is in Springville on your way up the mountain. However, gas is available most of the time at the store in Camp Nelson.

USPS, FedEx, and UPS deliver on the mountain so online shopping is popular and ordering non perishables through Amazon or Walmart can help save you a trip down the mountain! Each community has a mailbox area for that community.

Snow Removal

Highway 190 and the main roads within the primary subdivisions are county maintained and plowed in the winter. For areas that are not plowed or for private driveways, private snow plowing service is available for most locations. The road to Mountainaire/Roger's Camp is closed in the winter. During the winter, it is advisable to carry cables or chains, since they are often required on the roads above Springville.

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View the latest snow removal information for Sequoia Crest

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View Redwood Drive at Sequoia Crest via the Sequoia Crest Mailbox Cam

Medical Care

The closest emergency rooms are in Visalia (Kaweah Delta, a Level III Trauma Center) and Porterville (Sierra View). There is a Family Health Care Network walk-in clinic in Springville (by the library and Sequoia Dawn Apartments) that is open weekdays during normal business hours only; there are also clinics, doctor offices, and dentist offices in some of the smaller foothill towns, such as Exeter. In an emergency, Camp Nelson Emergency Services can provide medical care and ambulance transportation. Call 911 or the Camp Nelson Fire Station directly at 559-542-2511.

Land/Lot Size

Most lots in the subdivisions are about the same size (usually about 1/3 to 1/2 acre) though there are some areas (such as along Highway 190 and in Upper Alpine) with larger lots (5 to 10 acres, for example). Many lots are owned by neighboring cabin owners for additional privacy but there are always lots available for new construction if you prefer to build your own cabin.  You can perform a custom MLS search for lots/land for sale using either the 93625 ZIP code or the community of your choice and selecting Lots/Land as the Property Type. As always, feel free to contact me for more information about lots for sale in the various communities.

Fire Risk

With the recent tree mortality due to the drought and bark beetle, the fire risk for cabins on the mountain has increased. However, the recent fires (such as the Pier Fire in 2017, which burned over 36,000 acres), have cleared out areas on the mountain that have not burned in more than a century, resulting in the area being safer than it was before the fires. In addition, community Fire Safe Councils are continually developing plans to help protect the communities, such as the recent grant that cleared the area below Sequoia Crest, ultimately saving it during the Pier Fire. It is important to know that we are in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Cal Fire requires that all cabin owners maintain a defensible space around their cabins and does inspections every summer.

View or download a Homeowner's Fire Safety Checklist

Insurance

With the recent wildfires and tree mortality, some insurance companies no longer insure cabins on the mountain. However, fire insurance is available through the California Fair Plan. Your best option is to first check with your insurance agent to see if you can be covered up here, and then speak with agents in the local area for other options if you need them. I'm happy to refer you to a local insurance agent for  more information about your options for cabin insurance.