Oakmont is a master-planned neighborhood located in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County. Founded in 1963, Oakmont is an active adult (55+) community with a country feel.
The Oakmont area is located off State Highway 12 (Sonoma Highway), east of Downtown, Santa Rosa, and across the base of Hood Mountain. The primary roads are Oakmont Drive and White Oak Drive and the surrounding areas are abundant in state parks and wineries, picnic areas, and trails, embodying a relaxed and healthy outdoor lifestyle.
If you're considering looking for a new place to live, consider living in the community of Oakmont. It's an attractive option for retirees looking to avoid the high cost of living in neighboring San Francisco without sacrificing access to all the amenities and attractions of urban living.
Let's look at why so many people choose to live in Oakmont, Santa Rosa, rather than someplace else.
1. History of Oakmont
The Valley of the Moon, before it became Oakmont, was first inhabited by Native American tribes. During the early 19th century, the land was passed down to the Spanish, later Mexican, Russian, and American settlers. After passing many hands, the 1,400 acres of land was bought in 1963 by H.N. Berger. Berger had the vision to create a community for empty nesters. When construction started, he instructed his developers to protect the oaks, and that is how it came to be called Oakmont. Berger's wife, Frances Berger, was entrusted to name the streets, many of them including the word 'oak.'
The community, dating back to 1964, was complete, homes sold out by 1980, and Berger looked to retire. In 1986, Bill Gallaher and his brother bought the remaining land and constructed more homes. Many years later, in 1997, Bill Gallaher and his wife founded Oakmont Senior Living and developed 30 retirement communities.
2. Homes in Oakmont
The great thing about Oakmont is the variety of retirement communities available. Different property types include detached single-family homes and attached townhomes and condos. Properties were built anywhere from 1963(with the first ones sold in 1964) to 2022. Bedrooms range from one up to four.
Homes in Oakmont Village have a wide price range that's since a 9% year-over-year increase.
3. Retirement Living at its Finest
The advantage of living in Oakmont Village is that it affords residents a maintenance-free lifestyle, smaller space for empty nesters, tons of amenities, and active social interactions.
Oakmont Gardens has assisted and independent living. The age of residents for assisted living is between 88 and 100 years. The average age of residents for independent living is between 78 and 92 years.
Independent living means maintaining independence while receiving all the benefits of being around other people. It's like having an apartment where friends come and go. Seniors residents can continue to live life without being isolated at home alone.
Assisted living provides a helping hand from time to time with day-to-day activities like eating, bathing, or medication reminders. Nurses and caregivers help whenever needed and ensure senior residents can maintain independence as much as possible.
Oakmont Gardens is located within the Oakmont Village Retirement Community, providing resort-style living for seniors. They have one and two-bedroom floor plans from 670 to 1000 square feet of space. Oakmont Gardens is rich in amenities, such as swimming pools, fitness centers, spas, golf courses, tennis courts, club rooms, and much more. Its proximity to shops, dining, and other services also appeal to many.
4. Wine Country
Known for its premium wines, Sonoma County is nothing short of being called 'Wine Country' with other wine regions in California, such as Napa Valley. There are more than 400 wineries in Sonoma County, and here are a few in the vicinity of Oakmont:
Annadel Estate Winery is 33 acres, family-owned, and a venue for events and weddings. They have a wide selection of wines and offer private wine tastings.
The wine from Ledson Winery and Vineyards, aged in French oak barrels, offers a variety of toast levels that add to the complexity of the wine. They have several wine club programs and private wine tastings.
St Francis Winery and Vineyards have been around for over 50-years. They are 100% Certifed Sustainable and committed to preserving the environment for future generations. They offer multiple experiences from wine tasting, virtual wine tastings, food and wine pairings, and trolley tours.
5. Oakmont Farmers Market
The Oakmont Farmers Market is located at Oakmont Drive and White Oak, Santa Rosa, and is open on Saturdays from 9 am to 12 pm, year-round.
6. Parks and Attraction Nearby
Oakmont, surrounded by a sea of parks and State Parks, offers breathtaking views of the mountains and abundant recreational opportunities.
Spring Lake Park is a 320-acre park that features picnics, camping, and fishing. The park has a swimming lagoon, and the lake itself is 72-acres. There are also various trails for hiking, biking, and horseriding. Spring Lake Park is located around 6 miles from Oakmont.
Howarth Park is a community park in Santa Rosa, 5 miles from Oakmont. It features 138-acres with a softball field, tennis courts, playground, trails, a train ride for kids, and an animal farm. Recreational activities allowed on the lake include fishing and boating.
Hood Mountain Regional Park is a wilderness park with an impressive 2,000-acres. The park is an oasis for hikers, cyclists, and horse riders, with 19 miles of trails. It's located 5-minutes from Oakmont across the Sonoma Highway.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is located further than Hood Mountain Ridge Park, about 10-minutes from Oakmont. The park runs through a gorge and a canyon. The most popular outdoor activities include hiking, camping, picnicking, and stargazing. The Robert Ferguson Observatory, or Valley of the Moon Observatory, located in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, has three-word-class telescopes open to the public at least once a month closer to the timing of the New Moon from January till November.
Lake Ilsanjo, a man-made lake/reservoir, is a short two and a half miles from Oakmont, located in Annadel State Park.
Bennett Mountain or Bennett Peak is in Sonoma Mountains. The 1,909-foot summit is only is around two miles southwest of Oakmont.
Ledson Marsh is a freshwater marsh spanning 30-acre in Annadel State Park. It is also around two miles from Oakmont.
7. Golfing in Oakmont
Valley of the Moon Club has two beautiful golf courses for golfers of all ages and levels, totaling 36 holes and offering a golfing experience like no other. The highlight of the courses includes views of Annadel State Park and the mountains nearby, ponds, creeks, and trees. Golfing in Oakmont in the finest retirement community is a year-round outdoor activity due to its temperate climate.
The one course is The Valley of the Moon, formerly known as the West Course, which is 6,300 yards and 72 par - is enjoyable for all ages and challenging for the avid golfer.
The other is, The Sugarloaf course, formerly the East Course, is around 4,000 yards, short enough for a quick game or beginners, but also regarded as the finest executive-style course. The club also offers Golf Tournament planning and fundraising events.
Apart from the golf courses, the club also has The Oak Dining Room, with a snack bar and Brunch menu. It also has a driving range, a putting green, two pro golf shops with equipment, and expert golf instruction. All this and minutes from some of the best wineries in the area.
8. Location Location Location
Bordered by Sonoma Highway to the east and facing Trion-Annadel State Park to the west, Oakmont is southeast of Melita and northwest of Los Guilicos. In the heart of Sonoma County, Oakmont is ideally one-hour from San Francisco and shy of forty minutes from the Pacific Ocean.
9. Ideal Weather
The weather in Oakmont, Santa Rosa, is fantastic. Because of its inland location in Sonoma County, Oakmont enjoys the best temperatures and weather in all of Santa Rosa. Residents can enjoy the mild year-round temperatures with warm summers and cool winters. Summer temperatures are around 29 °C, and in winter, low temperatures range around 2 °C with a mean temperature of 14 °C. The area receives little rainfall and less fog than other areas of Northern California due to its location on a plateau above the coastal plain.
Conclusion
You've worked hard your entire life, and you want to retire in style. You've earned it. After all, retirement is not a destination it's still a journey. And one of the best ways to make that journey as enjoyable as possible is to pick the right community.
With its mild climate, beautiful views, gorgeous parks, wineries, and golf courses, Oakmont, Santa Rosa, is one of the best retirement destinations in the Bay Area. Located just on the northern edge of Sonoma County, it retains its small-town charm while still having convenient access to San Francisco and all the amenities that are part of living in a big city.
With all the above reasons and more, this tight-knit, low-maintenance, safe, and amenity-rich community makes it as easy as 1-2-3 to choose your 'forever home' in whatever style, floorplan, and square footage that suits your needs for many years to come. In the end, Oakmont offers all the comforts of home without the worries of homeownership.
SOCO Wine Country Properties is an experienced real estate team that knows the industry and strives to find each client exactly what they are looking for in Sonoma County. SOCO Wine Country Properties will work tirelessly to help you through the buying and selling process!