Mammoth Lakes : California

Mammoth Lakes, California makes an interesting retirement community for active adults who enjoy outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and camping. The area is in extreme eastern California in the center (north/south) of the state. Its location in the Sierra Nevada guarantees amazing snowstorms and cooler summers than most of the state. Mammoth Lakes had just over 7,191 residents in the 2020 census. It is located in Mono County. Fresno is 81 miles away.

The new owner of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, Starwood Capital Group, makes a claim that with 1.5 million skier visits per year it is the second most frequented resort in the U.S. In addition to skiing there is golf, snowmobiling, tennis, biking, and every conceivable outdoor adventure. The Village at Mammoth is the community nearest the ski resort. However in 2012 the city had to file for bankrupcty.

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There are a few developments and condos here that cater to active adults in retirement, but it seems like many more will come as active adult Californians move out from crowded cities and suburbs.
A major earthquake occurred here in 1980 which had a negative effect on real estate values. In recent years with the development and popularity of the Mammoth Ski Resort, along with the promise of a much improved airport, there has been rapid growth and construction. Prices have gone up dramatically. According to Zillow, the median home value was $663,257 in mid-2022, up almost 20% from a year earlier.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Adjacent to the Mojave Desert. Great outdoor activities in the Sierra Nevada. The Owens Valley, a scenic area. Access to the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Devil's Postpile National Monument

Crowds on the weekends. LOTS of snow in winter. The area is quite isolated. In mid-2012 the city of Mammoth Lakes filed for bankruptcy stemming from a lawsuit from its largest creditor.