Lake County

Lake County has the best air in the state of California and is the only county to have met federal and state air quality standards for 13 consecutive years. This accounts for the magnificent clear skies, both day and night, and the popular area sports of hot air ballooning and soaring in glider planes. Five golf courses, several state parks such as Clear Lake State Park, Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and Boggs Mountain State Forest, offer visitors varied outdoor recreational and educational activities.

Long famous for its pears and walnuts, Lake County is now known for its premium wines. Wineries with tasting rooms include the 23,000 acre Guenoc and Langtry Estate Vineyards and Winery, Ployez Winery, Steele Wines and Wildhurst Vineyards.

South Lake County includes the picturesque towns of Middletown and Cobb and the gated community of Hidden Valley Lake. Known as the Southern Gateway to the beautiful Clear Lake area, Middletown has the rich advantage of being home to several sites devoted to the county’s main industries: tourism, recreation, gambling and agriculture. A true small town, Middletown is host to one of the largest employers in Lake County, Twin Pine Casino.

The community of Cobb rests at the foot of Cobb Mountain in the Mayacamas Mountain Range above Middletown. Alpine in nature, the 4,722 foot elevation slopes, higher than Mount Konocti and Mount St. Helena, are covered in pine forests where numerous hot springs and trout-rich creeks are secreted away.

Hidden Valley Lake came to be in the late 1960's. Surrounded by rolling hills, the gated community of Hidden Valley Lake consists of a 100 acre crystal clear lake with marina, boat launch and two beaches, a championship 18-hole golf course and driving range, a professional equestrian facility, a community clubhouse with two pools, tennis courts and campgrounds.

More than 12 million people live within a two hour drive of Lake County. With the arrival of Indian casinos and a growing spillover from higher priced, neighboring Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, growth is inevitable and real estate is still relatively affordable.