WHO PREPARED THE MASTER PLAN?  

The planning concept can be attributed to no one individual but rather to the co-operative effort of environmentalists, land planners and professional engineers, working with the developer for over a four-year period.  This was accomplished by providing underground utilities, minimum tree removal, extra wide roads and an insulating green belt or trail system for riding or walking behind each and every homesite in the community.

  WHAT YEAR WAS IT DEVELOPED?  

In the early 1970's.

  HOW LARGE ARE THE LOTS?  

The homesites vary from about 1/4 acre to 3/4 acre.  Actually you purchase the lot plus an interest in the open area, the trails and the natural preserve.

  WHO DESIGNED THE 18 HOLE PAR 60 GOLF COURSE?  

The executive course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and his organization contributed much to the layout and design of the residential area surrounding the golf course.

  WHERE DO WE GET OUR WATER?  

The water is brought into Forest Meadows by Calaveras County Water District and is pumped up to a 478,000 gallon storage tank at the highest elevation in the development ad a 350,000 gallon tank near the Hilltop Park, which provides adequate pressure for both the fire hydrants and to serve all homes in the subdivision.

  IS THERE A SEWER SYSTEM IN FOREST MEADOWS?  

Yes.   The sewer system is installed and ready for individual connections.  The construction cost is included in the purchase price of your homesite.  There are no bonds or assessments.

  WHAT ABOUT ELECTRICITY?  

An underground system has been installed and paid for by the developer, with individual service from PG&E.

  HOW ABOUT TELEPHONE?  

Every homesite is served by an underground system already installed.

  IS CABLE TV AVAILABLE?  

Yes.

  ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS?  

Yes.  The restrictions are designed to help protect your Real Estate investment.  Every property owner receives a copy.

  HOW ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL?  

An architectural Review Board must approve plans for all structures.  Again, this is to protect your Real Estate Investment.  Their minimum square footage is 1500 feet

  WHO MAINTAINS THE ROADS, PARKS AND TRAILS?  

They are maintained by the Forest Meadows Association who owns them.

  ARE THERE FIRE ROADS OR EXITS IN THE DEVELOPMENT?  

Yes.  The County requires several exits for this purpose.

  MUST I BELONG TO THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION?  

Yes, all owners are automatically part of the association.  There is a monthly fee which is not expected to increase disproportionately as the original budget submitted to the State provided a reasonable rate for all maintenance required.  The Homeowners dues are $857.00.00 per year (1/1/03).

  WHAT IS OUR ELEVATION?  

We are located at the mild 3200 ft. elevation, which is right at the snow line and above the fog.

  WHAT IS THE TOTAL SIZE OF FOREST MEADOWS?  

The master plan shows just over 1700 acres.  There are approximately 698 homesites.   About 490 have been improved in which 1/3 are retired, 1/3 are vacation homes and 1/3 living and working in the area.  Tentative maps have been conditionally approved for two additional phases of 312 and 92 homesite.

  HOW MANY PARKS ARE THERE IN THE DEVELOPMENT? 

There are two separate park areas, each having it's own pool, two separate tennis courts, and picnic areas.  the Hilltop Park offers a clubhouse for any special events you may have, weddings, family reunions, etc. 

  WHAT IS THE FIRE RATING?  

Forest Meadows carries a rating of 5, which is very good for a mountain development due to the excellent water storage and distribution system provided by the developer.  The nearest fire department is 1 1/2 miles.

FOREST MEADOWS HISTORY   

Forest Meadows, a resort residential community located between Murphys and Arnold, is located on a ridge overlooking the Tuolumne Canyon and the Stanislaus River.   Centuries ago, the Miwuk Indian tribes lived here, as is evidenced by their caves, their grinding stones, and their tools.  Years ago this acreage was used extensively for the raising of goats by the Fred Oneto family and then the John Hauselt family.   One of the activities on the farm was burning "coal", according to Ernie Hauselt, son of John Hauselt and previous owner of the land which is now Forest Meadows.   John created "coal" by burying short logs of pine underground and burning them.  The "coal" was then sold to the miners in Angels Camp, where it was used by the blacksmiths to temper their tools.

     The story is told that John Hauselt's mother entered California on the immigrant trail, following it over Ebbetts Pass and through the boundaries of what is now Forest Meadows, to Angels Camp where she met her future husband.  John's father came to America on a cattle boat from Germany, landed in San Francisco, and from there drove cattle to what is now the city of Stockton.   Later, he headed up to the gold mines in Angels Camp, where he was to settle.

     John went to the old grammar school, where the tennis courts are now located in Murphys, until the third grade, when he went to work for "Old Man Tanner".   Later, with his brother, he started a blacksmith shop in Murphys where the "Nugget" bar and restaurant now stands.  In addition, he sold provisions to the people on the wagon trains, heading up into the mountains, as well as selling hay that he grew on land that is now Bret Harte Center.  After he sold his half of the blacksmith shop to his brother, he started ranching on Pennsylvania Gulch Road.   Gradually he and two sisters purchased and homesteaded more land in the area of "Forest Meadows", ending up with over 1700 acres.  A home and barn was built upstream from where the Forest Meadows Golf Course dam is now located.  The home was destroyed in a forest fire.

     "My father sold two hundred acres to a man who raised goats,"Ernie said.   "It wasn't very profitable for the goat-man, as coyotes lived nearby and ate up half his goats!"  John finally bought the acreage back and started ranching in Forest Meadows.  "It was tough work putting up all those fences", said Ernie.  The volcanic rock made it hard to dig the post-holes .  Sometimes rock had to be stacked around the base to keep the post upright.  Eventually the sisters sold the land to John and when he died, the land passed on to his children.  Ernie continued to ranch at Forest Meadows, with additional income coming from selling apples and firewood.  some of the apple trees can still be seen today.

     In 1971 Ernie sold his land to Forest Meadows Development Company which began the planning and construction of Calaveras County's first planned community development.   The philosophy and goal of the developers was to save as much of the forest and keep the land as near to its natural state as possible.  Robert Trent Jones Jr. was retained to design our 18 hole golf course.  Two parks with pool complexes, including 4 tennis courts were designed and constructed along with an equestrian barn, arena, hiking and riding trails, and a club house.

     In 1974,  the first family to moved to Forest Meadows, and they have some stories and anecdotes to tell of life in the new development.  This family comments, "There was a wide variety of wildlife".  We saw bobcats, bears, deer, and a coyote even had its den across the road.  Several times we noticed a particular horned toad who like to sun himself on our deck, and on occasions, while we were out walking at night, we even saw a porcupine or two".  They tell a couple of humorous anecdotes about the early residents.  "A couple had a cat an so they built a pet door for him.  One night the husband heard an unusual noise, like water swishing.  He got up and went to the kitchen to turn on the lights.   There he found his garbage bag overturned.  He crept to the bathroom where the noise was coming from.  When he peeked in he saw a raccoon washing and avocado pit in the toilet".  Another is about the times before the sewer plant was constructed.   Large plastic holding tanks were used.  "An early family was having their tank installed when the tank rolled away from the workers and ended up at the bottom of the canyon.  The following year they decided to bring the tank out of the canyon because of its cost.  After they had worked it free and began hauling it up the canyon, there was a ferocious roar, and an indignant bobcat stuck its head out of the tank.  It had made its den inside".

     Today life in Forest Meadows may not be as rugged, but it can be just as interesting.   Besides golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, and riding trails, fishing, boating and skiing are readily accessible within a few miles.  As a matter of fact, the lake at the golf course contains blue gill, crappie, and an occasional "huge' bass.  New Melones, Don Pedro, Commanche, Pardee,Lake Alpine, and Tulloch reservoirs are within an hours drive.  Bear Valley is only 35 miles away and has excellent facilities for skiing and hiking.  Of course, Yosemite National Park is also just a short distance way.  If you like the "big city" excitement, we are only two hours away from Carson Valley, three hours from Lake Tahoe and San Francisco, and only an hour to an hour and one half to Modesto, Stockton, or the state capitol, Sacramento.

     There are now about 700 acres of property called Forest Meadows.  Currently there are approximately 693 parcels, of which slightly over 400 have been built on.  All utilities are underground, and we are served by the Calaveras County Water District, which maintains approximately a 700,000 gallon water storage, and a complete sewer treatment plant.  We are served by the Ebbetts Pass Fire District, and carry a "Class Five Rating', which is the best rating in Calaveras County.  Kindergarten - fifth grade children attend the Albert Michelson School in Murphys.  Grades six thru eight attend the new Avery Middle school in Avery..Bret Harte Union High School is ten miles away in Angels Camp.  Bus service is provided to all schools at no cost.  Medical needs are attended to by emergency clinics in Arnold and Angels Camp, which are connected with the Mark Twain Saint Josephs Hospital in San Andreas, and The Sonora Community Hospital in Sonora.  In addition ground ambulance and Medi-flight helicopter services are available.  Paramedics are also connected with Ebbetts Pass Fire District.

     Forest Meadows is between 3200 feet and 3700 feet above sea level, which gives us an average rainfall of approximately 42 inches annually, and about 20 inches of snow per year (just enough to see the 4 seasons).  Spring and fall are beautiful, and summer is very tolerable, generally 10-15 degrees cooler than the valley below.

     Once again, welcome to Forest Meadows, enjoy, and come to see us again soon!