Mountain House, California, San Joaquin County is a captivating ghost town, once a bustling stop along the historic Lincoln Highway, now a whisper of the past in the vibrant landscape of California. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Joaquin County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 37.7816° N, 121.5427° W
Elevation: Approximately 174 feet (53 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1849
Disestablished: Not formally disestablished, but declined notably in the late 19th century
Comments: Thomas Goodall established Mountain House as a stagecoach stop in 1849. It blossomed due to its strategic location on the route between San Francisco and the gold fields of California, offering travelers rest and refreshment.
The town saw a surge in activity during the California Gold Rush but gradually declined as transportation routes evolved and railroads took precedence. Mountain House is a census-designated place and planned community in San Joaquin County, California Ghost Townlifornia.
An exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mountain House is 5 miles (8 km) from the City of Tracy near Interstate 205.
The community of Mountain House in San Joaquin County lies two miles (3 km) northeast of and borrows the name of Alameda County’s historical Mountain House, a halfway stop for forty-niners passing over the Altamont Pass (historic Livermore Pass) on their way to the gold country of the Sierra Nevada foothills located at the base of the Diablo Range on the western edge of California’s Central Valley.
Remains: The original site of Mountain House hosts some remnants of its past, though much has been lost to time. The most notable remains are the foundations of old structures and some historical markers that provide context to visitors.
Additionally, the Mountain House Bar, a modern establishment, carries the name and spirit of the original settlement. In November 2008, the community appeared in national news reports as having the highest percentage of negative equity in the United States – the most homes “underwater” (worth less than their mortgage).
In 2012, despite a partially outdated land plan and a lack of retail and industrial centers, Mountain House was experiencing economic recovery. In 2010 CDP’s population was 9,675. In 2015, the population was around 14,000. The Cholbon triblet of the Northern Valley Yokuts were the original inhabitants of the Mountain House area.
Their territory ran along Old River a distributary of the San Joaquin River.
Current Status: Mountain House exists today more as a historical reference point than an active town. The name “Mountain House” has been resurrected for a nearby planned community, but it does not occupy the original town site.
As of 2018, Mountain House includes the established villages of Altamont, Bethany, Wicklund, Questa, Hansen, and the developing sixth village of Cordes. At the end of 2012, approximately 3,500 homes were in Mountain House. Some 15,500 households or approximately 40,000 people are anticipated when Mountain House is fully completed.
Construction began in 2001, but expansion stopped because of the Great Recession. Development accelerated through 2011 and 2012. Questa had six neighborhoods in various stages of completion, and three additional neighborhoods scheduled for 2013 openings. Also completed is Questa’s K-8 school and a village park.
Mountain House High School opened for the 2014-2015 academic year. All schools are part of Lammersville Unified School District.
Remarks: Mountain House’s legacy is a tribute to the transient nature of towns during the Gold Rush era. While the original site has faded, its name endures, symbolizing the spirit of adventure and opportunity that characterized the mid-19th-century American West.
With its proximity to the modern Mountain House community, the ghost town’s history intrigues residents and historians alike. Trimark Communities projected Mountain House to be a small, full-fledged city developed over 30 years.
The community covers 4,784 acres (1,936.0 ha) in San Joaquin County. The town was planned for 12 distinct neighborhoods, including 10 family neighborhoods and two age-restricted neighborhoods, each organized around a center containing a neighborhood park, a K-8 school, and a small commercial area.
