Atascadero Real Estate

Atascadero is a delightful community. Right in the middle of California's magnificent central coast, Atascadero is located south of Paso Robles and Templeton, and north of San Luis Obispo.

The name, Atascadero, is Spanish and roughly translates the place of water. But the area was first occupied by the Native American Indians known as the Salinas Indians.

It was the Franciscan clergy who first settled and managed the 60,000 acre Rancho Asuncion until in the late 1700s and early 1800s. When the Mexican government secularized the mission lands, Governor Rio Pico granted Pedro Estrada nearly 40,000 acres, part of which would eventually be a portion of the 23,000 acre Rancho Atascadero.

Today's community of Atascadero was founded by Edward Gardner Lewis in 1913. His goal was a utopian colony and he put together a group of investors who paid $37.50 an acre for about 61,000 acres. Lewis laid plans for about 30,000 residents, created streets, developed water and investors began to arrive. Initially they lived in tents and established thousands of acres of orchards. Lewis also built an 18 mile road over the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains to the ocean, where he built cottages and a beach front hotel called the Cloisters.

Part of Lewis' building spree included the first rotogravure presses west of Chicago and The Printery was the first civic building in the town. Between 1914 and 1918, he built an Italian Renaissance-style building from bricks made of local clay. This beautiful building now home to Atascadero City Hall and the Museum which is also one of California's Historical Landmarks.

Atascadero was officially incorporated in 1979. The city's general plan includes much of Lewis' vision of what a rural community should be like: preservation of open space, protection of trees and hillsides, the keeping of domestic animals, and large lot sizes.

Today, Atascadero has many fine wineries, a wonderful zoo with more than 100 animals in naturalistic habitats, and great recreational opportunities. There are lakes, including the 25 acre Atascadero Lake Park. Bicycling and hiking are favorite activates, as is horseback riding and golf.

The restored downtown offers great shopping and dining and there is even a factory outlet mall. The community has many festivals and other celebrations, reflecting an ideal place for families. Schools are excellent and there's room to breathe.

Real estate in Atascadero holds its value and appreciates well. There is a good selection of condominiums, perfect for living or investing. Single family homes range from older homes on good sized lots to almost brand new homes in well planned subdivisions. There are also homes close to town, as well as outstanding custom homes on larger parcels.

Land is available in Atascadero. You'll find larger lots and multi-acre parcels ready for your dream home. There are also parcels that would make great wineries or farms for the boutique vegetable market.

Investment real estate ranges from residential units through commercial and farming property for sale or lease.

Shari Schramm knows Atascadero well. Let her match your needs with the perfect property.