Mammoth Lakes California Real Estate

The Town of Mammoth Lakes is a small but lively region of only four square miles, filled with a special brand of people (population 7,093 year round residents Census 2000) who have chosen to leave behind their urban lifestyles and experience the unique attributes of the Eastern Sierra.  

Incorporated in 1984, Mammoth Lakes is a relatively young town.  Mammoth Lakes is located in the Inyo National Forest, of Mono County.  The town is surrounded by acres of forest and is bordered by the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Areas.  Yosemite National Park's eastern entrance is located just 32 miles north of town and its short 100-mile drive to the valley floor.  The town occupies a site in the southern half of Mono County, a stunningly diverse region of eastern California.  Comprising 3,018 square miles, the County's area is marked by the startling contrast between its eastern and western boundaries.  Bounded on the west by the Sierra

Nevada crest, this region is characterized by its mountains, lakes, streams and forests.  Unlike the gentle, rolling escarpment west of the crest, the eastern slope of the Sierra plunges dramatically to the valley floors.  This is probably the characteristic of the Eastern Sierra most obvious to the first-time visitor.  The Town of Mammoth Lakes is situated in the southwestern, mountainous region of the county, and many of its trails, campgrounds and roads either abut or cross the crest of the Sierra.  Included within is one of the finest ski resorts in the western United States - Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes economy is primarily tourism-based; the importance of visitor dollars to the local economy is made clear by the existence of a functional arm of the Mammoth Lakes municipality called the Mammoth Lakes Tourism & Recreation Department.  The Tourism and Recreation Department's mission is to promote the town, increase tourism, help coordinate the marketing efforts of the total tourism community, and to provide complete, objective information to our visiting guests.  The Tourism & Recreation Department in partnership with the Inyo National Forest maintains the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, a facility dedicated to providing information about the Mammoth Lakes region to walk-in customers.

The mainstay of the Town's tax revenue is the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).  The 13% tax is added to the rental of any lodging facility and campgrounds for stays of less than a month.  There are more than 4,774 rental units in Mammoth Lakes and the lodging industry generates around two-thirds of the Town of Mammoth Lakes gross revenue.

Visitation: It is estimated that the Town of Mammoth Lakes receives 1.3 million visitors in the winter and 1.5 million in the summer for an annual average of 2.8 million visits (May 2003).  The average visitor stays 4 nights per visit.  The average size of a visiting party is 4.1.

Rooms: According to the transient occupancy license holders who report to the Town of Mammoth Lakes Finance Department, as of January 2007 there were 4,774 rentable rooms.  This includes hotels/motels/inns/condominiums/bed & breakfasts/cabins and campgrounds

Occupancy: The average annual occupancy in 2006 as reported from the lodging industry to the Town of Mammoth Lakes Finance Department was 39.42%.

Demographics: Based on the 2000 census, there were 7,093 people, 2,814 households, and 1,516 families residing in the Town of Mammoth Lakes.  The racial makeup of the town in 2000 was 83.21% White, 0.41% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 12.35% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.20% of the population.

There were 2,814 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.09.

The town population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years.  For every 100 females there were 131.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,570, and the median income for a family was $52,561. Males had a median income of $31,280 versus $25,106 for females.  The per capita income for the town was $24,526.  About 8.7% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Lakes%2C_California  

Location: The Town of Mammoth Lakes is located in the heart of California's Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County.  Mammoth Lakes is about 325 miles north of Los Angeles, and about the same distance east of San Francisco.  Mammoth Lakes is about 164 miles south of Reno, NV.

Access: By automobile, Mammoth Lakes can be reached via U.S. Highway 395 from the north and south and Interstate 80 and Hwy 50 from the east and west.  State Highway 120 and State Highway 108 are open in the summer months only.

Transportation: Mammoth Yosemite Airport is located just 10 minutes from the Town of Mammoth Lakes.  For charter air service call Hot Creek Aviation (760) 924-9127 for charter services.  Reno/Tahoe International Airport (775) 328-6400 is a three-hour drive by automobile and is served by all major airlines.  Mammoth Shuttle (760) 934-6588 and Sierra Express (760) 934-8294 both offer service to and from Reno.  To travel by bus north to Reno or south to Los Angeles there is the Crest (Inyo-Mono Transit), (800) 922-1930 or (760) 872-1901.

Elevation: The Town of Mammoth Lakes sits at an altitude of 7,800 feet.  The surrounding mountains rise to elevations exceeding 12,000 feet.

Climate: In summer, temperatures average 75-80 degrees for a high and seldom dips below 40 for a low.  Winter temperatures average 30-40 degrees for a high and 10-20 degrees for a low with mostly sunny skies.

Precipitation: Based on figures compiled for more than 20 years, snowfall at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area averages 33 feet or 400 inches (10 meters) per year.

Accommodations: There are more than 4,774 rental units in Mammoth Lakes, accommodating various size groups.  This figure includes condominiums, hotels, motels, lodges, hotel condominiums, Bed & Breakfasts, and cabins.

Restaurants: With more than 70 restaurants and lounges in town, Mammoth Lakes offers a wide variety of menus.  Traditional, American, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, Thai and French cuisine are all available.  There is a restaurant in town that can satisfy any palate or budget.

Shopping: The majority of Mammoth's retail shops and stores are located in a variety of shopping plazas:  The Sierra Center Mall, Old Mammoth Mall, Main Street Plaza, Minaret Village Mall, Sherwin Plaza, Mammoth Luxury Outlet Mall and The Village at Mammoth.  Items of every description can be found in town, from gourmet wines, designer clothes and sporting equipment to local art, jewelry and home furnishings.

The area has natural hot springs which are sometimes used after skiing. Other features include lakes, a soda springs, and an obsidian dome. Mammoth Lakes is north of the Owens Valley, a scenic area with extensive hiking opportunities.

The town is surrounded by mountains: on the west, Mammoth Mountain looms over the town, while to the south, the Sherwin Range dominates the view. This hilly terrain and the high altitude makes the area great for high-altitude training.