Grass Valley Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Nevada County, California

Grass Valley

Grass Valley and the surrounding communities call themselves a “Land of blue skies, green trees and golden opportunities...” This colorful phrase captures the essence of the quality of life in beautiful Nevada County. If you ask residents what's so special about their community, they will probably begin by telling you about the landscape, the charming, historic gold rush towns surrounded by rolling hills and towering green pines, the graceful oaks shading pastures in the lower elevations and the snow-covered Sierra peaks in the background.

The sky is generally a brilliant blue from May to October with average temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees during the daytime, cooling off to the 50s in the evenings. The rainy season, from November to April, is also mild. Daytime temperatures typically rise to the 40s and 50s and nighttime temperatures drop into the 30s. The average rainfall is 55 inches per year. While light snow may fall a few times a year, it rarely lasts for too long; however, every few years the area gets a huge snowstorm that slows everyone up for a few days.

Each year hundreds of families and retirees take advantage of the ultimate golden opportunity by choosing to call Nevada County their new home. Most are charmed by the casual lifestyle, finding small town friendliness, community celebrations, civic and special interest clubs, farmer's markets, outdoor fun and cultural events for everyone to enjoy.

Even with all of its rural appeal, the community is not isolated. Sacramento is only an hour's drive away; to the west, San Francisco is 150 miles away and to the east Reno and Lake Tahoe are within easy driving distance for a day trip.

First settled by emigrants who came upon a lush "grassy valley," this Sierra foothills outpost known as Boston Ravine then Centerville would become Grass Valley, the richest of all California gold mining towns. Grass Valley is home to the famous Empire Mine, which during a century of operation produced more than $900 million in gold.

Today, the Empire Mine is a state historic park, one of the many colorful and interesting attractions that make Grass Valley popular among residents and visitors alike. Enjoy Gold Rush history, beautiful lakes, rivers, mountains and a variety of cultural activities not usually found in small towns.

Historic downtown Grass Valley is the hub of the surrounding community. The historic Holbrooke Hotel, one of the oldest in Gold Country, is augmented by several bed and breakfast inns that provide comfortable and historic lodging. Historic Mill Street, where the legendary Mark Twain and Lola Montez once trod, is a popular destination with colorful shops and boutiques featuring antiques that attract collectors from far and wide, award-winning restaurants, Victorian homes and fun-filled community celebrations.
Grass Valley has also become one of the best book-shopping areas in the country.

Each year, the Music in the Mountains Summer Festival brings the historic hall of St. Joseph's Cultural Center alive with classical music. Other annual attractions include the Good Ole Days Car show, Sierra Festival of the Arts, Nevada County Fair and Cornish Christmas.