Why Live at Cordillera?

When asked why they had chosen Cordillera at Serrano, home owners had this to say:

"I like the views of the valley, the old oak trees and the contrast between perfectly manicured landscaping and the natural, open areas. "

"We have sunshine when there is fog in the valley."

"I've always wanted to live in the foothills and the gold country. When I took a job with a new company and moved back to California, I knew that El Dorado Hills was where I wanted to buy. My wife chose a home in Cordillera, so that is where we live."

"It's close to water sports, skiing, and the Tahoe."

"The homes are well built from a reputable company and I really liked their floor plans."

"We looked at a lot of houses, but as soon as I walked into the Laquesta model, I fell in love with the 10 foot arched doorways through the center of the house and the beautiful hard wood floors."

"We wanted to get out of the congestion in the bay area and live in a place where we could get to know our neighbors."

Cordillera Real Estate

"At Cordillera at Serrano the gates of your prestigious new neighborhood welcome you upon arrival. These beautiful new homes feature expansive entries, courtyards and grand spiral staircases. Visit today and tour three models boasting approximately 2897-4019 square feet. The dream is alive and real and can be found in one of Northern California's most sought-after addresses, Cordillera at Serrano."


There are currently five homes for sale at Cordillera. Prices range from $499,990 for a one-story 2897 square foot model ($172 per square foot) to $603,842 for a two-story 4019 square foot model ($150 per square foot). There are three models available for viewing at the Pulte sales office located at Preston & Serrano Parkway.

Future plans near the neighborhood include a new elementary school across Serrano Parkway from the Cordillera entrance gates and a shopping center at the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Serrano Parkway.

Community Events & Activities

No matter what the season, there's plenty to do at Serrano and in the surrounding area. (Current list of Serrano events.) Here's a sampling of what's happening in Serrano and El Dorado Hills:

El Dorado Hills boasts two Certified Farmers Markets, one at the Community Service District (El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Harvard Way) and one at Town Center (El Dorado Hills Blvd. Interchange at Highway 50 near the Regal Theatres). The CSD market is open on Thursday mornings; the Town Center Market on Sunday mornings. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and nursery items, fresh-baked bread, and more.

Annual 4th of July Celebration Summer Spectacular typically begins at noon at Cameron Park Lake with crafts, carnival games, contests, local entertainment, raffles, food and refreshments. The day closes with a spectacular fireworks display over the lake.

Saturday in the Park is an El Dorado Hills family event held each August. Activities include a crafts fair, food, vendors, music, children's activities and more. Held at the Community Services District park at El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Harvard Way.

Apple Hill Season (Labor Day weekend through Christmas). Visit a variety of family farms and wineries; buy produce, home-baked apple pies and local wines. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the popular stops along the farm trail or have a picnic.

Summer Concerts in the Park is held at the Community Services District park (El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Harvard Way) on Friday evenings. Dates and performers - bands range from rock to jazz - are announced in advance. Bring blankets and a picnic dinner.

Community Concert Series, sponsored by Lakehills Community Church, is held on select Saturday and Sunday evenings in the summer at the Serrano Village Green. Dates and performers are announced in advance. Bring blankets and a picnic dinner. The venue ranges from jazz to '40s big-band music.

The Folsom Rodeo, which runs for four days around the Fourth of July, is part of a national circuit that also attracts many local-area cowboys and cowgirls. The fun also includes herding the cattle down historic Sutter Street and a fireworks extravaganza at the conclusion of each rodeo.

The California State Fair is held each year at the Cal Expo (Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento) on 356 acres adjacent to the American River. The fair, which attracts visitors from all over the world, typically runs from mid-August until Sept. 1. Activities and attractions include everything you would expect at a world-class fair and more, including amusement rides and games, horse races, barnyard animals and animal shows, concerts and a variety of demonstrations and exhibits.

El Dorado Musical Theatre is an award-winning group of local performers ages 6 through 18, with high-quality performances for families and the entire community. EDMT has presented such outstanding shows as The Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes, The Jungle Book, Barnum and Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

The Music Circus at Wells Fargo Pavillion in Sacramento is a summer tent theater featuring world-class performers.

El Dorado Hills Firefighters Association Wine & Cheese Festival is held each September in the El Dorado Hills Business Park, south of Highway 50 on the west side of Latrobe Road. The festival showcases El Dorado County wines, beers and restaurants and includes live music, a classic car show and a silent auction.

The Niello Concours at Serrano is held each October at Serrano's Village Green. This event is a car show like no other, bringing together automobile enthusiasts and spectators for a day of fun, entertainment and competition. The event's presenters, Premier Concours Promotions, say this local event is well on its way to becoming a true Concours d'Elegance, thanks to the beautiful setting at Serrano and the quality of the classic motorcar entries.


Christmas Tree Lighting sponsored by the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce at the Community Service District. (El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Harvard Way). Christmas carols and entertainment; cookies and punch.

Annual Christmas Parade on Historic Main Street in Placerville. Also in Placerville during the winter season, take a stagecoach or a "Holly Jolly Trolley" ride and visit with Santa.

Serrano's Easter Egg Hunt is held annually in March/April on the Serrano Village Green. Kids gather eggs and meet the bunny while parents meet each other - and everyone enjoys refreshments.

El Dorado Hills Community Services Spring Egg Hunt is held each March/April at the Community Services District at El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Harvard Way. Children collect eggs and participate in a variety of events. The CSD also holds a pancake breakfast the morning of the hunt.

Passport Weekend, sponsored by the El Dorado County Winery Association, is held on two separate weekends in the spring, generally in April. This popular event, which typically sells out by January, requires advance reservations. "Passport" order forms are available from the Web site or at the wineries.

The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee is billed as the world's largest and greatest jazz festival, with more than 100 bands performing at various locations throughout the city. Shuttle buses carry visitors to each venue, including Old Sacramento, the Delta King Dock and the downtown area. Held annually during the Memorial Day weekend.

For more information about community events, please visit the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce Web site.

Serrano in the News

PRESS RELEASE

Village Life
June 4, 2008

SERRANO AWARDED GRANT FOR WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS: Community's HOA takes steps in the right direction

The Serrano El Dorado Owners' Association has been awarded a special grant for its implementation of a technologically advanced program to save water within the Serrano community.

The Association's Recycled Water Department has been working on the project for the past year. In April, the Association was presented a check for $67,000 by the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID), administrator of the program with the Regional Water Authority (RWA). The program is funded through the Department of Water Resources (DWA).

The funds have gone directly to the purchase of equipment for Serrano's new Weather-Based Irrigation Control (WBIC) program.

The WBIC system utilizes a commercial-grade weather station that provides weather data every hour to "receivers" that have been installed at Serrano park sites. The receivers utilize this data to determine when irrigation is required based on site conditions (sun exposure, soil type, sprinkler precipitation rate, etc.).

The receivers are coupled to new state-of-the-art irrigation controllers with built-in remote controls to make trouble-shooting of broken sprinkler heads and other "water-wasters" an easier process for the Association's maintenance contractors and irrigation technicians.

The benefits of WBIC also include reduction of over-watering and run-off to streams and waterways; increased health and durability of the community's landscape; reduced maintenance due to more reliable and technologically advanced equipment; and monetary savings resulting from reduced consumption.

The WBIC system is now being used in Serrano's community parks, as well as a number of homes that have had long-standing concerns related to over-watering.

The Serrano El Dorado Owners' Association is responsible for the landscape maintenance of the majority of residential front yards in Serrano, as well as 10 parks, 19 gated entrances and miles of streetscapes.

"The Association has made it a major goal to help our homeowners save energy and resources," said John Bowman, Association General Manager. "Although the WBIC system is still in the early stages of implementation, this small step will lead to great strides in water conservation for the future."

For more information call 916-939-1728 or visit www.serranohoa.org.



News & Links

• New year, new community grand opening at Serrano; Serrano Magazine, 
Winter 2007

• Serrano recognized for excellence in community maintenance; Village Life
, January 3, 2007

• 
Parker Development Company celebrates 50 years of building quality master-planned communities; In the news and on the web
, May 2006

• 
It takes a village (and more): El Dorado Hills gets first full-service library; In the news and on the web
, January 27, 2006

• Serrano wins national award for its recycled water program; El Dorado Hills Telegraph
, August 24, 2005

• Parker Development Company's Serrano community wins major National Arbor Day Foundation award; Mountain Democrat, 
July 18, 2005

• Parker Development funds tree planting along El Dorado Hills Blvd, and in Serrano open space; Mountain Democrat, 
December 31, 2004

• Hikers and bicyclers on Serrano's paths now have trailheads to pinpoint their location - Parker Development Company, residents work together to provide just-in-case safety measure; Sacramento Bee
, November 20, 2004

Cordillera School Districts

Ponderosa High
Rated "9" out of 10 by greatschools.com

Ponderosa High School is located at 3661 Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. It serves grades 9-12 and was recognized in the top 3% of American High Schools by US News and World Report in December, 2007. Founded in 1963, Ponderosa High School is located on 38 acres in a semi-rural setting. The oak-lined campus is one of five high schools in the rapidly growing El Dorado Union High School District. Enrollment for grades 9-12 is projected at 1,990 students for the upcoming school year. Ponderosa recently earned the maximum 6-year accreditation as a result of the 2006-07 review by Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Approximately one-half of the District's Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) are located on Ponderosa's campus. Ponderosa also houses the Agriculture Program for the District's comprehensive high schools. In 2001 and 2007, Ponderosa was also named a California Distinguished High School, and has exceeded the state API score of 800 required of all California schools. Ponderosa has maintained first-place for 16 consecutive years in the countywide Academic Decathlon. API scores (Source: http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/6891)



Marina Village Middle
Rated "10" out of 10 by greatschools.com

Marina Village Middle School is located at 1901 Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills. As part of the Rescue Union School district, it serves grades 6 - 8 with a traditional school year. It has approximately 650 students and 29 teachers. Extracurricular activities offered are band, dance, drawing/painting, theater/drama, cross country, football, soccer, basketball, field hockey, track, wrestling and volleyball. API scores.
(Source: http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/11006)


Lakeview Elementary
Rated "9" out of 10 by greatschools.com

Lakeview Elementary School is located at 3371 Brittany Way in El Dorado Hills and opened in October, 2005. It sits on a 10-acre parcel of land atop a hill with a scenic overlook of Folsom Lake. With a traditional school year, it serves grades K-6. There are currently 501 students enrolled and 26 teachers. Recent API scores.

Community Resources

• El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce
• El Dorado Hills Community Services District

Airports

• Sacramento Int'l Airport (SMF), Sacramento
• Cameron Park Airport, Cameron Park
• Folsom Lake Airport, Folsom
• Rancho Murieta Airport, Rancho Murieta

Banks

• Wells Fargo Bank, 3935 Park Drive, El Dorado Hills
• The Mechanics Bank, 4534 Town Center Blvd, El Dorado Hills
• Umpqua Bank, 3880 El Dorado Hills Blvd, El Dorado Hills
• El Dorado Savings Bank, 3919 Park Drive, Suite 60, El Dorado Hills
• Bank of America, 3901 Park Drive, El Dorado Hills
• First Northern Bank of Dixon, 881 Embarcadero Drive, Suite 2, El Dorado Hills
  

Churches

• Bridgepointe Church, 4990 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills
• Capital Korean Presbyterian, 1441 Tong Road, El Dorado Hills
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1275 Green Valley Rd, El Dorado Hills
• Cornerstone Christian Church, 931 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills
• El Dorado Hills Baptist Church, 931 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills
• First Church of Christ Scientist - Trader Lane Wool, El Dorado Hills
• Holy Trinity Church, 3111 Tierra de Dios Drive, El Dorado Hills
• Jehovah's Witnesses - Folsom, 350 Green Valley Road, El Dorado Hills
• Jubilee Sacramento Valley Church, 1342 Terracina Drive, El Dorado Hills
• Lakehills Church, 5145 Golden Foothill Parkway, El Dorado Hills
• Rolling Hills Christian Church, 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills
• Solomon's Porch, 2309 Summer Dr, El Dorado Hills
• St Stephens Church, 1001 Olson Lane, El Dorado Hills
• Sun Hills Community Church, 1035 Suncast Lane, El Dorado Hill

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Folsom
• Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Roseville
• Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Rancho Cordova
• Marshall Hospital, Placerville
• Mercy Hospital, Folsom
• Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento
• Sutter General Hospital, Sacramento
• Sutter Memorial Hospital, Sacramento
  

Libraries

• El Dorado County - El Dorado Hills Branch - 7455 Silva Valley Parkway
• El Dorado County - Cameron Park Branch - 2500 Country Club Drive
• El Dorado County - Main Branch/Placerville - 345 Fair Lane

Newspapers

• El Dorado Hills Telegraph --Published every Wednesday by Gold Country Media.
  

• Village Life --Published every Wednesday by Life Newspapers, LLC, a member of the McNaughton newspaper family.
  

• Sacramento Bee -Published daily. A McClatchy newspaper
  

• Mountain Democrat --Published Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A McNaughton newspaper.

Parks & Swimming Pools

• Allan H. Lindsey Park - Serrano; Silva Parkway at Entrada Street
• Art Weisberg Park - Corner of Francisco and Pendleton Drives
• Bass Lake Field - Bass Lake Road
• El Dorado Hills Archery Range - El Dorado Hills Bouldvard between Woedee Drive & Wilson Drive
• El Dorado Hills Community Park -- El Dorado Hills Blvd between St. Andrews Drive and Harvard Way
• El Dorado Hills Community Pool - El Dorado Hills Blvd at Harvard Way
• New York Creek Nature Trail - Southern end begins/ends in the Community Park along Harvard Way across from Oak Ridge High School. Northern end begins/ends near Art Weisberg Park.
• Oak Knoll Park - Hills of El Dorado subdivision, Alyssum Circle off Bass Lake Road
• Overlook Park -- Green Valley Hills Village, Kensington Drive off Sebastian Court
• St. Andrews Park - El Dorado Hills Blvd at Francisco Drive
• Village Green Park - Serrano - Serrano Parkway at Silva Valley Parkway
• Bertelsen Park - Park Village - Arrowhead Drive and Redwood Lane
• Kalithea Park - Gillett Drive at Powers Drive
• Parkview Heights Park - Parkview Heights - Governor and Ridgeview Drives
• Reid White Memorial Ponds at Governor Park - Governor Village - Governor Drive and Merriman Lane
• Ridgeview Park - Ridgeview Village - Ridgeview Drive between Patterson Way and Glen Ridge Way
• Ridgeview Unit 7 Park - Ridgeview Village - Powers Drive and Julie Ann Way
• Steven Harris Park - St. Andrews Village - Tam O'Shanter Drive
• Waterford Park - Waterford Village - Caranelian Circle at Bairdsley Place
• Wild Oaks Park - El Dorado Hills Blvd between Francisco Drive and Brittany Way
• William C. McCabe Memorial Softball Field - Park Village, adjacent to William Brooks Elementary School, Redwood Lane

History of EDH & Serrano

Miwok & Maidu Indian tribes once roamed the southwestern portion of what is now El Dorado County. The Maidu tribe stayed to the north, while the Miwok were more southern with a few villages along the coast. In the winter, most of the Maidu lived in tepee-shaped, bark-covered lodges. In the summer, they lived in the open. They were a gentle, hard-working group of people who spoke softly to one another to avoid damaging the keen sense of hearing required to be a successful hunter. Mortar stations (grinding rocks) used in preparing their food can still be seen today near Latrobe. The rivers and creeks provided abundant salmon, eel and other fish. The game they killed included antelope, elk, deer, rabbits, squirrels and quail and common plants in their diet were acorns, hazelnuts, ferns, purslane, mustard, wild onions, berries and grapes.

Under Spanish and Mexican Rule
The colonization of California began with the Spanish Empire's discovery of New Spain. Along with Mexico, the states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and other lands, made up what was once known as New Spain. At the time of Spanish colonization in California, all land title was vested in the Spanish Empire by virtue of discovery. Private land claims in California emanated from the Spanish and later Mexican, government's practice of granting sovereign lands to private individuals. When the United States took possession of California and other Mexican lands in 1848, it was bound by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to honor the legitimate land claims of Mexican citizens residing in those captured territories. According to the El Dorado County Assessor's office and El Dorado Historical Museum, there were no Spanish or Mexican land grants in what later became El Dorado Hills.

The Gold Rush
In 1848, gold was discovered by James Marshall at Coloma. "Gold fever" brought fortune seekers from Mexico, Europe and other states to California. In 1849, California became a state and by 1852, the gold rush was virtually over. Settlers could claim up to 160 acres by occupying and making improvements to the land and by 1852, over 12,000 Californians had set up farms. During this time, the area of what is now the south side of El Dorado Hills was known as Clarkston's Town and later Clarksville, named after Luther Brown Clark and his brother Harry who had a stopping place on the main road. At its peak, Clarksville had several hundred people with recognized names such as Barton, Thomas, Fisk, Russi, Taylor, Van Wicklin, Wilson, Fitch, Kyburz, Murphy, Tong and Joerger. A plat map dated 1895 at the El Dorado County Historical Museum shows the current Serrano area once belonged to the Anton Russi family and a 1925 plat map indicates that it then belonged to the Frank X. Walker family. All that remains of the town today are two brick walls from the general store and a couple of dilapidated houses beyond repair.

El Dorado Hills
Allan H. Lindsey is considered to have "founded" El Dorado Hills in 1959 when he bought 20 parcels of ranch lands totaling about 11,000 acres of what was once Clarksville. The largest pieces of property purchased by Allan Lindsey were the Joerger and Walker ranches. The name El Dorado Hills was chosen because he believed it captured the spirit of the Gold Rush as El Dorado means "the gilded one" or "the golden one" in Spanish. According to Lindsey's original plan, El Dorado Hills would be developed into 12 distinct villages, each defined by natural parks, arterial streets and unique architectural style and 2,000 acres of open space. In addition, each village was to have its own shopping center and recreational club. In 1962, the first village was completed and a family moved into the area. The second and third villages also soon opened. Raley's supermarket, the first community shopping center to open, was completed in 1970. By the late 1960s, property in El Dorado Hills wasn't selling as fast as Lindsey had planned due to cutbacks at nearby industries, so Lindsey was forced to sell out to the John Hancock Insurance Company.

They did little development in the 1970s and by late in the decade, they had begun to sell off the land one parcel at a time. In 1978, a group of investors purchased additional undeveloped acreage in El Dorado Hills. In 1980, another economic downturn began and interest rates began to rise. The owners worked on a master plan for the area, but the community saw little or no development. In 1989, 3500 acres of the property, which became Serrano, were sold to the Parker Development Company.

In the 1990s, real estate development picked up and one of the largest master-planned developments in the area was started by Parker Development loosely following Lindsey's original vision for the area. The Serrano Visitor's Center opened in 1995 and began selling custom home sites as a series of neighborhoods attached to the basic street system of Serrano Parkway and Silva Valley Parkway. The Serrano development includes 1000 acres of open space, 63 acres of parkland, a 200-acre private championship par-72 golf course, village green and outdoor amphitheater, on-site public library, three on-site schools, spectacular views, and 23 miles of hiking and biking trails.


Today, El Dorado Hills encompasses 17.9 square miles of land along the western boundary of El Dorado County, California and is located about 30 miles east of Sacramento and 20 miles west of Placerville on the western slopes of the Sierra. It is an unincorporated community and most of the community services (garbage collection, cable TV, street lighting) are supplied by the El Dorado Hills Community Services District. Fire and police services are supplied by El Dorado County.

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(Sources: El Dorado County Tax Assessor's Office; El Dorado County Museum;The El Dorado Hills Handbook by Anna Van Raaphorst-Johnson & Richard H. Johnson; Serrano Visitor's information packet; Grants of Land in California made by Spanish or Mexican Authorities by Cris Perez; westernlivingcenter.com; El Dorado County 2007 Economic and Demographic Profile published by Center for Economic Development, California State University, Chico)