What makes Lake San Marcos so special?  Please write and tell me why you moved here, why you stay here, and what you enjoy most about our community.  I will put your responses on this forum for everyone to enjoy.

Jacque Baker
September 11, 2008

Forget about computers, cell phones, and car-based map locators.  The fastest communication system in the world (at least for finding our wonderful home in beautiful Lake San Marcos) is our Mom and her beauty shop! 

We were moving from Maryland to San Marcos, and we needed a home.  So, the Good Lord said, "No problem!...I´ll arrange it!"  Our Mom (who lives a mile and a half from Lake San Marcos) was having her hair done in her beauty shop one Friday morning, and she told her hairdresser, Jo, the happy news that her daughter and husband would be arriving in a few weeks and that they would be looking for a home the minute they got here.  Jo said, "Hmmm3;one of my customers wants to sell her home and she didn´t have it on the market."  Voila!  Our Mom (who just happens to be a former realtor) hooked- up with the seller, introduced us to her the day after we arrived from Maryland, negotiated on our behalf, closed the sale, managed the transaction and the paperwork, and made us proud and happy homeowners in Beautiful Lake San Marcos!  And now, after nearly three great years of living in our fine home, with wonderful neighbors on a quiet street with a spectacular view of the mountains and awesome sunrises, we´re settled-in to the nicest community in the County. 

Where else can you live close to a beautiful lake and mountains, where the swans (and the baby swans!) and the ducks are considered part of the family? Where else can you rent a motor boat or a paddle boat, play tennis, play ping pong, play billiards, swim in a pool-all in the same day if you like- all part of your community membership?...and then dine in a fine restaurant over the Lake, look at those pristine mountains, and watch those swans and ducks?  Where else can you live in community like this with its own church?  Where else can you enjoy a fabulous annual all-day 4th of July Celebration?- right down the street.  And let´s not forget friendly Leann´s Café- within walking distance from just about anywhere at the Lake!  And who needs a gym when you can go for a run through some of most scenic streets (mountains and Lake!) anywhere?   And is Lake San Marcos a golfer´s paradise or what?

Lake San Marcos´ terrific reputation precedes us.  We sometimes get "Ooos and Ahs" from people when (after seeing our "Beautiful Lake San Marcos" license plate frame) they say, "That´s a really nice place!" or "It must be really cool living there!" or just "Wow!". 

We have a unique, very special community here at the Lake, and we´re very happy to call Lake San Marcos our home.  Thanks, Mom!                                                             

Kate and David Zacker

                                                                                 
Who would think a sheet of yellow paper, vertically divided, equally, by a single line, (with Bruce's wishes on one side, nime on the other), would verify 100% each of our dreams.  For three years we searched.  In one day, after checking off our list, we bought our new home in Lake San Marcos.

Our wishes included sunny climate, a walking golf course we could afford, an inviting home with happy surroundings which we could afford, the ocean nearby, hiking trails, and a Horizon for me to dream upon.  Those were the environmental requirements which were so beautifully fulfilled in Lake San Marcos in 1992. We enjoyed the convenience of a lovely challenging, friendly golf course with new friends; we joined clubs as they interested us; we used pools and tennis courts freely, and the Rec Center which was open to residents for entertaining; we explored the Lake, walked to the Picnic grounds, found Discovery Lake, swam in the adult and Family pools, all the time meeting new, active, interesting people. Socially, LSM offed and continues to offer gatherings and classes to satisfy any and all seeking to learn, dance, computer, wrtiting, gardening, yachting, poetry, exercise, political discussions, book club, travel sharing, bridge groups, or just socializing at our nearby favorit Coffee House, LeeAnn's.

The convenience of our then local community shopping center made necessary shopping a pleaseure.  In time our San Marcos City expanded, brining many conveniences closer to us: professional, hair dressers, pet stores, clothing stores, discount outlets, books art, flowers, a multi theater complex conventional as well as exciting restaurants, and now new rail transportation.  The Sprinter gives us low price transportation from Escondido to Oceanside. The North County Transit Company helps with my own limited transportation needs now.

It would be a crime to hoard all of the above for ourselves.  I continue to enjoy the convenience of having an Inn/Hotel nearby to accommodate family and friends who clamor to visit our " bit of Paradise". Now, in my nineties, I particularly appreciate the responsible, thoughtful caring Security Patrol on duty all 24 hours.  Through the years, the community feeling among neighbors has bonded  us into an alliance of friends, ready to respond for celebration or need. To walk, bicycle, or jog on the quiet, winding streets with their bountiful seasonal flowers is a healthy, happy uplifting start to any day.  To additionally satisfy my learning desires, I may enroll in classes at CAL State San Marcos, Palomar College, or the classes at the Senior Citizen Center.

Lake San Marcos lifing continues to give me pleasure as well as an environment conducive to my changing wishes and needs.

Eleanor Farrow


We moved to Lake San Marcos seven years ago.  We had never heard of this area.  We had spent a day with our daughter in San Juan Capistrano. We decided to drive around and beyond, into North SD county.   It was getting late in the day - dark.  We got lost.  We ended up, after sunset, at the Quail Hotel, dined at the Quail restaurant, enjoyed looking at the Lake and wondered where we were.  Early the next morning Gene walked across "the bridge", came back to our hotel room and told me there was a "fairyland over there" and that I must see it.  Instead of driving home early, we walked and walked, looking at homes, enjoying the peace and quiet, that was so unlike "L.A life in the fast lane"!  That was the beginning.  Wow!  What a beginning.  Who knew.  We used to refer to Lake San Marcos as California's best kept secret.  It isn't that way anymore, is it!

Gene and Evie Williams

Our experience regarding Lake San Marcos was that we were looking for a second, vacation home for weekends from our main home at Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley.  We came to Lake San Marcos in 1982 and looked around, we liked the golf course and the lake and the homes but all of the residence seemed too old for us!  Plus we had  a sixteen year old son which restricted us.

 When I retired we bought in Indian Wells (in the Palm Springs area) it was very nice there, however, the summers were very HOT!  We then came back to Lake San Marcos and rented a home for June, July and August. We ended up buying a home on San Julian Dr. and then, since we owned, we stayed longer, like; June, July, August, September and October!  We rented out the house in the winter as that is when we went back to the desert.

After ten years in the desert and after almost forty years of having two homes, we wanted one place and that is here!  Great climate wonderful community, fantastic people, close to hospitals, the airport, entertainment and community involvement.

 At the beginning of this description I mentioned that the people that we saw in 1982 were too old3;3;3;.well, we fit right in right now!

 Al & Viola Kremer

Our reason for moving to Lake San Marcos was based on wanting to belong to a community and wanting to be able to play golf and have a boat on the lake.  We were living in Corona del Mar and it was becoming so conjested and our house was too big for us in retirement so decided to look for a friendly community within a short distance from our two children.  Both children lived in San Diego and could go home after a days visit.  We visited several areas before coming to Lake San Marcos.  Our friend Loma Rectenwald lived here and invited us to play golf at the Country Club and lunch afterwards.  She had a friend in real estate who later showed around.  I wanted a large kitchen and George wanted a place with view.  We found both at our present home on Mall IV. 

Rena Robinson

I moved to Lake San Marcos really by accident. I sold my large family home in Escondido and thought I would maybe rent for six months or a year. I found a house on La Loma Dr. and did rent for a year. I decided it was such a nice place to rent why not buy  in this area.. I started looking and found a house that had a for sale sign out in front,however it had an arrow pointing up hill that I did not see. I saw a gentleman watering and asked him if his house was for sale. He said yes but not just yet,my wife is inside you can talk to her. Entering the house I immediately was struck by the homey feeling it had (even though at the time furniture was being stored in it)for me. Long story short I bought this house and have enjoyed it from the start. Walking my dog is such a pleasure in the Lake area,and you meet the nicest people. It's worth every penny to feel safe and secure here . The homes are all so well kept and it is just a pleasure to be part of Lake San Marcos for the last five years.
The sign,by the way ,was for another house up the hill which I never even looked at.
Jill Kuhlmeyer

We moved to Lake San Marcos because of the peace and beauty of the lake with the Cross, swans and pelicans. And, when we learned of the many social activities that cover so many interests we knew we would not be newcomers for long. We call our place A Slice of Heaven.

Tweet and Rex Edmonds


I do not own a home here. I rent a condo in Fairway Knolls. But my sister and my mom own 
homes here and I hope to one day also. I moved here after a divorce that forced me to 
sell my home in Santa Fe Hills. I love it here. As a writer who works at home all day, I 
love the golf course atmosphere, the quiet and the noise, and the feel of a real 
hometown. After my divorce, I needed a place that felt peaceful, yet also had activity, 
and of course, plenty of birds and trees to remind me of the healing power of nature. My 
neighbors are caring people, and I feel watched over, something very important for a 
single mom trying to make it on my own. My son goes to Discovery School, but if you ask 
him his favorite place, he will say his Mema's house on the golf course!

Lake San Marcos feels like home, even when I lived elsewhere. The natural beauty, the 
caring people, and the small town community feeling are priceless. One day soon I hope to 
call it my permanent home.

MARIE D. JONES

i moved to the lake at least fifteen years ago, and i love this area. i bought here because of the security and the fact it feels like a gated community, but it isn't. it's close to my work, close to the golf courses and there are amenities that i can enjoy if i wish (the clubs). i have always paid for the lsm association dues and the cdc dues. i believe that because we have these extra amenities, that my property has more value, which is evident in this current economy. i know there are residents that do not pay these dues and still use these extra amenities and benefit from the security patrol we have. this is a suggestion that i am making. could we conduct a pole of the owners of lsm who also fell that these dues should become mandatory of all residents. if the majority of residents fell that they should be mandatory, then we should incorporate these dues into our bylaws. you can quote me on this. thank you,
carol rogers