Walnut Grove

    3155 Smith Lane, Clearlake, CA, 95422
    3.4 · 5 reviews
    • Independent living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    2.0

    Beautiful grounds unresponsive management pests

    I moved in for the beautiful, well-maintained grounds and the senior center right across the street - pets, smoking, and in-unit washer/dryer were pluses and the rent seemed reasonable. But management is unresponsive, maintenance is slow (promised grab bars never installed), and we've had cockroaches. I've been hit with bogus paint charges and collection attempts for disputed fees. The building feels claustrophobic and culturally unstimulating; with the 2x-rent income requirement, it's poor value.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    3.40 · 5 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.4
    • Staff

      1.0
    • Meals

      3.4
    • Amenities

      3.4
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • Well-maintained grounds
    • Visually attractive/physical beauty of the property
    • Proximity to senior center across the street
    • Reasonable rents
    • Pets allowed
    • Smoking allowed
    • In-unit washers and dryers
    • Clear income requirement (2x monthly rent)

    Cons

    • Unresponsive management
    • Cockroach/pest problems
    • Promised grab bars not installed
    • Frequent maintenance issues and long delays
    • Collection attempts for disputed charges
    • Apparent bogus or unexpected paint/other charges
    • Perceived poor value for money
    • Lack of cultural stimulation and activities
    • Claustrophobic or cramped-feeling environment
    • Local demand/tenants appearing desperate (pressure on community)
    • Smoking allowed (potential nuisance/health concern)

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed-to-negative, with clear strengths around the physical property and location but significant and recurring operational and management problems that undermine resident satisfaction. Reviewers repeatedly praise the look and upkeep of the grounds and the general physical attractiveness of the property, and many note practical conveniences such as in-unit washers/dryers, pet-friendly and smoking-permitted policies, and a straightforward income requirement (2x monthly rent). The facility's location next to a senior center is highlighted as a convenience and positive amenity. Rents are described as reasonable in absolute terms, which helps explain local demand.

    However, these positives are counterbalanced by a number of recurring and substantive complaints about management, maintenance, and living conditions. Multiple reviewers describe management as unresponsive, and there are repeated reports of promised safety or accessibility features — specifically grab bars — not being installed. Maintenance requests appear to be numerous and slow to resolve, with reviewers citing many outstanding items and long delays for repairs. This pattern contributes directly to a perception of poor care for residents' living conditions and raises safety concerns when accessibility modifications are not completed.

    Pest issues are explicitly called out: cockroaches are mentioned, which is a serious red flag for cleanliness and ongoing building maintenance. Financial and billing practices are another major theme: reviewers report collection attempts for charges they dispute and mention what they describe as bogus paint charges. These billing disputes, combined with the poor responsiveness from management, feed a broader perception that the community delivers poor value for money — rents may be reasonable on paper, but hidden or questionable charges and unresolved maintenance problems make the overall cost-benefit unattractive to some residents.

    Social environment and activities are also a concern. Several reviewers note a lack of cultural stimulation and describe the environment as claustrophobic, suggesting the community may not provide robust programming, communal engagement, or comfortable shared spaces for residents. Comments about locals appearing desperate imply high demand and possible turnover or stress among tenants; that dynamic can affect social atmosphere and perceived quality of life. The policy of allowing smoking and pets is noted as a convenience or selling point by some, but it also appears in the list of negatives because those allowances can create nuisances or health concerns for other residents.

    What emerges from these reviews is a clear divide between the community's tangible assets (appearance, location, some in-unit conveniences, and affordability) and its operational weaknesses (management responsiveness, maintenance execution, pest control, and billing transparency). Prospective renters should weigh the physical advantages and lower rents against these reported administrative and quality-of-life issues. If accessibility modifications, timely maintenance, pest control, and transparent billing are priorities, the documented patterns here suggest caution; if location, appearance, and in-unit amenities are the dominant priorities and tenants are comfortable with pet/smoking policies and potentially advocating strongly for service, the property may still be attractive. Finally, there is little or no specific information in these summaries about dining services or clinical care quality, so those areas remain unassessed by reviewers and should be investigated directly by prospective residents or their families.

    Location

    Map showing location of Walnut Grove

    About Walnut Grove

    Walnut Grove sits in Clearlake, California, among walnut trees, a fruit orchard, and a hillside vineyard, so you get a bit of that Northern California quiet mixed with views, and the apartments feel like they're tucked away but still close to shops, eateries, and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, where folks can hike, spot wildlife, or just get fresh air. The place is for people 55 and older, offering both one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with air conditioning, oversized closets, in-unit washer and dryer, cable-ready setups, and full kitchens that have dishwashers, refrigerators, and garbage disposals, so daily life's pretty manageable and comfortable, and if you've got a small dog or a cat-under the 16-20 pounds-they can come live here too, using the community's pet-friendly policies and little pet amenities.

    Residents can pick if they want a shared or private place, and the grounds are well-kept with spots to gather like a clubhouse with a fireplace, fitness center, business center, and community room, so there's always a space for social things, hobbies, or just quiet time. Daily life here includes exercise classes, field trips, study groups, onsite devotional services, and outings that take you off the property for a change of pace, and there's always a steady stream of events arranged so people aren't left sitting alone or bored.

    The staff at Walnut Grove, including a well-liked office manager named Katherine, keep things maintained, handle health and safety, and manage services like medication help, prescription supervision for an extra cost, and support with bathing, dressing, eating, or going to the restroom if someone needs it, plus they can arrange physical or occupational therapy through outside agencies, which gets billed separately, so care levels can go from basic independence right up to memory care and skilled nursing if it's ever required, and there's respite options if someone just needs a short-term stay.

    Meals are an option if you'd rather not cook, there's a daily continental breakfast, and the community centers make it easy to meet neighbors or host gatherings. If someone likes a smoke, you should know the property allows smoking which not everywhere does these days, so it's something to weigh. Walnut Grove also offers safe housing with security checks, transportation help, and parking, and you can get to public transit, grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, or a medical office without much trouble. There's also a senior center and library close by, so getting out for programs or just something different is easy. The whole thing is managed for comfort and independence, with apartment styles and support tailored to however much or little help someone wants, and while you won't find fancy showrooms or luxury promises, what you'll notice are clean, well-maintained spaces, a sense of safety, and the kind of steady, everyday attention that helps folks feel at home while keeping as much independence as possible.

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