Lake Communities

Southern & Western Shores of the Lake are home to three Clubs (Tri-Counties Ski Club, Cal-Shasta, and South Shore Village) with lakefront property and a variety of homes. All are “group ownerships” without individual fee title. There are also three areas of acreage properties, which offer lake access: Running Deer Ranch, Ranchos del Lago and Heritage Ranch.

Running Deer Ranch is a private, gated community of 128 parcels of land comprising approximately 2,000 acres on the South Shore of Lake Nacimiento. It is located between the Towne Creek and Las Tablas branches of the Lake, on Chimney Rock Road, 21 miles west of Paso Robles. The main gate is electric and property owners must have a code to open the gate. Running Deer features a community picnic ground, an area for docks, and a concrete launch ramp.

In 1977 a Grant Deed of Easement was given by the owner of the parcel located to the right of the boat ramp to the Running Deer Ranch Company, Inc. In 1983 this nonprofit corporation was renamed San Luis Obispo County Running Deer Ranch Company, Inc. and exists “To preserve the recreational easement of the 'Point’ property and maintain the roads so members may get to use and enjoy the ‘Point.’” It is important to note that any use of the 'Point', including the launch ramp, is only available to Running Deer Ranch owners who are members in good standing of San Luis Obispo County Running Deer Ranch Company. Inc. To read more about the Conditional Use Permit for the Point click here.

Election of the Board of Directors of the Company takes place annually at the General Membership Meeting on Memorial Day Weekend. Membership dues are collected each April and include a road maintenance fee. Annual dues for 2022 are $492 per member family, which includes a pass-through of $167 for South Nacimiento Road Association dues. Dues-paying members also receive newsletters periodically as well as a key to the "Point.” This key allows them to moor, fasten, secure, tie up and maintain boats and docking facilities and temporarily park vehicles and boat trailers while using the lake.

Ranchos Del Lago is a development of 21 lakefront parcels with paved road access and a concrete launch ramp. It is located along the Main Channel just across the Lake from the West of Oak Shores.

Heritage Ranch is a 9,150 acre development situated on the southern shoreline of beautiful Lake Nacimiento. A private gated community with 2,104 presently developed single-family residential lots and 5,100 acres of dedicated open space, Heritage Ranch is the perfect place for the vacation home or cabin you’ve always dreamed of. Heritage Ranch is managed through a homeowner’s association and has a Community Services District, which maintains most of the utilities. There are paved roads, complete sewer system, underground electric, water, telephone service and cable TV. Five to twenty acre ranches, homes on lots to 1/3 acre, homesites, condos, mobile homes and RV sites are offered.

The North Shore of the Lake has two Boat Clubs (Christmas Cove and North Shore Boat & Ski) and a limited number of acreage properties, which can be accessed via Bee Rock Road, Nacimiento Shores Drive and Lynch Canyon Road.

Oak Shores is private, gated community located in the oak covered foothills of Tierra Redondo Mountain on the North Shore of the Lake. It is an easy and scenic drive from Paso Robles over approximately 25 miles of good, paved roads. The 320 acres of Oak Shores are divided into more than 800 residential lots. Parcels are available at the shores of Lake Nacimiento and close by, up in the hills. With the purchase of property at Oak Shores, owners automatically become members of the Oak Shores Community Association, which owns and maintains a number of community amenities, including the greenbelt, clubhouse, boat ramp, marina, swimming pool, and camp ground. Oak Shores is also equipped with its own fire protection, including a fire engine, fire boat and volunteer fire fighters.

The adjacent development of Oak Shores Estates is a unique, fully entitled, lake front project accessed through Oak Shores. While the project is currently on hold, it has 345 lots planned and over 300 acres of open space. Amenities will include a 140-slip marina, launch ramp, proposed future pool and recreation center.