The 80-mile long Surprise Valley sits on the western edge of the Great Basin straddling the California Nevada border with the Oregon border just above its northern boundary. It is home to four towns (from south to north): Eagleville, Cedarville, Lake City, and Fort Bidwell, totaling barely 1000 year-round residents, with post offices in each town.
The valley is served by the Surprise Valley Hospital which provides emergency care, care flight, and long-term care… “God’s Waiting Room”. More major medical is handled in Alturas at Modoc Medical Center. Major major medical is in either Reno or Redding.
Cedarville is home to the USFS, BLM, an airport, and a multi-grade school. It also hosts a few restaurants, a couple of art galleries, and a few retail establishments including a grocery store with essentials. Besides Airbnb, there is the Sunrise Motel and the Surprise Valley Hot Springs for lodging. It is decidedly ‘The Marfa of California’.
There is wireless internet service from an independent ISP and DSL in primary zones. Cellular coverage is primarily US Cellular, with Verizon in primary zones.