What A ‘Laff’: Oakwood Shores Brings Lakeside Luxury To Manteca

By Gene Beley, Big Monkey Group

Stand on any of the properties in Manteca’s Oakwood Shores development and you’d have a hard time believing what used to be below your feet.

The 424-lot development off Airport Way was once a gravel pit. Then, from 1974 to 2004, it was the home of Manteca Waterslides water park. Much of that park is, ironically, underwater now.

The original waterslide park’s owners claimed problems with workers’ compensation and health- care costs forced them to close. This led to Lafferty Communities recently acquiring the property.

Many homes in the gated, luxury lakefront development have been finished, and there are four lakefront model homes open for inspection.

The Tuscan-themed architecture has accents of stone, wood, brick and wrought iron to give it an estate, luxury look to each home. Carriage-house style garage doors and eight-foot entry doors carry out the Tuscan theme. The kitchens are designed for people who love to cook. There are three choices of granite counters and Black Bosch appliances.

Manteca and Oakwood Lakes are divided by one road inside the development. All homeowners of Oakwood Shores can utilize the Oakwood Lake, but only those homeowners with homes abutting Manteca Lake can utilize that body of water. (Note: There is no public access for fishing. The area is totally gated and fenced.)

Both lakes are filled by natural flowing ground water and are approximately 40 feet deep. Only sail boats, paddle wheel boats, and electrically powered boats are permitted. Homeowners can fish on a catch-and-release basis only and swimming is not allowed on either lake.

The Oakwood Shores development is located about three miles south of the Lathrop/Manteca ACE Train Station.

Prices begin at $325,000 for the 2,292-square-foot Bella Vista Plan One. Other plans of 2,586 square feet to 3,628 square feet go from $340,000 to $399,000 and include a $10,000 builder incentive package.

A 4,000-square-foot clubhouse features a gour- met kitchen and community pool, and cabana with a poolside lounge and patio with lake views. The gourmet barbeque area has an outdoor fireplace.