TL;DR: Martis Camp, Lahontan and Schaffer's Mill are all gated club communities near Truckee and Northstar, but they own differently. Martis Camp is the largest and most private, with 671 homesites on 2,177 acres, a private Northstar lift and a Q1 2026 price band of about $4 million to $25 million. Lahontan is the classic golf club, closest to town, at about $3 million to $8 million. Schaffer's Mill is the most social and rental-friendly, with townhomes and homes at about $2 million to $5 million. In all three, the club is a separate purchase from the house.
Choosing a second home in Martis Valley can feel exciting and surprisingly complex at the same time. Martis Camp, Lahontan and Schaffer's Mill all offer gated luxury living near Truckee and Northstar, but the ownership experience differs once you look closer. Here is how they compare on privacy, amenities, access, price and flexibility, so you can narrow the list with confidence.
What Is the Difference Between Martis Camp, Lahontan and Schaffer's Mill?
Density, amenity structure, access and rental flexibility. Martis Camp is the largest and least dense, with a private ski lift to Northstar. Lahontan is a traditional golf club closest to Truckee and Northstar. Schaffer's Mill mixes homes and townhomes in a more village-like setting and allows short-term rentals through its own program. Price bands step down from Martis Camp to Schaffer's Mill.
Martis Valley covers roughly 25,570 acres of Placer County near Truckee, according to Placer County planning materials. Your ideal second home here is not just about the house. It is about how often you visit, whether you value club programming, and how much flexibility you want around ownership and guests.
Community | Q1 2026 price band | Scale | Best known for | Northstar access | Rentals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Martis Camp | About $4M to $25M | 2,177 acres, 671 homesites | Privacy, space, legacy club | Private Martis Camp Express Lift | Marketed as monthly leases |
Lahontan | About $3M to $8M | 509 homesites | Traditional golf-club living | About 2 miles by car | Confirm in CC&Rs |
Schaffer's Mill | About $2M to $5M | 475 acres, 462 approved units | Social, village-like, flexible | Shuttle and Base Camp at Northstar | Through the on-site rental program |
What Is Martis Camp Like for a Second Home?
Private, spacious and amenity-rich. Martis Camp describes a 2,177-acre gated community with 671 homesites, estate lots averaging more than 1.5 acres and cabin lots of about 0.3 to 0.6 acres. It has a 24-hour gatehouse, the Family Barn, Camp Lodge, 26 miles of trails and private ski access to Northstar via the Martis Camp Express Lift.
It also sits next to the Truckee Tahoe Airport, a real advantage for owners who fly in. For many buyers, the lower-density layout is the draw: elbow room, privacy and a long-term family-retreat feel. Q1 2026 pricing ran from about $4 million for a cottage lot to $25 million for an estate.
The club is separate from the homesite. According to Martis Camp's club information, amenity access requires a separate membership, and memberships can pass to heirs. That generational model is unusual. Our guide to Martis Valley club membership costs covers the transfer fees, dues and the 1% conveyance fee.
What Is Lahontan Like for a Second Home?
A classic golf club close to everything. Lahontan has 509 homesites and sits about 1.5 miles from Truckee and 2 miles from Northstar, the closest of the three. Golf membership includes an 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole par 3, a practice field, spa and fitness, tennis, pickleball and The Lodge. Q1 2026 homes traded at about $3 million to $8 million.
A standout is Camp Lahontan, a five-acre family recreation center on Gooseneck Reservoir with courts, a pool and spa, children's programs and picnic areas. Social membership covers spa, fitness, Camp Lahontan, courts, The Lodge and the croquet lawn, per the club's membership overview. It feels more golf-centered than Martis Camp while still family friendly.
What Is Schaffer's Mill Like for a Second Home?
Social, village-like and more flexible. County review materials describe a 475-acre gated project approved for 462 units, including 218 detached homes and 196 townhomes. The club offers a 7.4-acre Clubhouse Village, resort pool, fitness, racquets, dining, trails and a Northstar shuttle and Base Camp. Q1 2026 homes ran about $2 million to $5 million.
That wider product mix, documented in Placer County's environmental review, gives Schaffer's Mill a more social feel than Martis Camp's large lots. Single-family lots run roughly 18,000 to 31,000 square feet and townhome lots about 5,000 to 9,700. Schaffer's Mill sits about three miles south of Truckee, and its Base Camp at Northstar includes private ski storage and lockers.
Rentals are the biggest distinction. Schaffer's Mill permits vacation rentals through its exclusive on-site program, Schaffer's Mill Exclusive Accommodations, and those guests are the only short-term renters with access to private amenities. Club membership is tiered, with proprietary golf membership reserved for homeowners. Remember that county rules apply too, which we explain in how the Truckee town line sets the rental clock.
Which Martis Valley Community Fits Your Second-Home Goals?
Choose Martis Camp for privacy, land and direct ski access, especially if legacy planning matters. Choose Lahontan for a traditional golf club with the quickest drive to Truckee and Northstar. Choose Schaffer's Mill for a social atmosphere, a range of home types, a lower price band and a clearer rental path. None is better in general. Each fits a different way of using a second home.
If golf, skiing and a walkable downtown all matter, compare these with in-town options too. Our post on Downtown Truckee or golf community living covers that trade-off.
What Should You Ask Before Buying in a Martis Valley Club Community?
- Is club access included with the purchase, or is it a separate application and fee?
- Which memberships are available, what do they cost today, and is there a waitlist?
- How does the community handle guest use and short-term rentals, and is the parcel in Placer County or the Town of Truckee?
- What is the lot size range for the property type you want?
- Do you want golf-centered amenities or a broader family-club experience?
- How important is a private Northstar lift versus a shuttle or a short drive?
These questions move you from a broad lifestyle search to a confident decision. The Q1 2026 price bands above are a starting point. Request current comps and the club's written fee schedule before you write an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Martis Valley community offers the most privacy?
Martis Camp. With 671 homesites on 2,177 acres and estate lots averaging more than 1.5 acres, it is the most spacious and least dense of the three.
Which Martis Valley community is closest to Truckee and Northstar?
Lahontan, at about 1.5 miles from Truckee and 2 miles from Northstar according to the community's published location information.
Which Martis Valley community has direct ski access to Northstar?
Martis Camp, through its private Martis Camp Express Lift. Schaffer's Mill offers a shuttle and Base Camp at Northstar instead.
Does Schaffer's Mill allow short-term rentals?
Yes, through its exclusive on-site rental program, Schaffer's Mill Exclusive Accommodations. Guests booked through that program are the only short-term renters with access to the private amenities.
What do homes cost in Martis Camp, Lahontan and Schaffer's Mill?
Q1 2026 price bands ran about $4 million to $25 million in Martis Camp, $3 million to $8 million in Lahontan and $2 million to $5 million in Schaffer's Mill. Club membership is a separate cost in all three.
If you are weighing second-home options in Martis Valley, the right guidance saves time and keeps you focused on the communities that fit. The Brassie Group can compare current listings, club costs and rental rules side by side. Start with our buyer's guide, then let's talk about your highest possible return.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
