Halloween in Anthem Country Club!

In every city, there are certain streets that become famous for their holiday celebrations, drawing crowds of participants. Among the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas for Halloween treats is Anthem Country Club in Henderson, and, more specifically, Plum Hollow.

Plum Hollow is a neighborhood of about 55 homes within Anthem Country Club. Of course Anthem is a guard gated golf course community, so you have to know someone to gain access. But if you do, it is a Halloween bonanza!

It all started when the four residents of Darcy Court (a smaller cul de sac inside Plum Hollow) decided to get together and elaborately decorate their homes with a theme, Spooky Hollow.  Word quickly spread, and after only a couple of Halloweens, it was THE hottest place in town and the cul de sac had to be cordoned off to cars. It has now become a neighborhood tradition and one gigantic block party.

My personal favorite was the "Haunted High" Halloween. One front yard sported a high school football field complete with goal posts and yard markers. There were life size skeletons dressed up in football jerseys in the midst of a scrimmage. The next yard over featured the high school prom. The prom skeleton king and queen sat on thrones surrounded by their skeleton prom court, all in formal prom attire. You get the picture.

How insane is it? A resident of Plum Hollow can expect to get about 1,000 Trick or Treaters of all ages. That is NOT a typo. Literally about 1,000! They come in carloads, busloads and vanloads, by golf carts, scooters and bikes.  The Homeowner's Association in Anthem has even seriously considered giving the residents of Plum Hollow an annual stipend to help pay for the candy.

How do I know all this? I live right on the corner at the entry to Plum Hollow. I am the first house hit by the candy munchkins each year.  Last year one of my friends who lives at the far end of the street had purchased 800 Rice Crispy Treats to distribute. She ran out by 7pm and had to shut off her lights.

About four years ago, we tried to hold a Halloween party at our house for about 80 people. We spent three weeks decorating, and constructed a spooky Bat Cave with rolling mist at the entry to our home for guests to enter through.  Before we knew it, our front courtyard was a sea of bodies and no one could get in or out. Complete strangers (mostly older teenagers) were walking through our home, eating the food, helping themselves to drinks, and dancing to the band. We had to escort them out, politely but firmly, and finally station a "guard" at the front door.

Of course, if you are considering buying a home in Anthem and are not super crazy about Halloween, you might want to skip Plum Hollow. But the good news is, the other neighborhoods in Anthem get a more traditional flow of Spidermen, lady bugs and fairy princesses, anywhere between 30 to 50 kids. I still get a kick out of it, and it's only one night a year. And when we want to take a break, we can always just go out to dinner and a movie for the evening.

Homes for Sale in Private Las Vegas Golf Communities

Las Vegas has long been known for its luxurious guard gated golf course communities. Here is a brief overview of five of the most popular private golf country clubs in the Valley. 

 

Spanish Trails - When early pioneers traveled by wagon train through the Las Vegas Valley bound for the California Gold Rush, their route became known as the “Spanish Trail.” Today the guard gated Spanish Trails Golf & Country Club is located on over 640 acres in the southwest portion of the city, only 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. Spanish Trails features eleven separate communities with a wide variety of lifestyle choices: from town homes and condos to elaborate multi acre estates. The Sultan of Brunei constructed a lavish 140,000 square foot compound (yes, really 140,000 square feet!) on 15 acres overlooking the golf course with multiple residences and pools. Many of the home sites command scenic double fairway views. Find Spanish Trails Homes for Sale

 

Anthem Country Club - More than 48,000 acres of wildlife preserve borders the tranquil master planned community of Anthem, perched high in the Black Hills of Henderson overlooking the Las Vegas Valley. A variety of distinctive neighborhoods with over 15,000 residences are spread over 4755 acres. Anthem Country Club is a private guard gated golf course community of over 1600 homes centered around a championship Hale Irwin/Steven Foster golf course. The golf course winds through the paseos of the neighborhood, providing outstanding views for residents and players alike. The club house area has a state of the art fitness center, resort style pools, beach volleyball, and tennis courts, plus a gourmet restaurant and sports grill. There are more than 16 unique floor plans to choose from in the semi custom developer models, as well as some of the finest custom homes and home sites in the city. Find Anthem Country Club Homes for Sale

 

Lake Las Vegas - Known as a golf oasis in the middle of the desert and located in Henderson, Nevada near the Lake Mead recreational district, the prestigious master planned community of Lake Las Vegas encompasses over 3,500 acres and caters to those looking for an upscale resort lifestyle. The master plan was developed by Ron Boedekker and the Lake Las Vegas LLC, becoming one of the largest construction endeavors in Nevada history. The lake alone took five years to fill – it was built on top of the Las Vegas Wash which continues to flow under the lake. Construction began in 1987, and today Lake Las Vegas features 19 distinct neighborhoods, and real estate offerings range from custom home sites and waterfront estates to golf villas, luxury condos and town homes. Because of its international reputation as a resort destination community, Lake Las Vegas is home to numerous film stars, TV celebrities, athletes, political figures and a wealth of prominent local business owners. Find Lake Las Vegas Homes for Sale

 

 

Red Rock Country Club - Located within the dynamic master planned community of Summerlin on the western edge of Las Vegas, the guard gated golf course community of Red Rock Country Club is located on 738 acres at the base of the majestic Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Set against a backdrop of majestic mountains and gently rolling terrain, this premier community, noted for its lush landscape and stunning views, features contemporary semi custom luxury homes and executive custom estates with an impressive range of styles and floor plans. Entry to the community is through one of several guard gated entries, providing a high level of security and privacy to residents, and keeping traffic to a minimum within each separate neighborhood. There are just over 1,000 semi custom luxury homes in Red Rock, offering both one and two story designs to choose from. Residences range in size from 2,100 square feet to over 5,000 square feet and many have golf course frontage. Find Red Rock Country Club Homes for Sale

 

MacDonald Highlands - Carved into the base of the Black Mountains on the south side of the Las Vegas Valley is MacDonald Highlands, a secluded private golf course community overlooking the city lights. This elite neighborhood is part of the MacDonald Ranch master plan, and has easy access to the wonderful amenities in the Green Valley Ranch area as well, including The District, a quaint cobblestoned outdoor mall with over 50 boutique shops and restaurants. Lush foliage, Canary Palms, babbling brooks and waterfalls greet visitors at the entry to MacDonald Highlands, one of the most beautiful in the city.  The 24 hour guard-gated entry and roving patrols offer the utmost in privacy and security to all residents. At completion, MacDonald Highlands will have 17 distinct neighborhoods, mostly comprised of large custom estate homes overlooking the Dragon Ridge Golf Course, though Toll Brothers did build a smaller semi custom subdivision of fairway homes ranging in size from just under 3000 square feet to just over 5000 square feet. Find MacDonald Highlands Homes for Sale

Great Golfing in Vegas!

By Diann Tonnesen

Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or you're a golf addict like me, Las Vegas has some of the best and most luxurious golf courses around. In the summer when I was a kid and school was out, I used to play in the SNGA junior golf program, and we always played a different course each week. Due to there being over 50 golf courses in Vegas, it was never a challenge to find a new track.

All of the courses have a unique design that separates each from the other. The price ranger differs for public golfers, depending on the golfer’s choice of 9 or 18 holes. The medium price on a public course for a full 18 holes is about 75 dollars with a cart. Some of the prices for the more prestigious courses might be from $150-$300.

My favorite courses to play is tied between Dragon Ridge, Rio Secco, the Lake Las Vegas South Shore course and Anthem Country Club, keeping in mind that there are very few local golf courses I have not played. These particular courses contain hidden greens and obstacles that can challenge the best of players. When I was in high school, we were forced to walk the Rio Secco golf course in Seven Hills  (which anyone who has golfed there can tell you it’s not easy to play even WITH a  cart), so remember to bring a compass and a rope. Some of the sheer edges can be difficult to walk up (or should I say scale) and quite dangerous as well.

So be careful which ever courses you are visiting and remember to bring some water with you - this is Vegas after all, nothing but dry heat!

PS... My parents always came to watch me play, but I am still not sure whether they were really watching or checking out some of the fabulous homes that surrounded the courses. Ah well, at least they showed up! LOL

 

Las Vegas Travel Agent Extraordinaire!

This week I finally got around to planning a trip to Europe for this fall. My best friend and I are going to spend a week in Paris – a girl’s road trip long overdue.  And then my husband and I are going to tour through Austria and Germany. He wants to hit as many Oktoberfest celebrations as possible! 

Usually I plan my own tours, but in this case, with multiple destinations, connections and airline reservations, I decided I needed the services of a professional travel agent. Recently I had heard of Virtuoso, a group of independent travel agencies that are selected based on superior service.  I found a Virtuoso approved agency locally online, and made an appointment with “Claire” for the next day.

Even when “Claire” told me her office was in the MacDonald Highlands golf community, somehow I didn’t make the connection.  As I drove through the gates, I thought once again how spectacular it was – it may well be THE most beautiful of all the community entrances in Las Vegas. And there are some pretty amazing custom homes with awesome views too.

Anyway, I meandered around to the clubhouse and told the receptionist I had an appointment with Claire the travel agent. The next thing I knew, she was calling “Mrs. MacDonald” to let her know I was there.

Duh! “Claire” was Claire MacDonald! She and Rich MacDonald are the developers of MacDonald Highlands in Henderson and highly respected in the community.  I had never met her before, but we have many mutual friends. Claire graciously treated me to lunch as we talked about our travel plans. She was absolutely delightful and so down to earth. (And she didn't even hold it against me that I was wearing a golf shirt from Anthem Country Club.) I felt like I had known her forever, and I feel totally confident she will help me plan the best vacation ever.