The Ridges in Summerlin: Homes and Real Estate

Where The Ridges is and what it is

The Ridges is a village within Summerlin, the master-planned community on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley. It sits in southwest Summerlin, along the rim of the valley at the foothills of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Summerlin developer describes it as a 793-acre guard-gated residential village, and Wikipedia's entry for Summerlin South places it within the Summerlin South census-designated place, which is bounded by Charleston Boulevard on the north, Hualapai Way on the east, and Red Rock Canyon on the west.

Unlike most Summerlin villages, which are made up mainly of production homes, The Ridges is best known for custom and semi-custom homes. That one distinction explains most of what buyers ask about it: larger lots, more architectural variety, gated entries, and an association structure with several layers.

How The Ridges came to be

The Ridges first opened in 2000 as a hillside enclave on land that The Howard Hughes Corporation, Summerlin's developer, set aside for custom homes. According to the developer, Forbes.com named it the third most exclusive gated community in America in 2003, only a few years after it opened. Treat that as a marketing claim rather than a ranking you can verify today; what matters for a buyer is the community as it exists now.

The developer's own announcements describe a village that unfolded in stages, with each new custom neighborhood adding another layer of gated security and its own design character. Recent developer releases describe nearly 400 completed custom homes and about 30 more under construction, most of them primary residences, and say the last remaining custom homesites have been released for sale. Because those numbers come from the seller of the lots, we confirm what is actually available at the time you are looking.

Neighborhoods inside The Ridges

The Ridges is not one subdivision. The developer describes eight, and later nine, custom home neighborhoods, along with several neighborhoods of upscale production homes that offer custom options. Examples named in the developer's materials include Azure and Indigo, and Talon Ridge, which was announced as the ninth and last custom neighborhood. One elevated homesite near the village's high point, Falcon Pointe, covers nearly four acres and was marketed with its own private drive.

Each neighborhood tends to have its own gate, its own lot sizes (the developer's materials mention lots from about a quarter acre to more than an acre), and its own architectural feel. Two homes with a Ridges address can differ greatly in lot size, view direction, privacy, and association costs, so the specific neighborhood and the specific lot matter more than the village name.

• Custom neighborhoods are built lot by lot, so homes vary widely in age, style, and finish.
• Production neighborhoods inside The Ridges offer more standardized floor plans with custom options.
• Layered gates mean a main guard-gated entry plus additional gates for some neighborhoods.

Views, elevation, and setting

The Ridges sits high on the valley's western rim. The developer puts its elevation at about 4,000 feet above sea level, noticeably higher than the valley floor, and describes views that take in the Las Vegas Strip, the surrounding mountains, and the rocky ridgeline that protects the village on its western side. Outdoor lighting in the village is described as kept low to limit light pollution and preserve the night sky.

View direction is one of the most important details on any specific lot. A home that faces the valley and a home that faces the rocks can feel very different, and views can change if a neighboring lot is built on. We look at lot position, setbacks, and the design guidelines for adjoining lots with you, not just the photographs.

Golf, trails, and Red Rock Canyon

The Ridges is home to Bear's Best Las Vegas, a golf course made up of holes modeled on Jack Nicklaus's favorite designs from around the world. Whether the course is open to the public, to members, or both can change over time, so ask about access and any membership requirement for the home you are considering.

Beyond the village, Summerlin has a trail network of more than 150 miles, parks, and community centers, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is next door for hiking, climbing, cycling, and the scenic loop drive. Access to many Summerlin pools and facilities generally requires a Summerlin identification card issued through the association that governs your home.

Associations, gates, and costs to check

Summerlin South has a community association that manages the area, and homes in The Ridges can also belong to neighborhood or sub-associations, with separate dues and rules. Guard-gated neighborhoods usually carry higher association costs than open ones because the gates, staffing, and shared grounds are paid for by the owners. Properties in Summerlin are also in a special improvement district, which funds public infrastructure and appears on the annual tax bill.

On a custom lot, ask for the design guidelines and any review process before you buy, because they can limit style, height, materials, and timelines for building or remodeling. Nevada requires the HOA resale package to be delivered to the buyer, and you have a five-day cancellation window after receiving it; read our article Check the HOA Before You Commit for what to look for.

Buying and selling in The Ridges with The Perna Group

A home in The Ridges is often a one-of-a-kind property, so there may be few close comparable sales. We look at recent sales in the same neighborhood first, then at similar lots and views elsewhere in Summerlin, and we explain how we adjust for lot, view, build quality, and association costs.

• We confirm the gate type and association structure for the exact address, plus dues, assessments, and any special improvement district balance.
• We help you read the design guidelines and review process if you plan to build, remodel, or add a pool.
• We check desert-specific systems on larger homes: roof, air conditioning capacity and zoning, pool equipment, solar contracts, and drainage on hillside lots.
• For sellers, we plan photography and marketing around view, privacy, and architecture, and gather the association documents early so the timeline stays on track.