See inside the beautiful homes of The Ridges — PHOTOS

When Richard Yukes and Bella DuPrie first drove through the guard-gated entrance of The Ridges in Summerlin, they discovered a new place to call “home” with the Spring Mountains of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in the backdrop.

“When we first entered The Ridges, there was a feeling of home. I felt a connection to the community and there is a feeling of serenity when I drive through the guard gates. There is just a peaceful feeling, that feeling of being ‘home,’” Yukes said.

For the past six years, they have enjoyed the scenery of the 877-acre village as they head to their 7,888-square-foot residence at 82 Meadowhawk Lane, which features five bedrooms, three full baths plus three partial baths, and a 0.43-acre home site.

Now their home is listed for sale at $4,499,000 with the same Realtor who originally sold it to them – Gavin Ernstone of Simply Vegas, who was also involved in the home’s design and also lives in The Ridges.

The couple has seen The Ridges grow.

“When we first moved into our neighborhood, about 20 of the 80 custom homes had been built. Now, there are only four left,” Yukes said.

Its location overlooking the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear’s Best Las Vegas golf course and uninterrupted views of the city appealed to the couple. The home is designed to take advantage of these views with balconies wrapping around approximately 60 percent of the home.

“It is a happy home and it is great for entertaining. The heart of the home is the kitchen. It’s great to be in the kitchen and be part of entertaining and be able to look out and enjoy the views,” DuPrie said, while standing behind the oversized granite-topped island capable of seating 12, which overlooks a big open great room with ample room for entertaining and a sunken wet bar with a pass-through window to the backyard.

The large glass pocket doors can slide open to create an unobstructed indoor-outdoor entertaining space. The backyard features a pool, spa, swim-up bar, outdoor kitchen, four fire pits, a 15-foot waterfall, space to relax, along with views of the golf course and the city skyline.

Although the couple is selling their home, they plan to remain in The Ridges as they are constructing a smaller, single-story residence along a different hole of Bear’s Best.

“I have lived here in Las Vegas for 45 years and have been involved in real estate. I like living at The Ridges, enjoy playing golf, and I like the lifestyle here,” Yukes said.

Ernstone plans to hold a Cinco de Mayo open house tour from 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 5 that will include a visit to 82 Meadowhawk Lane along with other homes in The Ridges. For details and to RSVP, email Ernstone at gav@cox.net.

Across the fairway

Yukes pointed out a home across the golf course as being owned by music great Carlos Santana. Farther down and overlooking a different vantage point of the course is another custom home for sale — that of builder Jim Ross of Unique Custom Homes, the builder of more than 100 homes in the Las Vegas Valley over the years.

Ross completed the two-story 11,093-square-foot residence more than a year ago at 23 Hawk Ridge Drive and has used it as his residence. He has now enlisted Ivan Sher of Shapiro &Sher Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to list it for sale at $8,475,000.

“Jim’s home has just about everything that one looks for inside a home. It’s situated on the golf course with Strip views; it is on the end of a cul-de-sac; and there is a great outdoor entertaining area with a swimming pool, fire pits, barbecue area and pool house,” Sher said.

“We held a charitable event here to benefit the Smith Center a while ago, and those who attended were impressed by the home, the location and the views.”

Sher said custom homes that sell for top-dollar feature high-end finishes, custom furniture and one-of-a-kind features to set them apart from others. In the case of 23 Hawk Ridge, there is a gym, elevator, home theater, media room, wine cellar, five bedroom suites, Venetian plaster throughout, and a seven-car garage on an 0.69 acre site.

“A unique feature built into this house is a large white bar that sits in between the living room and the gourmet kitchen and great room. The bar is not only functional, it becomes an integral part of the design and is an artistic component,” Sher said.

Diverse custom-home offerings

“The Ridges is often known for its desert contemporary and modern home designs, but the designs can vary widely,” said Dale Thornburgh of Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty.

“For example, one of the homes we have listed for sale at 9 Wild Ridge Court is constructed of brick, from floor to ceiling. The owners put their hearts into designing it and were inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright style. It’s beautiful and something unexpected in The Ridges,” Thornburgh said. The home, which is listed for $4,950,000, is owned by longtime Las Vegas attorney John Gubler. His son is Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Dr. Spencer Reid on CBS’s “Criminal Minds.” (See the Home Tour feature in this section.)

“The Gubler home has the feel of a ‘legacy’ home, the kind you often see out East. Take a look at it and the quality is amazing. This home in Connecticut would sell for $25 million, and that’s how it is for many of the homes in The Ridges. In other places, they would cost so much more,” added Kristen Routh-Silberman, also of Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty.

Beyond custom homes

The resale custom homes are just a sampling of what The Ridges has to offer.

“The Ridges, at this time, offers the highest-end neighborhoods in the city with pricing per square foot approaching what we saw in 2006, before the market crashed,” Sher said, adding that Shapiro &Sher was involved in the highest-priced home sale within The Ridges during the past 12 months when 7 Falcon View Court sold for $11 million in August 2015.

In addition to resale homes, The Ridges offers new homes within Christopher Homes’ Boulder Ridge neighborhood where prices start from $1,475,000 and William Lyon Homes’ Silver Ridge and Sterling Ridge neighborhoods. Custom-home sites are also available within the Azure neighborhood.

Residents have access to amenities found within the private 9,000-square-foot Club Ridges, which features a fitness center, resort-style pool and lit tennis courts. Additionally, the village features trails and walking paths as well as two neighborhood parks.

The community is also home to the Bear’s Best daily-fee golf course, which incorporates the designs of 18 of Nicklaus’ most famous holes.

“The Ridges is one of the most sought-after communities in the city. If you are looking for a guard-gated community near the mountains with views of the city, The Ridges is often a good choice,” Ernstone said.

For additional information, visit summerlin.com/actively-selling-villages.