Couple builds MacDonald estates

Within the luxury community of MacDonald Highlands, custom-home owners Greg and Melissa Moore are at it again for the sixth time, working on the design of a new home. The couple, married since 1989, have put their current custom estate, The Edge, up for sale in anticipation of purchasing another lot within MacDonald Highlands.

"Yes, we have the itch to build again," said Melissa Moore. "We enjoy the views from MacDonald Highlands and love the community's amenities."

Melissa Moore is a native of Las Vegas, having worked in the gaming industry for more than 18 years. She is now part owner of Luxury Electronics Inc., featuring home electronics including surveillance cameras, energy-saving lighting control systems and distributed audio.

She married Greg in 1989 and they began building their first custom home together. Greg Moore has been an architect for more than 30 years, designing high-end homes and commercial buildings throughout the Las Vegas Valley for the likes of Marnell Carrao, DMJM and KGA Architects before going on his own is 1993. Sixteen homes alone were designed by him in MacDonald Highlands with one of them being a Street of Dreams award winner.

Their home, The Edge, is a contemporary design wrapped in multicolored slate featuring a dramatic waterfall arch overlooking DragonRidge golf course and the Las Vegas Strip. A pivoted custom glass door entry opens into the home with a floating steel-cabled staircase as its centerpiece. Disappearing walls and large plate-glass windows offer views from most rooms as does the huge decorative cable-railed balcony.

Bellagio Verde granite counters, professional-grade appliances and chrome accents decorate the designer kitchen. The family room has a full bar and media center. The owner's suite with fireplace and breakfast bar features a lavish bath with dual sinks, a Jacuzzi tub, separate shower and a large customized walk-in closet. A 45-foot-long, infinity-edged swimming pool and spa, cooking grotto, putting green and fire-pit encompass the backyard.

The Edge houses four bedrooms -- one with a separate entrance, home theater, entertainment loft, office/den and a five-car garage. Measuring about 5,277 square feet, it is available for $1,999,900 and can be viewed through MacDonald Highlands Realty.

MacDonald Highlands' master-planned development has four custom home neighborhoods under construction. Each neighborhood features its own distinct topography and views. Buyers can choose from a variety of terrains including golf frontage, multilevel pads or hillside elevations with views of the golf course, mountain range or panoramic views of the Las Vegas skyline. These custom lots range from one-quarter acre to 2.5 acre parcels. They are priced at $380,000 to $6 million.

Close to the Las Vegas Strip, MacDonald Highlands is located in the southeast valley. Concealed behind MacDonald Highlands' guarded gates and lushly landscaped entrance is the private golf course, DragonRidge Country Club. The 18-hole, championship golf course named after a rocky ridge called "Sleeping Dragon."

DragonRidge has been widely praised for the quality of golf it offers and for the exceptional condition in which it is always kept. The clubhouse features a formal dining room and lounge, separate mixed grill and lounge, swimming pool, golf pro shop and a 10,000-square-foot ballroom seating more than 300 guests.

MacDonald Highlands recently celebrated two new additions to the 1,200-acre, luxury community. The new Tennis and Athletic Center highlights a 14,000-square-foot facility offering child care, an Internet café and a staff of personal trainers and fitness instructors available to teach members to use cardio and weight machines, and to teach classes in Pilates, aerobics, cycling and kick boxing.

The center has locker rooms for members with sauna, steam, Jacuzzi and massage. Five new tennis courts, one with stadium seating, features a wide variety of programs for DragonRidge members and guests.

Daily adult drop-in clinics are offered at levels ranging from beginner to advanced. For the player who desires organized play, the opportunity to play on one of DragonRidge's USTA league teams is now open. Also available is a junior program offering clinics ranging from the Pee Wee group to the High Performance player looking to improve at a competitive level.

The second new addition is Nevada's only Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf. The Nicklaus Academy is a leading provider of golf instruction. The instruction is centered around improving a student's result on the golf course.

The academy features new innovative technologies that provide detailed information never before available to the average player.

The Golf 3-D Motion Imaging System provides the instructor with unprecedented images of the student and his or her club from set-up to finish. The student's image can then be compared to a library of touring professionals based on the student's physical makeup and swing style.

The community is located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and McCarran International Airport on Valle Verde Drive and Horizon Ridge Parkway.

Visit the community's information center at 1730 W. Horizon Ridge. To get there, take Interstate 215 to Valle Verde and travel south to the corner of Valle Verde Drive and Horizon Ridge. The office is open seven days a week. For more information, call 614-9100.