Montana couple’s search for second home in golf community leads to Mountain Falls

"After we retired from our jobs in Montana, we bought a home in a golfing community in Star Valley Ranch, Wyo.," Betty Smith said. "But, the winters are so bad there. A lot of our neighbors there wintered in St. George, Utah, so we came down to St. George and thought this wasn’t for us.

"We then set out looking for a place where we could winter that had reasonable housing and reasonable golf. We looked all over the West and in parts of Mexico, but we could not find anything that we thought was a good deal for housing and golfing together," she said.

" One day my husband was looking at a Las Vegas newspaper and he saw an advertisement for William Lyon Homes and Mountain Falls. So we hopped into the car to check it out. At Mountain Falls, we found what we thought was an oasis in the desert. The home, the price and the golfing were all right."

They purchased a single-story, 2,245-square-foot house from William Lyon Homes in 2008. Their home features three bedrooms, a den in lieu of a fourth bedroom, two baths and views of nearby mountains. Its backyard is highlighted by a covered patio and a three-hole putting green with synthetic grass.

The Smiths opted for a golf pass at the nearby 18-hole Mountain Falls Golf Club. The public, par-72 course challenges players of all levels with rolling hills and multiple water features. A driving range, putting and chipping greens and pro shop are also available.

In March, the couple introduced more than 60 residents of their Wyoming community to Mountain Falls and golf club by hosting a two-day golf tournament, followed by an awards banquet.

"This past winter Star Valley Ranchers got together and traveled to Mountain Falls for a golf tournament," Betty Smith said. "This was the first time that my husband and I hosted and planned a golf tournament. We worked closely with Chef Dave Hutchison of the Mountain Falls Grill Room and Kevin of the golf pro shop. The pro shop and restaurant staff were the most delightful people to work with. They took away all of my jitters and all my concerns, and the tournament and banquet were wonderful."

Like other residents, the Smiths have access to the residents’ facility which features a fitness center with club-quality exercise equipment and classes; outdoor aquatic center with a family-style pool, interactive splash pad, lap pool and spa; multipurpose room and a residents’ lounge with card tables, pool tables and a big-screen television. Nearby is the Mountain Falls Grill Room, a casual-elegant restaurant open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"We love Mountain Falls for three reasons. First, I love my home. I like the spaciousness of it. It is light and airy. It has quality to it," Betty Smith said. "Second, we love the golfing and the course is just beautiful. Golfing is my husband’s No. 1 passion.

"Third, we like the people. We have just wonderful neighbors. The people next door are from Pennsylvania, the neighbor across the street is from Indiana, the neighbor catty-corner is from the East Coast. It seems like many of the people on our street are retired, and their families do not live close to them. We have a lot in common. I like the community atmosphere, the sharing, the community support. Everybody looks after everybody. Those are the three main reasons why we are here."

William Lyon Homes offers the Bella Sera, Cascata Ancora and Tramonto neighborhoods. The sales office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Monday, when it opens at noon.

To visit from Las Vegas, travel 45 miles west on Highway 160 (Blue Diamond Road) past Interstate 15. Before reaching Pahrump, turn left on Manse Road. Proceed to Hafen Ranch Road, turn right and follow the signs. For information, visit mountainfalls.com.