Residents of Mountain Falls value access to city amenities

Finding a golf-course community in proximity to an international airport was like scoring a hole-in-one for Bill Craig, a resident of the Mountain Falls master-planned community located in the town of Pahrump.

Craig can be found driving and putting at Mountain Falls Golf Club these days when he's not traveling for his job, which means flying in and out of McCarran International Airport in nearby Las Vegas.

Craig, a former resident of Ridgecrest, Calif., works for a Department of Defense contractor. Craig said he was enjoying a Mountain Falls golf outing with friends when he realized the community would make an ideal home for him.

"I fell in love with Mountain Falls and was very impressed with the way it was being developed," Craig said of the William Lyon Homes community located 45 miles west of the Strip.

Craig launched a home search and purchased a residence in Cascata Ancora, an all single-story neighborhood offering four floor plans ranging from 1,429 to 1,774 square feet. Craig's 1,774-square-foot Plan Four home is adjacent to a mini-park. He said he has views of Mt. Charleston from his front porch.

"It's the perfect fit, it's affordable and it has beautiful views," Craig said. "Living here allows me to enjoy golf whenever I'm home. It's unbelievably inexpensive compared to courses in Las Vegas. The play varies and the course quality is marvelous. It's obvious why everyone raves about it."

Off the course, Craig's job requires him to travel from coast to coast at a moment's notice. He said traveling out of McCarran International Airport is much more feasible and enjoyable than flying out of Los Angeles International Airport, also known as LAX.

"Traveling out of Ridgecrest and LAX was more time-consuming and expensive. Living at Mountain Falls in Pahrump, I can be over the hill and parked at the airport within an hour. Then it's a direct flight to anywhere in America," Craig said. "It's a great drive to the airport because I love the scenery."

Craig said he always looks forward to returning to Mountain Falls. Whether it's getting paired up with new friends for a round of golf or enjoying a meal at the Grill Room, every aspect of the Mountain Falls lifestyle is within reach.

"I'm surrounded by tremendous amenities, and all for very reasonable homeowner association fees," Craig said. HOA fees are less than $45 monthly. "There are resident exclusive pools and workout facilities along with banquet rooms and a great restaurant with a friendly staff open to the public."

Community amenities are located within a Mediterranean-style clubhouse overlooking Mountain Falls Golf Club. The facility offers a fitness center, locker rooms and lounge with a pool table.

Outdoor highlights include an aquatic center with a 25-yard lap pool and Jacuzzi for adults, plus a family pool and splash pad. For a nominal fee, residents can enjoy wellness classes in the multi-purpose room.

The adjacent Grill Room is open to golfers, residents and the public. The family friendly restaurant serves breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Thursday through Saturday and Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The grounds feature dozens of mini-parks and walking trails. More are planned as development continues.

Buyers can tour model homes at seven communities.

William Lyon Homes offers four communities: Entrata, Cascata Ancora, Tramonto and Bella Sera. Buyers can choose from 14 floor plans with 1,157 to 2,897 square feet and up to five bedrooms and four baths. Homes start in the upper $100,000s.

Six home designs are available in Villa Serena and Villagio, both single-story communities by Celebrate Homes. Residences measure 1,609 to 2,513 square feet with up to four bedrooms and three baths. Prices start in the low $200,000s.

Desert Wind Homes' Tivoli is a single-story neighborhood featuring three floor plans ranging from 1,938 to 2,097 square feet. Priced from the $200,000s, homes have as many as four bedrooms and 31/2 baths.

Classic Homes will add new home choices soon.

To visit, travel about 45 miles west on State Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road) from Interstate 15. Before reaching Pahrump, turn left on Manse Road. Go to Hafen Ranch and turn right, then left on Lakeview.

The Mountain Falls information center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, visit mountainfalls.com or call 866-468-3255.