Oct 25 2007
LV Ranch Estates has just finished building its organic fence for Phases I and II. Notable but not too noticeable, the uniform, 4-foot-high barrier was crafted from the junipers that were removed during the community's road construction, which makes it an organic addition and a natural complement to the high-desert landscape.
"I like the look of this fence, it's more natural than a steel post fence," says fence builder Cecil Wiste. "We built it the way cowboys did a century ago."
News Imagerue to the Old West in its craftsmanship, the four-strand fence bears in mind the surrounding wide-open spaces and the wildlife passing through them. The barrier's top three strands are barbed to confine cattle and horses, while the bottom strand is smooth to allow antelope to slip under it safely. For deer and elk, which are jumpers, the fence's 45-inch height is readily clearable.
Functional, nicely made and enduring (the juniper posts are hardy enough to last 75 to 100 years), the fence blends into its environment and doesn't obstruct the treasured views hemming LV Ranch Estates. Set inside the Williamson Valley, the private, gated community of LV Ranch Estates covers nearly 4,900 acres and delivers unparalleled access to nature's glory - thanks to adjacent expanses of state land, 1.25 million acres of Prescott National Forest, and its namesake working ranch, the 20,000-acre Las Vegas Ranch.
LV Ranch Estates, which was carved out of the 100-plus-year-old Las Vegas Ranch (which previously measured 25,000 acres), is composed of rolling meadows, lush pastures, gently rising ridges, and 36- to 51-acre homesteads (from the $400,000s). "Built" into the development are four mild seasons and sweeping views of the San Francisco Peaks to the north, Granite Mountain to the south, Sullivan Buttes to the east, and Prescott National Forest to the west, the latter being the ideal place for exploration on horseback, mountain bike, or foot.
Large-parcel homesteads are not the only distinguishing component of this Northern Arizona real estate community - there's also the long-term value inherent in its master plan. "We are developing a unique community," says LV Ranch Estates developer Peter Gooding, founder and president of True West Companies. "As other conventional master-planned developments grow and reach the edge of Williamson Valley, LV Ranch Estates will always stand out. That is because our sizable homesteads and the neighboring state and national lands, as well as Las Vegas Ranch, will remain primarily undeveloped."
While nature and open space are the biggest draws to LV Ranch Estates, other must-mention assets include gated entrances, paved roads, underground utilities, high-speed Internet and abundant groundwater (every homestead has its own well). Common sense design guidelines allow for many architectural possibilities, with buyers having the liberty to determine their building envelope and the style of their Prescott, AZ property- be it a cozy cottage or a ranch-inspired spread equipped for equine endeavors (so long as their plan respects the landscape and neighbors). Buyers also enjoy a limited right to divide their estates into three smaller parcels.
Thanks to Prescott's proximity, LV Ranch Estates also gives its buyers access to the town's shopping, dining, entertainment and recreational opportunities; or they can make the one- or two-hour trek to Sedona and Phoenix, respectively. (There are also twice-daily flights from Prescott to Phoenix.) Of course, there's also the option of staying put to relish the peace and privacy of LV Ranch Estates - or to venture out into the community's seemingly endless backdrop.
LV Ranch Estates is a Prescott, Arizona real estate development of True West Companies, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company respected for its high-quality, rural residential projects throughout Arizona. True West has developed other residential and ranch-style projects in Coconino, Yavapai and Maricopa Counties.