MacDonald Highlands Homes for Sale

Overview and history

MacDonald Highlands grew out of one of the valley's largest private land holdings. The MacDonald family began buying Las Vegas Valley land in the early 1970s, and by 1977 they were the third-largest private landowners in the valley, after Howard Hughes and the Greenspun group. Their 3,200-acre MacDonald Ranch ran from Eastern Avenue to Gibson Street and was divided into four villages. Developer Richard C. (Rich) MacDonald began work on MacDonald Ranch in the early 1980s after moving back to Las Vegas from Hawaii. Village III became MacDonald Highlands and DragonRidge, and the community now covers 1,320 acres.

Location and getting around

MacDonald Highlands sits in the Black Mountain foothills of Henderson. It borders The Canyons, McCullough Hills, Green Valley Ranch, Ascaya and Roma Hills, so it sits among several other Henderson foothill neighborhoods. Access is through two 24-hour guard-gated entries. The developer's office is at 552 S. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89012. Browse guard-gated homes in MacDonald Highlands.

DragonRidge Country Club and amenities

DragonRidge Country Club opened in 2000 inside MacDonald Highlands. Its private 18-hole course was designed by Jay Morrish and David Druzisky and plays 7,032 yards from the back tees at par 72. The course takes its name from a rocky ridge that residents call the Sleeping Dragon, a feature of the hillside terrain around the club.

• DragonRidge clubhouse: about 40,000 sq ft, with a steakhouse, a members-only bar, a grill, a fitness center, five championship tennis courts and a pro shop.
• Tennis & Athletic Center: a community athletic facility inside the gates.
• Dog parks and community parks: several parks and dog parks sit inside the gates.

Club membership is separate from home ownership. See golf course homes in MacDonald Highlands.

Homes and neighborhoods

Housing in MacDonald Highlands is primarily custom and semi-custom homes, plus vacant homesites for buyers who want to build. Some neighborhoods sit behind secondary gates inside the main guard gates. One example is Dragon Rock, a Blue Heron neighborhood that is now sold out; it offered five floor plans ranging from 2,870 to 7,749 sq ft.

Homesite buyers design and build their own homes, while resale buyers choose among finished custom and semi-custom homes. Because so many homes here are custom, two listings on the same street can differ widely in size, finish and age. Lots with golf-course frontage, city views or ridgeline backdrops tend to shape how individual homes are priced, so compare listings by lot as well as by floor plan. Browse luxury homes in MacDonald Highlands.

HOA structure

MacDonald Highlands has a homeowners association that covers the guard-gated community, and some neighborhoods behind secondary gates may have their own association in addition to it. Check each listing's disclosures for every association that applies. Right now the median total monthly HOA on MacDonald Highlands listings is $330, with a typical range of $330 to $412. DragonRidge club dues are separate from HOA dues.

Buying in MacDonald Highlands now

There are currently 62 homes for sale in MacDonald Highlands, with a median list price of $5,822,165, and 77 homes sold here in the last 12 months. For custom homes, ask for the build year, architect and any remaining builder warranties, and for homesites confirm the architectural review process before you close. For the wider picture, see the Henderson market report.