Desert Mountain: The Early Years...HistoryDesert Mountain was officially established in 1986. Originally, it was zoned for 6,000 homes and five hotels. Lyle realized that he had to “flow with the market”. Lyle believed that this land was better suited as a luxury golf community.
Lyle continued to use Jack for promotions because “people wanted to meet him.” When Jack played the opening round at the Renegade course, they had 50 sales that day. Eventually, Anderson began building spec homes for sale in the early 1990s; he built approximately 600 homes in villages such as Cochise Ridge. Due to the size of the development, Anderson and Taliesin created the village The Skins Game at Desert Highland: concept to provide better (left to right) Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer security and to promote their own neighborhood identity. design guidelines that ensured each home and The villages were accessed off the main “spine road”, building materials would blend with the high Desert Mountain Parkway. Sonoran Desert, Lyle hired Taliesinassociated architects as the Master Designers. Taliesin was an The Trails architectural firm founded by Frank Lloyd Wright to Finally, I asked Lyle about our trail system. I carry on his architectural vision after his death in mentioned that in 2020, there were over 26,500 1959. It was headquartered at Taliesin West in hikes taken on the Desert Mountain private trails. Scottsdale and had up to 14 principals who had all Lyle leaned back with a smile and said, “I think we saw worked under Wright. Taliesin and Anderson the potential, but I knew it would take time. As a required “development as sensitively as we could”, developer, you set a community into motion and then creating building envelopes and preserving at least you have to let it go. I take my hat off to the members half the lot for native desert. The Master Association and what they have done with the trails.” still uses many of the Taliesin guidelines today, although they have evolved with time. When you consider the odds against developing a community the size of Desert Mountain so far Originally, each lot sold came with a membership removed from Scottsdale, this development plus the adjacent lot with another membership, must be his greatest achievement. Although there allowing the owner to sell the second lot with a were difficulties along the way, they were solved, membership later if desired. These Charter Members and our wonderful community was created. We also had free dues until the year 2000. The original have Lyle Anderson to thank for his great vision selling price of a typical lot was approximately and perseverance.