By The Gorton Group | Henderson luxury real estate
Some addresses in the Las Vegas Valley are simply good places to live. MacDonald Highlands is something more: a hillside community where the golf course, the architecture and the view of the Strip feel like one composed setting. We spend a great deal of time inside these gates with our clients, and this guide is the briefing we share before a first tour: what MacDonald Highlands is, how the club works, what you can buy, and the questions worth asking before you make an offer.
What Is MacDonald Highlands?
MacDonald Highlands is a master-planned, 1,320-acre luxury community in Henderson, Nevada, set in the foothills of the McCullough Mountains. It sits behind two landscaped, 24-hour guard-gated entries, and its centerpiece is the private DragonRidge Country Club.
The community grew out of a family vision. Beginning in the early 1970s, the MacDonald family assembled land across the valley, and a 3,200-acre site called MacDonald Ranch was eventually divided into four villages. Village III became MacDonald Highlands and the DragonRidge golf course. Unusually for a developer, founder Rich MacDonald lives in the community himself.
Built Around the Hillside
The community describes itself as the first environmentally friendly hillside community in the Las Vegas Valley and the first to adopt a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architectural style that blends into the desert slopes. Its design guidelines are stricter than the City of Henderson's, its landscaping leans on drought tolerant planting, and today's land plan is not much different from the original drawn in the 1980s. For buyers, that consistency is the point: you are buying into a setting that has held its shape for decades.
Explore our MacDonald Highlands neighborhood guide
Location and Commute
MacDonald Highlands is in Henderson's 89012 ZIP code, and its listed address is 552 South Stephanie Street. The two guarded entries are known as the Valle Verde gate and the Stephanie gate. From the Strip or the airport, take I-215 to the Valle Verde or Stephanie Street exit and head south to either gate. The community sits roughly 15 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
You are high enough to look across the entire valley, yet close to everyday Henderson. Green Valley Ranch borders the community to the northwest, and MacDonald Highlands is adjacent to the guard-gated enclaves of Ascaya and Roma Hills, so comparing neighbors is easy.
Read our Ascaya buyer's guide | Explore the Ascaya neighborhood
The Golf and Club Lifestyle at DragonRidge
The Course
DragonRidge is named for a rocky ridge residents call the "Sleeping Dragon." The private, 18-hole, par 72 championship course plays to 6,975 yards from the back tees and was designed by Jay Morrish and David Druzisky, architects whose combined portfolios include Troon North and the TPC Stadium Course in Scottsdale. The layout winds through the homesites with sweeping elevation changes, desert arroyos, water features and volcanic rock, and every hole offers a view of the Strip.
The course hosted Tiger Woods' Tiger Jam III and IV charity events in 2001 and 2002. The club reports that Golf Digest named it among Nevada's top 10 courses in 2012, 2013 and 2017, and that it won Best Golf Course in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas poll in 2020 and 2021. Practice facilities cover more than 60,000 square feet, including an all-grass driving range and two bent grass putting greens.
The Clubhouse and Dining
The contemporary clubhouse, roughly 40,000 square feet, anchors the social calendar. Members choose from The Montrose for fine dining with Strip views, the family friendly Dragon Grille, and the Onyx Bar, whose patio overlooks the 18th hole. The 5,000-square-foot Grand Highlands Ballroom hosts weddings and galas, and a lounge-style pool comes alive in season with family events and dive-in movie nights.
Tennis, Fitness and Wellness
The 15,000-square-foot fitness center includes locker rooms with sauna, steam room and whirlpool, plus group exercise, Pilates and massage studios, with equipment upstairs facing the Strip. The tennis complex has five championship courts, including a stadium court, along with pickleball and basketball. Complimentary child care is available to members, and the spa is currently being expanded.
How Membership Works
Club membership is its own decision, separate from buying a home. DragonRidge offers Full Golf memberships, covering golf, fitness, tennis, swimming, dining and social facilities, and Social memberships, covering everything except golf. Food and beverage minimums apply to all categories. Initiation fees and dues are not published, so we request the current schedule in writing before a client goes under contract.
Parks and Trails
Beyond the club, residents enjoy a Linear Park with a pavilion near the Valle Verde gate, a West Park with tennis courts and a children's play area, two enclosed dog parks, and a network of walking trails.
Home Styles and Price Tiers
The community's own description captures the look: glass-sheathed houses with disappearing walls, floating terraces and copper roofs, cascading down the hillsides or stretched along the golf course. Several recent headline sales have been contemporary designs by Blue Heron, a builder known for biophilic design and rammed earth walls.
Pricing spans a wide range, so it helps to think in tiers.
- New construction at SkyVu. Christopher Homes builds SkyVu inside MacDonald Highlands, with single-level and multi-level homes of roughly 3,700 to more than 6,200 square feet, marketed from about $2.5 million to more than $6 million.
- Custom estates on golf and view lots. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, an 8,986-square-foot home perched above the DragonRidge course on MacDonald Ranch Drive sold for $7.25 million in June 2026 after two days on the market.
- Eight-figure estates. The Review-Journal reported that 621 Majestic Rim Drive, set on a double fairway bluff, sold for $14.25 million in November 2025, and that Clarius, a Blue Heron home at 607 Alpine Summit Drive, closed for $13.4 million in October 2025.
- The record. 685 Dragon Peak Drive, a 12,655-square-foot Blue Heron estate, sold for $25.25 million in July 2025, which the Review-Journal ranked as the top luxury home sale in the Las Vegas Valley that year.
Because inventory moves constantly, we price each home on its own view corridor, lot position and build quality rather than on a community-wide average.
Search MacDonald Highlands homes for sale
Enclaves and Streets Worth Knowing
- Dragon Reserve. A second gated enclave within MacDonald Highlands that includes homes on Dragon Peak Drive. A Blue Heron home there was listed at $12.5 million in October 2026, according to the Review-Journal.
- Alpine Summit Drive. The listing agents for Clarius described its site as the highest elevation in MacDonald Highlands.
- Majestic Rim Drive. Home to the double fairway bluff setting of 621 Majestic Rim Drive, with a community dog park and seating area at Majestic Rim and Scenic Rim overlooking the valley.
- SkyVu. The Christopher Homes collection, with its sales office on MacDonald Ranch Drive.
Schools and Nearby Amenities
Foothills Montessori School, a private school with primary, elementary and middle school programs, has a gated campus at the base of Black Mountain near MacDonald Highlands, and the community notes that a gate in the tennis complex leads directly to the school. The developer also notes that the neighboring Sunridge at MacDonald Ranch village was planned with four schools, three of them private.
Public schools are part of the Clark County School District. Zoning boundaries can change, so we confirm the assigned schools for a specific address directly with the district. Water, sewer, police and fire services are provided by the City of Henderson.
Who MacDonald Highlands Suits
- Golfers who want a private championship course minutes from the front door.
- Families who value parks, tennis programs, member child care and a private school beside the gates.
- Buyers who want an established community with mature landscaping and a full-service club.
- Buyers at different entry points, from new construction to legacy estates.
If golf is not essential and you are drawn to newer mountaintop architecture, neighboring Ascaya deserves a side-by-side look. We are glad to tour both.
Buying Tips: Questions to Ask Before You Make an Offer
- What will the club cost? Ask for current initiation, dues and food and beverage minimums for your membership category.
- What are the HOA dues? The association's site lists a fee of $330 per month. Confirm the current figure and whether an enclave like Dragon Reserve or SkyVu adds its own charge.
- What can I change? Changes to an existing home require Design Review Committee approval, so request the Design Guidelines and CC&Rs early.
- What could affect the view? Study what is built, or buildable, below the lot.
- Is the pool grandfathered? Henderson has updated its pool size requirements, and some older homes have pools larger than current standards allow.
- How does this home compare? Ask for comparable sales on the same street or view line.
- What are the property taxes? Pull the Clark County Assessor record before you finalize your budget.
Read our complete guide for Nevada home buyers
Frequently Asked Questions About MacDonald Highlands
Where is MacDonald Highlands?
MacDonald Highlands is in Henderson, Nevada (ZIP 89012), in the foothills of the McCullough Mountains, roughly 15 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, with access from I-215 at Valle Verde or Stephanie Street.
Is MacDonald Highlands guard-gated?
Yes. It has two 24-hour guard-gated entries, and Dragon Reserve inside it is a second gated enclave.
Do I have to join DragonRidge Country Club?
Club membership is a separate decision from buying a home. DragonRidge offers Full Golf and Social memberships, and food and beverage minimums apply to both.
Who designed the DragonRidge golf course?
Jay Morrish and David Druzisky designed the private 18-hole, par 72 course, which plays to 6,975 yards from the back tees.
How much do homes in MacDonald Highlands cost?
New SkyVu homes by Christopher Homes are marketed from about $2.5 million to more than $6 million, custom estates have recently sold from the high seven figures into eight figures, and the community record is a $25.25 million sale in July 2025.
What are the HOA dues in MacDonald Highlands?
The association's website lists an HOA fee of $330 per month. Club membership is separate, and some enclaves may carry additional charges, so confirm current figures for any home you consider.
Ready to See MacDonald Highlands in Person?
MacDonald Highlands is guard-gated, so tours are by appointment. Contact The Gorton Group at (702) 408-6690 or [email protected], and we will arrange a private tour of the homes, streets and club that fit the way you want to live.
Schedule a private tour with The Gorton Group
About Michael Gorton
Who is Michael Gorton?
Michael Gorton is a Las Vegas native and licensed Nevada real estate agent (license S.0184623) who leads The Gorton Group, a luxury real estate team based in Henderson. The son of longtime Las Vegas agent Eric Gorton, Michael Gorton grew up shadowing his father in the business and now helps clients buy and sell luxury homes across Henderson and Summerlin.
Which Las Vegas neighborhoods does Michael Gorton specialize in?
Michael Gorton focuses on luxury homes in Henderson and Summerlin. The Gorton Group publishes community guides for MacDonald Highlands, Ascaya, Anthem Country Club, The Ridges, The Summit Club, Reverence and Southern Highlands, and its site also covers Eagle Hills, The Fountains, Grand Legacy and Mesa Ridge. Michael Gorton currently represents listings in MacDonald Highlands, including one featured by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in September 2026.
Why work with The Gorton Group?
The Gorton Group reports more than 25 years of experience and over $1 billion in sales, built on the legacy of Eric Gorton. Michael Gorton adds a hospitality background from eight years working in Las Vegas hotels, which shapes the team's service-first approach. His website notes he was recognized in 2022 among the top 30 earners at a company of more than 650 agents.
What is Michael Gorton's background?
Michael Gorton was born and raised in Las Vegas and attended Bishop Gorman High School. While studying business management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Michael Gorton spent eight years working in some of the city's well-known hotels. He then joined his father, Eric Gorton, in the family real estate practice, bringing that hospitality training to every transaction.
Which brokerage is Michael Gorton with?
Michael Gorton is an agent with Simply Vegas, the brokerage behind The Gorton Group. His listings are marketed as courtesy of Simply Vegas, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal identified him as a listing agent with Simply Vegas in September 2026. The team works from the Simply Vegas Green Valley office at 1780 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #100 in Henderson, Nevada.
How do I contact Michael Gorton?
You can reach Michael Gorton at The Gorton Group, 1780 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #100, Henderson, NV 89012. Call his direct line at (702) 408-6690 or the office at (702) 568-6800, or email [email protected]. You can also visit www.GortonGroup.com to search homes, request a home valuation or send Michael Gorton a message. His Nevada license number is S.0184623.
