A NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION: Gala marks club debut at Red Rock

SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE

With a gala New Year's Eve celebration befitting of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design, members of Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin officially open their new clubhouse tonight.

Thomas Gilbertson, general manager of the country club, said about 350 members will be treated to an event featuring a four-course meal prepared by Executive Chef Bradley Jones.

Champagne toasts at the top of each hour begin at 9 p.m., with partygoers celebrating the New Year as it arrives in New York City, Chicago, Denver and, finally, Las Vegas.

"The clubhouse will be the center of social activity at Red Rock Country Club, so we wanted to make sure that we opened it with a proper celebration that included our members who have watched the clubhouse come together from the pouring of the foundation to the topping off and now completion," Gilbertson said.

The 44,000-square-foot club, designed by Altevers Associates of San Diego, sits atop a hill with views of the nearby Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as well as the city skyline and the greens of an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. The design firm also helped create the look of other properties built by Sunrise Colony Co., including the nearby Siena age-qualified community.

The design, a modern interpretation of Wright's Prairie style, features extensive use of stone, colorful art glass in desert hues and linear roof lines that create an appearance of belonging amid the natural terrain.

Signifying the main entrance to the clubhouse is a 45-foot tower, which serves as a landmark easily viewed from anywhere on the adjacent golf course. The tower houses a series of vertical windows fashioned with colorful glass that provides a warm glow when illuminated.

The tower design is characteristic of other buildings within the community and provides contrast to the expansive, horizontal lines prevalent in the design of the clubhouse and adjacent sports club.

Club members and their guests may enjoy casual or fine dining inside or alfresco at the clubhouse's restaurants -- The Palmer Lounge and Garden and The Oasis Grill, which will feature a menu planned by Nick Corey, clubhouse manager. The Arroyo Room is available for special occasions.

A board room with advanced technology capabilities is available for meetings. Other amenities include a pro shop, locker rooms, steam rooms, lounges and media centers.

The clubhouse has a porte-cochere and a balcony with views of the mountains, golf course and skyline. There is also a separate entrance off of the golf course leading into the locker rooms and lounge.

The guard-gated community's first golf course features rugged terrain, including canyons with 100-foot drops, hundreds of trees and 78 bunkers as well as lakes, waterfalls and other water features. A second Palmer-designed course is planned.

A practice facility is open with a double-ended driving range, putting green and chipping areas.

A sports club offers exercise equipment, saunas, steam rooms, an aerobics studio, locker rooms and a supervised play area.

The aquatic center features a family pool, spa, adults-only pool, lap pool, splash-and-spray mini-park and a grill.

The tennis facility features nine hard-surface courts, including a stadium court and five lighted courts.

Homes are built in a variety of architectural styles, including Spanish Colonial, Italianate and desert contemporary, and offer such options as casitas, courtyards with fireplaces, sit-down wet bars, and owner-bedroom retreats with media niches and fireplaces. A professional design staff is available to assist home buyers.

The community's Sunsation Program aids buyers wanting to build a custom home. Priced from the low $300,000s to more than $2 million, the one- and two-story designs range from 2,100 to 8,000 square feet with as many as six bedrooms and a four-car garage.

To visit, take Sahara Avenue west to Town Center Drive and follow the signs. Or, take Interstate 215 to Sahara Avenue and head west.

Sales office and model hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.S U N D A Y , D E C E M B E R 3 1 , 2 0 0 0

Real Estate home