Water enthusiasts feel at home at Lake Las Vegas

Residing on the shores of a private lake provides residents of Lake Las Vegas Resort access to a variety of water-based activities. The 320-acre lake is the backdrop of sailing, fishing, swimming, golfing, hiking and bicycling in the Henderson community.

Lake Las Vegas was created by the construction of an 18-story earthen dam, which measures 4,800 feet in length and 716 feet in width at its base, and contains nearly 2.5 million cubic yards of earth, according to developer Transcontinental Properties Inc.

An allocated amount of water from nearby Lake Mead was used to create the lake, which sustains its own aquatic ecosystem and supports largemouth bass, rainbow trout and catfish.

In addition to fishing, water enthusiasts can also enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and wind surfing at the lake, where gasoline-powered vessels are prohibited.

The member's-only South-Shore Yacht & Beach Club is featured along the lake's shore, where 350 tons of white sand were imported to create a 7,000-square-foot beach area with swimming and a lawn and picnic area. The club also includes a fitness area with locker rooms, an outdoor pool and spa, loggias, a grill, and banquet and meeting facilities.

Lake Las Vegas Marine Services offers a full-service boat launch; a convenience store; boat cleaning, maintenance and refreshment stocking services; courses in sailing and boating safety; boat sales and rentals; and dock sales.

Also available to owners is membership to the Harbor Club, which includes a private 20-, 24- or 30-foot boat slip in the first phase of a 104-slip marina; utilities hookup; and private dock lockers.

In addition to the recreational opportunities, the community offers custom-home sites terraced into the hillsides and priced from $225,000 to more than $2.1 million.

Twenty model homes in five neighborhoods are also featured, priced from $410,000 to $1.55 million for lakeside villas.

To visit, take Lake Mead Drive, seven miles east of Boulder Highway, to Lake Las Vegas Parkway. The Discovery Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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