Summerlin - 35 Years

1

Howard Hughes purchased 30,000-acres from the U.S. Department of Interior on which Summerlin sits (25,000 acres) in the early 1950s for $3 an acre. Today, an acre in Summerlin sells for well over $1 million.

2

Hughes dubbed the property “Husite,” initially planning to relocate Hughes Aircraft from Culver City, California to the site. Ultimately, that did not happen, so the land sat dormant for decades.

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In 1988, Summa Corporation (predecessor to Howard Hughes Holdings), enacted a land swap with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), giving up 439 acres near the Red Rock visitor center to help establish and expand Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, creating a permanent boundary that forever protects the region.

4

Summa Corporation sold approximately 2,500 acres to Del Webb to develop Sun City Summerlin. The sale, along with sales to other land developers for The Lakes and Desert Shores, helped to fund early infrastructure development in the community.

5

In 1988, the Meadows School relocated to Summerlin on land donated by Summa Corporation. The goal was to put Summerlin on the map before development began.

6

In 1989, Husite was renamed Summerlin, named for the paternal grandmother of Howard Hughes—Jean Amelia Summerlin.

7

Initially, the Summerlin Parkway was jokingly dubbed by media as “the road to nowhere.” But within a few short years, thousands of residents had moved to the community. Completed up to Town Center Drive in 1990—a major milestone made possible by funding from Howard Hughes through three Special Improvement Districts—Summerlin Parkway continues to give residents a direct route to the community’s front door.

8

The Hills Park was completed in the fall of 1990, creating a gathering place for special resident and marketing events—months before the first family moved into the community in March 1991.

9

Summerlin has more amenities than any other Southern Nevada community, including 300-plus parks of all sizes; 200-miles of the Summerlin trail system; 10 golf courses; 20 tennis courts; 14 baseball/softball/teeball fields; 13 basketball courts; 11 soccer/lacrosse fields; 4 sand volleyball courts; 4 community centers; 3 community pools; 8 pickleball courts; 1 football field; 1 outdoor roller hockey rink; 4 interactive water-play areas; 2 outdoor exercise areas; and dozens of picnic ramadas.

10

Howard Hughes received the inaugural American Trails Developer award in 2008 for the Summerlin Trail System that creates safe passageway to school and connects neighborhoods to schools, parks and shopping centers. Today, the system offers more than 200 miles of trailways.

11

Did you know that Explorer Park has a shade structure created to represent constellations and stars reflective of a November sky? It is visible every night.

12

Today, Summerlin is home to 26 schools—a mix of public, private, and charter schools—giving residents more educational choice than any other Southern Nevada community.

13

Did you know that the Aviators mascots, Spruce the Goose and Aviator, can be seen in the beautiful mural on the 1700 Pavilion office building garage? Summerlin artist Bonnie Kelso was inspired by her life in Summerlin and Las Vegas when creating this mural, which includes native plants and wildlife, community parks and trails, Red Rock Canyon and even a nod to airplanes at Nellis Air Force Base.

14

Summerlin is home to 15 houses of worship representing 12 different faiths, including Catholic, Jewish, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Hindu and LDS faiths, to name a few.

15

The Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center opened in 1993. Today, the performing arts center is booked months in advance by local community and arts groups.

16

Tiger Woods won his first ever PGA TOUR championship at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1996 at TPC Summerlin, which was completed and opened in 1991.

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Starting in 1992, less than one year after the first family moved into Summerlin, the community ranked as the nation’s best-selling master planned community. Today, Summerlin continues to be ranked among the nation’s best-selling communities—35 years into its development.

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Summerlin Hospital Medical Center opened in 1996 on a 40-acre campus and operated by the Valley Health System, which opened an extension ER at South Summerlin in early 2025.

19

Nevada Ballet Theatre moved its headquarters and Academy to Summerlin in 1999 on land partially donated by Howard Hughes to the performing arts organization, the oldest in Nevada. The facility is named the Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center.

20

Construction on the 215 Beltway along an eight-mile stretch in Summerlin began in 2000 for which Howard Hughes donated 520 acres of right-way and underwrote excavation services valued at more than $60 million, accelerating its development through Summerlin and ensuring it would lie below grade level of adjacent homes and neighborhoods.

21

The Resort at Summerlin, the community’s first hotel, opened in 1999. The Resort partnered with J.W. Marriott in 2002 and later with Rampart Casino to become J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa.

22

In 2001 at the height of a national housing boom, Summerlin sold 114 new homes in a single week—setting a new record.

That equated to a new home sale nearly every 1.5 hours!

23

Urban Land Institute (ULI) named Summerlin the 2002 Community of the Year in its annual Awards for Excellence.

24

Summerlin® ranked #5 in the nation for new home sales in 2024, marking more than 28 years on the top 25 list—more than any other master-planned community in the U.S.

25

Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa opened in 2006 on 70 acres, becoming the community’s first major entertainment destination in Downtown Summerlin.

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In 2007, Summerlin was cited by National Geographic in an article which ranked Las Vegas as the country’s #1 place to live and play. The article mentioned Summerlin’s proximity to Red Rock Canyon, known for world-class hiking, rock climbing and cycling.

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Bishop Gorman High School relocated to Summerlin in 2007, moving from the heart of the city where it had existed since 1954, serving Las Vegas families for decades.

28

In 2014, more than 1 million square feet of national and local retail brands spanning 106 acres opened in Downtown Summerlin, bringing Apple, Dillard’s, Macy’s and more to the community. Today, the destination serves as Summerlin’s vibrant and walkable urban core and has expanded to include Class A office, luxury apartments, and professional sports venues.

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City National Arena, practice facility of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, opened in 2017 at Downtown Summerlin, followed by the 2019 opening of Las Vegas Ballpark, a 10,000-seat MiLB stadium that is home to the Las Vegas Aviators, affiliate of The Athletics.

30

In 2020, Summerlin was named Community of the Year by the National Association of Homebuilders.

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Summerlin’s elevation is higher than any other community in Southern Nevada. It creates an abundance of views and vistas; it encourages a greater palette of naturally occurring vegetation due to slightly greater precipitation; and it delivers cooler temperatures year-round—dropping three to four degrees for every 1,000-foot increase in elevation.

32

Summerlin looks and feels different than any other community because of its high design standards that dictate curves in neighborhood streets; 360-degree architectural details, varied colors on all homes; double-tree lined streets; dedicated open spaces and parks; low water-use landscaping that is both colorful and water-conserving; distinct bronze light poles that face downward with different lighting standards to reduce light pollution; restrictions against commercial signage; and many other elements that make Summerlin feel different.

33

In 2024, Summerlin became the state’s first and only master planned community to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council because of its strong commitment to sustainability.

34

Did you know that there is a Butterfly Garden in Downtown Summerlin located under The Pavilion.

This garden serves as a feeding ground for many insects, including Monarch butterflies as they migrate.

The Pavilion is also home to the Tony Tasset Mood Sculpture that promotes awareness of mental health.

35

Did you know that Summerlin straddles unincorporated Clark County and the City of Las Vegas? Everything north of W. Charleston Boulevard is in the city, while everything south of W. Charleston Boulevard is in the county.