It’s a powerful confluence of experience and opportunity: of iconic names universally associated with excellence and achievement. And that could well be an understatement.
Combine the historical legacy of The Ritz-Carlton, the forward vision of Google alum Ray Sidney and the golf royalty represented by Jack Nicklaus and the PGA Tour, and eyebrows raise at the prospect of something extraordinary. Bring it all together under the skilled stewardship and watchful eye of Southern Arizona developer David Mehl and you’ve a got a project worthy of global attention.
The Inspiration
“What we have here is something very real,” explained Mehl, “It will fulfill that yearning for a romantic western experience that’s in the mind’s eye of those who treasure southwestern history and appreciate a pristine lush desert stretching for miles and miles.”
For Mehl, who had previously developed Tucson’s legendary La Paloma Resort, the dream began nearly 20 years ago when he first acquired the property, then a remote, high-desert paradise about a 10 minute drive north of Tucson (and 90 minutes from Phoenix) now known as Dove Mountain.
Today, Dove Mountain is a thriving high-desert community with a world-wide audience: The result of the collective due diligence and forward thinking of Mehl, The Ritz-Carlton (having deemed Dove Mountain a worthy enough venue to unveil there, one of the first of its “new” Ritz-Carlton resort hotels), Jack Nicklaus, who personally oversaw the design and construction of the golf course bearing his name, PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, who selected Dove Mountain as the home of the World Match Play Golf Championship, and Ray Sidney, one of the original employees of Google, Inc, whose personal equity investment in the property allows it the rare distinction of boasting a debt-free balance sheet.
Whether a hotel guest or a prospective resident, upon arrival at Dove Mountain, a 6,200-acre sanctuary nestled high in the Sonoran Desert, you are likely to be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the landscape and the sense of history that prevails.
The delightful discovery begins the moment you are personally greeted at the gated entry to the property. You will not see staff in the signature cobalt blue uniforms and white gloves commonly associated with The Ritz-Carlton, but it is immediately apparent that the service culture of The Ritz-Carlton is deeply imbibed here.
Whether checking into the award-winning and luxurious hotel as a guest, or visiting your personal residence, the experience is the same: total immersion in a lifestyle that includes unrestricted enjoyment of the expansive spa, restaurants, fitness facilities, hiking trails, pools (including a children’s pool and water slide), tennis and 27 holes of championship golf.
For many guests, the delight soon transfers to the prospect of private home ownership inside the gates: “Owners here are mesmerized by the natural setting of course, as well as the array of customizable homes they’ll find in our offering; but it is that certainty of The Ritz-Carlton experience, extended to our residents, that really sets us apart. People get that…” explains Art Buck, Director of Sales and Marketing.
To illustrate, he points out that The Ritz-Carlton Residents’ Concierge regularly does the grocery shopping for many owners prior to their arrival, ensuring that the time they have allocated to their visit is devoted to their enjoyment of the resort and its environs. These luxury residences range in size from 1,700 to 5,400 square feet, and are crafted with creativity, in sync with the desires of discriminating residents who appreciate fine detail, modern amenities and creature comforts that blend well with an active and vibrant lifestyle.
On well positioned lots, ranging from one quarter to seven acres, each home is thoughtfully designed with open floor plans and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living spaces. Many are within walking distance of the hotel or the clubhouse, and all are conveniently accessible by the myriad of hotel staff services including room service, valets, a full-time concierge, private chefs, landscaping crews and housekeepers.
These extra service amenities mean residents can relax and unwind in their desert haven knowing that all of their needs to preparing gourmet, in-home meals can be handled by not just professionals, but Ritz-Carlton trained professionals.
On The Course And Beyond
There is no dearth of active options for those who choose to make The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton home. With access to 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf, guests and residents enjoy regular play as well as the pleasure of hosting friends and family on the course for a spirited round or to enjoy the annual Accenture Match Play Championship, each year featuring among the strongest fields of international players in professional golf.
A 45,000-square-foot clubhouse complex, plus more than 25 miles of hiking, biking and walking trails on the property provide plenty of outdoor and fitness focused options. The preserves that surround the property provide an additional expanse for outdoor and nature pursuits.
While The Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain provides a pristine environment in which to relax and enjoy desert living, homeowners also relish the proximity to the fine restaurants, shopping and cultural endeavors that Tucson provides. Easy access to airports in both Phoenix and Tucson make traveling and welcoming visitors as simple as the lifestyle.
Beauty Beyond Compare
With the picturesque Tortolita mountains as the backdrop, and the Catalina mountains in the distance, towering saguaros cast long shadows across rolling hills as the Southwestern sun warms the day.
“I have great respect for this land and the people who were here before us,” explained Mehl. “From the Hohokam Indians who carved their stories into solid rock, to the homesteaders who helped preserve the history through cowboy poetry, they are an important part of this project.”
To that end, those priceless Indian petroglyphs, carved in the 1400s and ubiquitously present along the hiking trails that emanate from the hotel lawns, are there for generations to enjoy. And if you listen hard enough, you’ll catch some of that poetry every now and then, a lyrical reminder of the time when this storied landscape was home only to cattle and hard-working cowboys.
