1952
Howard Hughes purchases the land
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. acquired a 25,000 acre parcel along the then-barren western rim of the Las Vegas valley for a reported $3 an acre as a possible relocation for his California-based business concerns. Ultimately, he chooses not to relocate, so the land continues to sit dormant for more than three decades.
1988
Plans announced for Summerlin
In 1988, Summa announces plans for Summerlin, a master-planned community named for the paternal grandmother of Howard Hughes – Jean Amelia Summerlin.
1988
Land exchange enacted to protect Red Rock Canyon
Two years before the first piece of dirt was turned in Summerlin, the single most important act of preparation for the community was executed: a land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management facilitated by The Nature Conservancy in which Summa Corporation – predecessor to The Howard Hughes Corporation – gave up 5,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in exchange for 3,000 acres more appropriate for development.
1988
Meadows School opens as first facility in Summerlin
The Meadows School, the valley’s premier private college preparatory school, opens in Summerlin on land donated by HHC. This strategic and generous move helps to put the community on the map.
1990
Summerlin Parkway is completed
The Howard Hughes Corporation funds the completed Summerlin Parkway from Rainbow Boulevard to Town Center Drive, connecting to US 95, the major artery that connects Summerlin to Las Vegas and beyond. The four-mile-long Parkway, then dubbed by locals as “the road to nowhere,” was Southern Nevada’s first three-level interchange.
1990
Development officially commences with The Hills village
Development of Summerlin officially commences with the community’s first village – The Hills. Village organization helps to create a sense of intimacy within a community that covers nearly 36 square miles. A 394-acre residential village, The Hills is anchored by The Hills Park flanked by Ernest A. Becker, Sr. Middle School and William R. Lummis Elementary School.
1990
The Hills Park opens
The Howard Hughes Corporation completes the community’s first major park – The Hills – months before the first residents move into their home to help establish the vision and quality of life Summerlin will bring to Las Vegas.
1991
First family moves to Summerlin
Cal and Maria Champlin, along with their children, make history as the first residents of Summerlin, moving to The Hills village in March 1991.
1991
Development commences on The Hills South village
725-acre mixed-use residential village home to Summerlin’s first custom home neighborhoods such as Eagle Hills, Tournament Hills; Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center; TPC Summerlin – the community’s first golf course; and several master-planned business parks.
1991
Tournament Players Club opens
Summerlin’s first golf course, TPC Summerlin opens. This is the same course where in 1996, Tiger Woods wins his first ever PGA tournament.
1992
Summerlin ranks #1 in new home sales nationally
Remarkably, Arthur Andersen Real Estate Services Group ranks Summerlin #1 in new home sales nationally, just one year after development commences. For ten consecutive years, 1997 to 2007, Summerlin is ranked number one for new home sales among master-planned communities nationwide, according to RCLCO. Summerlin misses the number one spot in 1996 by only two home sales, but returns to number one from 1997 to 2002. From 2003 to 2007, Summerlin ranks in the top ten nationally and lands on the top 25 list from 2011 to 2014.
1992
Development commences on The Pueblo village
A 568-acre mixed-use residential village, The Pueblo features distinctive Pueblo-style architecture; single- and multi-family neighborhoods; The Pueblo Park, The Pueblo shopping center; three schools: The Meadows School (1998), Richard H. Bryan Elementary School (1996) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School; and two houses of worship: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (1995) and Summerlin Evangelical Lutheran Church (1993).
1993
Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center opens
The amenity building boom continues in Summerlin with the 1993 completion of Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center, the community’s first medical center – Pueblo Medical; its first shopping center – Pueblo Shopping Center; its first house of worship and its first two public schools.
1993
Lummis Elementary School and Becker Middle School open
William R. Lummis Elementary and Ernest A. Becker, Sr. Middle School open as the first two public schools in Summerlin. The schools are named for two prominent men with strong connections to Summerlin: Lummis was executor of Howard Hughes’ estate and former CEO of The Howard Hughes Corporation; Becker was a prominent home builder and developer who helped to establish development on the west side of the Las Vegas valley. Over the next two decades, the community becomes home to more schools than any other Southern Nevada community. Among them, 12 public schools and 10 of the valley’s most prestigious private schools.
1993
Development commences on The Trails village
A 573-acre mixed-use residential village, The Trails includes several single- and multi-family neighborhoods, The Trails Community Center, The Trails Park and The Trails Paseo Park, a neighborhood retail center – The Trails Village Center (1998), two houses of worship and a U.S. Post Office.
1994
Development commences on The Crossing village
A 530-acre mixed-use residential and commercial village, The Crossing is home to single- and multi-family neighborhoods, The Crossing Business Center, The Crossing Park, John W. Bonner Elementary School (1997), Summerlin Hospital Medical Center (1996) and city of Las Vegas Fire Station No. 7.
1995
Development commences on The Canyons village
A 754-acre mixed-use residential village, The Canyons village features single- and multi-family neighborhoods, custom home communities, TPC Las Vegas (1996), two major business parks – Canyons Center and Covington Cross Center and JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa (1999 as The Resort at Summerlin).
1996
Development commences on The Arbors village
A 1,206-acre mixed-use residential village, The Arbors includes single- and multi-family neighborhoods; four major parks: Arbors Paseo Park, Arbors Tennis and Play Park, Tree Top Park, Cottonwood Canyon; Palo Verde High School (1997), Sig Rogich Middle School (2000), E.W. Staton Elementary School (2000), College of Southern Nevada Bob and Sandy Miller High Tech Center (2003), three houses of worship and the city of Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Community Center (2000).
1996
Summerlin Hospital Medical Center opens
A 40-acre medical campus managed by the Valley Health System brings much needed, top quality medical services to the community. The hospital’s 454 rooms are all-private suites. Over the years, Summerlin Hospital has expanded to include a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, advanced cardiac and surgical procedures including open heart and robotic surgery services.
1997
Palo Verde High School opens
Summerlin gets its first public high school with the opening of Palo Verde High School that enjoys a shared campus with College of Southern Nevada.
1997
Development commences on the village of Summerlin Centre
A 1,004-acre mixed-use village, Summerlin Center is home to single- and multi-family neighborhoods, Villa Trieste – Nevada’s first LEED-certified neighborhood developed by Pulte Homes; five major office and retail centers; Summerlin Centre community park; Las Ventanas at Summerlin – a continuing care retirement facility (2006); and three schools: West Career and Technical Academy (2010) and Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School (1998).
1997
Development commences on The Willows village
A 731-acre mixed-use residential village, The Willows includes single- and multi-family neighborhoods; Willow Creek, a guard-gated custom home community; The Willows Community Center; The Willows Park, Willows Paseo Park and Spotted Leaf Park; D’Vorre and Hal Ober Elementary School (2000); Faith Lutheran Academy and Preschool (2002); Temple Beth Sholom (2000) and Faith Community Lutheran Church (2002).
1998
Trails Village Center opens
The completion of a 20-acre upscale retail center – Trails Village Center – brings the first grocery store and other needed services to Summerlin.
1998
Development commences on the village of Red Rock Country Club
A 738-acre guard-gated residential village, Red Rock Country Club is a development of Sunrise Colony Company on land purchased from The Howard Hughes Corporation. While not technically part of the Summerlin, master plan, Red Rock Country Club includes approximately 1,000 luxury homes, two championship Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, a main clubhouse and Sports Club.
1999
Nevada Ballet Theatre relocates to Summerlin
The Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center, home to Nevada Ballet Theatre, the state’s only professional ballet company, is completed on land donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation adjacent Summerlin Library. The addition brings a significant cultural presence to the community
1999
J.W. Marriott, formerly The Resort at Summerlin, opens
Summerlin’s first hotel, The Resort at Summerlin, opens. The hotel partnered with J.W. Marriott in 2002.
2000
Development commences on The Gardens village
A 410-acre mixed-use residential village, The Gardens features single- and multi-family neighborhoods arrayed around The Gardens Park. Other amenities include The Gardens Plaza, Element (non-gaming, boutique hotel opened in 2008) and The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain (2000).
2000
Development commences on The Ridges village
A 793-acre exclusive, guard-gated residential village, The Ridges is home to custom and semi-custom neighborhoods; Bear’s Best Las Vegas golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Club Ridges.
2000
Development commences on The Vistas village
An 815-acre mixed-use residential village featuring single- and multi-family neighborhoods, The Vistas Community Park, North Tower Park (2002), South Tower Park, Linda Givens Elementary School (2004) and Vista Commons neighborhood shopping center.
2000
Red Rock Country Club opens, building boom continues
2000 is a blockbuster year for Summerlin with the following openings: Red Rock Country Club clubhouse and golf course, Siena Golf Course, Alexander Dawson School at Las Vegas, D’Vorre and Hal Ober Elementary School, E.W. Staton Elementary School, Sig Rogich Middle School, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Desert Spring United Methodist Church and Summerlin Community Baptist Church.
2000
Construction of 215 beltway through Summerlin begins
Construction commences on an eight- mile stretch of the 215 beltway through Summerlin. The beltway transforms transportation between the east and west sides of the valley, providing yet another convenient and expeditious route to Summerlin.
2001
20,000th home is built; new home sales record set
The building boom continues in 2001 as Summerlin completes its 20,000th new home and sets a sales record for the most new homes sold in one week: 114.
2001
Bear’s Best Las Vegas opens in The Ridges
Jack Nicklaus’ Bear’s Best Las Vegas – a replication course in The Ridges, opens. Summerlin’s most exclusive village featuring custom homes in a magnificent setting overlooking the Las Vegas valley, The Ridges is considered the valley’s premier community and is home to many of the city’s captains of industry, professionals and influencers.
2001
Development commences on Ridgebrook village
A 100-acre residential village with four single-family neighborhoods, Ridgebrook is home to Ridgebrook Park and John and Judy Goolsby Elementary School (2004).
2002
Summerlin named Community of the Year by ULI
Urban Land Institute names Summerlin as Community of the Year in its Awards for Excellence; Money magazine names Summerlin as one of three best places to live in Las Vegas; and Summerlin is profiled as a model of real estate success by ULI both in the U.S. and abroad.
2002
Second land exchange enlarges Red Rock Canyon National Conservation
A second land exchange between HHC and the BLM ensures that Summerlin’s growth continues in locations more appropriate for development: HHC gives 1,000 acres of highlands in the community’s western region to the BLM to increase the size and protect Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. HHC receives approximately 1,000 acres along Summerlin’s southernmost edge – extending the community’s southern boundary.
2002
Five more Summerlin parks completed
A Summerlin hallmark, parks have played a major role in shaping the community’s active lifestyle. Every neighborhood is required to have its own pocket park and every village has at least one major community park. Today, Summerlin is home to more than 150 parks, some with tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, softball and t-ball fields, and even a football field and bocce ball court.
2003
Development commences on The Paseos village
A 768-acre mixed-use residential village, The Paseos features single- and multi-family neighborhoods and The Paseos Park, a 12.5-acre community park with soccer/tee-ball fields, sand volleyball court, basketball court, play areas and more.
2003
Summerlin first Southern Nevada community to implement Water Smart
From inception, Summerlin embraced low water use landscaping in all its common areas and is credited with helping to improve Southern Nevadans’ perception of desert landscaping.
2004
Development commences on The Mesa village
A 497-acre residential village, The Mesa is home to single- and multi-family neighborhoods, The Mesa Park, a 19-acre village park with three little league fields, tennis and basketball courts and more; and Bishop Gorman High School, the valley’s premier private Catholic college preparatory school encompassing more than 52 acres.
2006
Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa opens
A nearly $1 billion project on 70 acres, the community’s first major entertainment destination – Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa – opens with 414 hotel rooms, casino, spa, nine restaurants, several bars and lounges and Regal Cinemas.
2007
Bishop Gorman High School and Faiss Middle School open
One of the valley’s oldest private Catholic schools attended by many of the city’s influencers and leaders, Bishop Gorman relocates to Summerlin after being in the center of the city for more than 50 years. Gorman’s relocation to The Mesa village and Faiss Middle school – the first project to open in The Cliffs village, Summerlin’s southernmost village, creates a significant anchor for development in the southern region of the community.
2007
Summerlin #1 Best Place to Live & Play by National Geographic Adventure
Summerlin continues to make national headlines and is prominently featured in the article for its proximity to Red Rock Canyon and its focus on active, healthy outdoor living.
2008
Summerlin receives inaugural American Trails Developer Award
Lauded for Summerlin’s 150-mile-plus trail system, HHC receives the inaugural American Trails Developer Award from American Trails, a national nonprofit dedicated to trail interests. This is the first time the award has been given to a private developer.
2010
Summerlin marks 20th anniversary with hospital expansion, new school
Summerlin marks its 20th anniversary with the completion of a $100 million expansion for Summerlin Hospital Medical Center and the opening of a highly rated public magnet school attended via lottery by the best and brightest students from all over the valley – West Career & Technical Academy.
2011
HHC receives Water Hero Award from SNWA
HHC receives the Water Hero Award from the Southern Nevada Water Authority Water Conservation Coalition for the community’s significant water conservation efforts and leadership.
2012
Summerlin featured at National Building Museum in Washington, DC
Recognized as a standard setting community that heled to redefine Las Vegas as a great place to live, Summerlin is lauded nationally for its award-winning design – a place that is now home to more than 100,000 residents.
2013
Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park opens on Memorial Day
The valley’s first major water park since the original Wet ‘n’ Wild on the Las Vegas Strip closed in 2004, Wet ‘n’ Wild opens in Summerlin with great fanfare and public anticipation. Wet ‘n’ Wild is located within The Cliffs village.
2014
Downtown Summerlin opens on Oct. 9
The 106-acre fashion, dining and entertainment destination opens to valley-wide acclaim in Downtown Summerlin, a 400-acre urban core in the center of the community that when complete, will also include more than 4,000 urban style residences, Class A office and service retail. It is the largest US retail development project since the great recession.
2015
Development commences on The Cliffs village
Currently home to Faiss Middle School (2007) and Wet ‘n’ Wild (2013), this is Summerlin’s southernmost village spanning just over 418 acres. It will eventually be home to The Regency, a 100-acre, age-qualified neighborhood developed by Toll brothers and the first in Summerlin in more than 15 years.
2015
Construction begins on The Summit, a joint venture of Discovery Land Company and The Howard Hughes Corporation
The Summit is a 555-acre resort community south of The Ridges jointly developed by The Howard Hughes Corporation and Discovery Land Company, one of the world’s leading developers of private clubs and luxury communities. It features a private Tom Fazio golf course, clubhouse and fitness facility.
2016
Downtown Summerlin achieves LEED Certification
The Howard Hughes Corporation receives Silver Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Downtown Summerlin.
2016
The Vistas Community Center and Pool opens
The Howard Hughes Corporation completes the 7,900-square-foot Vistas Community Center adjacent to the Vistas Park. This is Summerlin’s fourth community center and third resident exclusive pool. It houses meeting rooms and adjoining patio for resident events, youth and adult classes and activities. Its expansive outdoor area includes a 5,500 square-foot main pool with slide and a child’s lagoon with frog fountains.
2016
Constellation Opens in the Downtown Summerlin area
Constellation is a joint venture development with The Calida Group – the first residential offering and luxury apartment neighborhood in the Downtown Summerlin area. With 124 units and a resort-style pool, this is the most amentized rental apartment experience in Summerlin.
2016
Summerlin completes indoor aquatic center deeded to Clark County for public use
Located in Faiss Park in The Cliffs village The Howard Hughes Corporation completes an indoor aquatic center that is deeded to Clark County for public use and maintenance. The property features a 24,950-square-foot community center with meeting and locker rooms; 25-meter and10 lane lap pool; nine-foot-deep pool for scuba; 1,800-square-foot therapy pool with handicap access. The pool is enclosed for year-round and features tall overhead doors that, when open, create the feel of outdoors.
2016
NHL Practice Facility Breaks Ground
President of Summerlin for The Howard Hughes Corporation Kevin Orrock (featured second from left) and several others celebrate the commencement of construction on the practice facility in the Downtown Summerlin area for the NHL franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, the city’s first professional sports team.
2017
Reverence by Pulte Homes Opens
Reverence, a 300-acre village built exclusively by Pulte Homes opens.
2017
City National Arena Opens
City National Arena, practice facility of the Vegas Golden Knights opens. The NHL expansion team makes history by advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals during its inaugural year.
2018
Construction on Las Vegas Ballpark® begins and progresses
Las Vegas Ballpark® at Downtown Summerlin is a 10,000-capacity minor league baseball stadium and future home of the Las Vegas Aviators®, the city’s professional Triple-A baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and affiliate of the Oakland A’s
2018
Completion of Two Summerlin
Two Summerlin is Downtown Summerlin’s second Class-A office tower spanning 150,000 square feet and opened in 2018.
2018
Construction is completed on Aristocrat campus
Construction is completed on a 180,000-square-foot campus for Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., a global gaming leader.
2019
Completion and opening of Las Vegas Ballpark®, home of the Las Vegas Aviators®, the city’s professional Triple-A baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
2019
Construction completed on Tanager, Downtown Summerlin’s second luxury apartment complex.
2019
Las Vegas Ballpark’s wildly successful inaugural year marked by record-setting attendance that leads Minor League Baseball and industry recognition from Ballpark Digest as “Ballpark of the Year.”
2019
Sagemont Park Opens
Sagemont Park in Summerlin Centre spans nearly ten acres and includes lawn areas, lighted soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball court and connection to the area’s regional bike trail. To accommodate gatherings and events, the park includes a shaded picnic area and play area, in addition to community restrooms.
2019
Summerlin ranks #3 nationally
Summerlin ranks #3 nationally among top-selling master-planned communities by national real estate consultant, RCLCO, based on 2019 home sales.
2020
Summerlin named Master-Planned Community of the Year by National Association of Homebuilders.
2020
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Summerlin Area Command Opens
Completion and opening of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Summerlin Area Command substation for which design and construction was fully funded and built on land donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation.
Today
Summerlin, now marking its 30th year, continues development as one of the country’s most successful and compelling real estate stories
Summerlin is home approximately 100,000 residents. With nearly 6,000 gross acres left to develop, the best is yet to come in America’s community – one of the country’s most successful and compelling real estate stories.