Discovery Land Company
Encyclopedia
Discovery Land Company is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based developer and operator of resort communities and private clubs in North America. The Company has been noted as one of the world’s finest developers of resort communities by Robb Report
Vacation Homes and Luxury Living<ref>http://www.discoverylandco.com/assets/13000/oegtfc_1180033374.pdf magazines.
and then the Iron Horse project in Whitefish, Montana
with an emphasis on family lifestyle and the establishment of Discovery’s Outdoor Pursuits programs. Discovery has since gone on to craft its brand as a developer of luxury family lifestyle clubs. Discovery’s portfolio includes 14 properties in Hawaii
, California
, Arizona
, Idaho
, Montana
, Texas
, and North Carolina
in the U.S. as well as Los Cabos
, Mexico
and the Abacos in the Bahamas
.
in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas. Only 150 miles (241.4 km) from the Florida
coast, Baker’s Bay may feature more than 6 miles (9.7 km) of beachfront and offer views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sea of Abaco, a private 18-hole Tom Fazio
golf course, a private marina, as well as prerivate beach club and spa. But the future of the development remains in question while a court date with the [Privy Council] looms. The 610 acres (2.5 km²) private community might offer 244 custom homesites, ranging up to 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) in size, 115 single-family developer-built residences, and a marina village with resort amenities. http://www.bakersbayclub.com The Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club is opposed by environmentalists, including the Sierra Club
, Jean-Michel Cousteau
, Greenpeace
and others, particularly marine and coral conservationists, because of the impact of the marina and golf course on nearshore marine environments, including the island's coral reef.
Discovery Land Company faces Save Guana Cay Reef at the highest court in the British Commonwealth. On July 7, 2009, the locals of Great Guana Cay
had their environmental case against Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club heard.http://www.saveguanacayreef.com According to the [Privy Council] website, the decision regarding the development's future will be on November 17, 2009.
Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club is opposed by dozens of conservation groups, including Jean-Michel Cousteau
's Ocean Futures Society as well as Sierra Club
.
Litigation against the government and Baker's Bay Club by citizens of Great Guana Cay
continue.http://www.saveguanacayreef.com The first case is moving to Privy Council
.
, and includes a beach and private golf club, and 210 custom estate residences, villas, and casitas on approximately 520 acres (2.1 km²) of beachfront land facing the Sea of Cortez. The project features custom lots, villas, and casitas with ocean front and view lots selling for $2M to $10M. http://www.eldoradogolfandbeachclub.com
. The project has an 18-hole championship golf course and a 10-hole short course both designed by Tom Fazio, a private beach club, and 375 custom estate residences and cottages on over 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of prime Kona Coast
land. Lot prices at Kukio range from $1M to over $15M+ and membership is $250,000. http://www.kukio.com A private charter airline, the Kona Shuttle
, provides transportation from Oakland, California
.
designs. The residential offering consists of 450 single-family homes and homesites. Lots are listed from $200,000 to $1M+. http://www.hideawaygolfclub.com
. In addition to the 18-hole Bobby Weed
-designed golf course, development plans include a swimming hole, fish camp, Member’s clubhouse and Discovery’s signature Outdoor Pursuits program. http://www.spanishoaks.com
designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
featuring a clubhouse with a 45 room hotel and spa in the Santa Clara Valley. The project opened in 1999 and nearly all the 435 memberships were sold to Silicon Valley
business leaders. Discovery’s interest in Cordevalle was sold in 2007 to a European investor.
, establishing a long-term partnership for development and management. Yellowstone Club has since entered Chapter 11.
Robb Report
The Robb Report is an American, English-language, luxury-lifestyle magazine featuring products — including automobiles, real estate and watches — for affluent connoisseurs.-History:...
Vacation Homes and Luxury Living<ref>http://www.discoverylandco.com/assets/13000/oegtfc_1180033374.pdf magazines.
History
Discovery Land Company was founded in the 1990s by Michael Meldman with the opening of The Estancia Club in Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
and then the Iron Horse project in Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census. It is home to a ski resort on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer hails from Whitefish....
with an emphasis on family lifestyle and the establishment of Discovery’s Outdoor Pursuits programs. Discovery has since gone on to craft its brand as a developer of luxury family lifestyle clubs. Discovery’s portfolio includes 14 properties in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the U.S. as well as Los Cabos
Los Cabos
Los Cabos is a municipality located at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, in the state of Baja California Sur. It encompasses the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo , as well as the Resort Corridor that lies between the two...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the Abacos in the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
.
Baker’s Bay
Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club is a controversial private golf and ocean community, marina, and club located on the northern point of Great Guana CayGreat Guana Cay
Great Guana Cay is an islet located in The Bahamas. It is a long but narrow islet which is 9 miles in length. It is located in the centre of the Abaco Islands...
in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas. Only 150 miles (241.4 km) from the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast, Baker’s Bay may feature more than 6 miles (9.7 km) of beachfront and offer views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sea of Abaco, a private 18-hole Tom Fazio
Tom Fazio
Thomas Fazio, ASGCA is a golf course architect.Fazio graduated in 1962 from Lansdale Catholic High School and was inducted into its "Hall of Fame" in 2007. He began his career in golf course design with his family's firm in suburban Philadelphia, which he left in the 1960s; he established his own...
golf course, a private marina, as well as prerivate beach club and spa. But the future of the development remains in question while a court date with the [Privy Council] looms. The 610 acres (2.5 km²) private community might offer 244 custom homesites, ranging up to 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) in size, 115 single-family developer-built residences, and a marina village with resort amenities. http://www.bakersbayclub.com The Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club is opposed by environmentalists, including the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau is a French explorer, environmentalist, educator, and film producer. The first son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, he is the father of Fabien Cousteau and Celine Cousteau.-Biography:...
, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
and others, particularly marine and coral conservationists, because of the impact of the marina and golf course on nearshore marine environments, including the island's coral reef.
Discovery Land Company faces Save Guana Cay Reef at the highest court in the British Commonwealth. On July 7, 2009, the locals of Great Guana Cay
Great Guana Cay
Great Guana Cay is an islet located in The Bahamas. It is a long but narrow islet which is 9 miles in length. It is located in the centre of the Abaco Islands...
had their environmental case against Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club heard.http://www.saveguanacayreef.com According to the [Privy Council] website, the decision regarding the development's future will be on November 17, 2009.
Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club is opposed by dozens of conservation groups, including Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau is a French explorer, environmentalist, educator, and film producer. The first son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, he is the father of Fabien Cousteau and Celine Cousteau.-Biography:...
's Ocean Futures Society as well as Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
.
Litigation against the government and Baker's Bay Club by citizens of Great Guana Cay
Great Guana Cay
Great Guana Cay is an islet located in The Bahamas. It is a long but narrow islet which is 9 miles in length. It is located in the centre of the Abaco Islands...
continue.http://www.saveguanacayreef.com The first case is moving to Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
.
El Dorado
El Dorado is private, gated beachfront community and golf club located in Los Cabos, Mexico. The project has an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Jack NicklausJack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, and includes a beach and private golf club, and 210 custom estate residences, villas, and casitas on approximately 520 acres (2.1 km²) of beachfront land facing the Sea of Cortez. The project features custom lots, villas, and casitas with ocean front and view lots selling for $2M to $10M. http://www.eldoradogolfandbeachclub.com
Kukio
Kukio is private beachfront community and golf club located on the Big Island of HawaiiHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. The project has an 18-hole championship golf course and a 10-hole short course both designed by Tom Fazio, a private beach club, and 375 custom estate residences and cottages on over 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of prime Kona Coast
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
land. Lot prices at Kukio range from $1M to over $15M+ and membership is $250,000. http://www.kukio.com A private charter airline, the Kona Shuttle
Kona Shuttle
Kona Shuttle is a private all first-class charter service that flies from Oakland International Airport in California to Kona International Airport near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii...
, provides transportation from Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
Gozzer Ranch
Gozzer Ranch is a lakefront 395-home community and private club located in Northern Idaho in Coeur d’Alene. The community’s amenities include a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, luxurious fitness center and spa, full service 152-slip marina and family-friendly member service levels that raise the standard for lake front communities in the United States. Gozzer Ranch started sales in 2005 with lot prices averaging over $500,000. http://www.gozzerranchclub.comThe Madison Club
The Madison Club is located adjacent to the Hideaway in La Quinta, California, The Madison Club is a private golf community. The Madison Club’s 225 home owners have access to an 18 hole Tom Fazio designed course, clubhouse / spa facilities, and member service. Lots' prices average over $2M. http://www.madisonclubca.comMountaintop Golf and Lake Club
Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club is a private golf and residential community located in the Highlands-Cashiers region of the western North Carolina mountains. Acquired in late 2003, the development plan includes 318 homesites, 18 holes of private Tom Fazio golf, and a mountain lodge-style clubhouse. http://www.mountaintopgolfclub.comThe Hideaway
The Hideaway is a golf club and residential development located in La Quinta, California. The Hideaway’s 36 holes of golf provide members with Clive Clark and Pete DyePete Dye
Paul B. "Pete" Dye is a world-renowned golf course designer and a member of a famous family of course designers. He is married to fellow designer and former amateur champion Alice Dye.-Early life:Pete Dye was born in Urbana, Ohio...
designs. The residential offering consists of 450 single-family homes and homesites. Lots are listed from $200,000 to $1M+. http://www.hideawaygolfclub.com
Spanish Oaks Golf Club
Acquired in September 2005, Spanish Oaks is a 400-home gated community and private golf club located in the Hill Country of Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. In addition to the 18-hole Bobby Weed
Bobby Weed
Robert C. Weed, Jr., ASGCA is a golf course designer, builder, and protégé of Pete Dye. Weed's work includes Tournament Players Club courses, the Slammer and Squire at World Golf Village, and the redesign of the Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida...
-designed golf course, development plans include a swimming hole, fish camp, Member’s clubhouse and Discovery’s signature Outdoor Pursuits program. http://www.spanishoaks.com
Foreclosure of Spanish Oaks
Earlier this year, Spanish Oaks and its owners (Hillwood Partners, Discovery Land Company and CCNG, Inc.) defaulted on their original loan of $34.4 million and was forced into foreclosure. As a result, the property has been closed to its members since July 15, 2010. On September 7, 2010, Spanish Oaks Golf Club was sold in foreclosure to Comerica Bank for a reported $29 million, and although the remaining members of the club have been in talks with Comerica to re-open the golf course for play, no date has been set for this to occur. To date, all facilities, including the member's clubhouse and golf course, remain closed indefinitely.Mirabel
Mirabel is 346 home gated golf community located on 713 acres (2.9 km²) of Sonoran Desert terrain in North Scottsdale. Situated at an elevation of 3000 feet (914.4 m), Mirabel offers commanding views of the Scottsdale/Phoenix valley. The Tom Fazio-designed golf course opened in December 2001. Lot prices range from $300,000 to over $900,000 with a membership price of $125,000. http://www.mirabel.comVaquero
Vaquero is a 335 home gated community located on 525 acres (2.1 km²) of rolling terrain in Westlake, Texas near DFW and Alliance airports. The community features a private Tom Fazio-designed golf course in North Texas. The golf course opened for play in November 2001. Lots range from about $200,000 to over $1.75M with a membership price of $175,000. http://www.vaqueroclub.comIron Horse
Iron Horse is a Tom Fazio championship golf course and year round resort residential community comprising 311 home sites on 820 acres (3.3 km²), located in the popular resort area of Whitefish, Montana. The project broke ground in 1998 and sites range from $200,000 to $2M. The membership price is $125,000. http://www.ironhorsemt.comCordevalle Golf Club and Lodge
Cordevalle Golf Club and Lodge was Discovery’s sole hotel and golf-only project, an invitation-only golf club in Santa Clara County, CaliforniaSanta Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Robert Trent "Bobby" Jones, Jr. is a noted golf course architect. He is the son of legendary golf course designer Robert Trent Jones and the brother of golf course designer Rees Jones....
featuring a clubhouse with a 45 room hotel and spa in the Santa Clara Valley. The project opened in 1999 and nearly all the 435 memberships were sold to Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
business leaders. Discovery’s interest in Cordevalle was sold in 2007 to a European investor.
The Estancia Club
The Estancia Club is an exclusive luxury golf course community in Scottsdale, Arizona. An equity club, Estancia was turned over to the membership unanimously. The 640 acres (2.6 km²) gated community has achieved the highest average per lot sales price in Arizona for any master planned community at the time. 265 lots are priced from $175,000 to over $1M, with villa product ranging from $900,000 to over $3M.Yellowstone Club
In 2008, the Discovery Land Company entered an agreement with Yellowstone ClubYellowstone Club
The Yellowstone Club, also Yellowstone Ski Resort, is an invitation-only residential club, ski resort, and golf resort located in the state of Montana, USA. The Rocky Mountain ski and golf club is located in eastern Madison County, just west of Big Sky, Montana, south of Bozeman and northwest of...
, establishing a long-term partnership for development and management. Yellowstone Club has since entered Chapter 11.