Painted Desert is an established golf-course community in northwest Las Vegas, built in the late 1980s and 1990s around the public Painted Desert Golf Club. It sits just west of US-95 near Ann Road, with a guard-gated entry and homes along many of the course's fairways.
What sets it apart is the combination: golf frontage, a staffed gate and shared amenities at price points generally well below the valley's private-club enclaves. The trade-off is age, so inspections matter, and a home's update history can matter as much as its view of the fairway. Here's how I help buyers sort it out.
What is Painted Desert like?
Painted Desert is laid out around its golf course, with neighborhoods tucked between fairways and quiet streets winding off the main roads. Development began in the late 1980s, which makes it one of the northwest valley's older planned golf communities.
Listings typically show a staffed guard gate at the community's entry, and the association's amenities include tennis and pickleball courts and a community center. Confirm the current amenity list and gate setup for the specific parcel, since some neighborhoods carry their own association on top of the main one.
The surrounding area is established too. Centennial Hills is next door to the north, and the Lone Mountain and Desert Shores areas are a short drive west and south.
Painted Desert Golf Club: public golf behind your home
Painted Desert Golf Club is a public, daily-fee course designed by Jay Morrish. It's still operating, open to the public seven days a week. The layout works native desert terrain and plants between the fairways, and it has hosted the Nevada Open in the past.
A public course behind your home works differently from a private club:
- No membership required. You can book tee times like anyone else, and the club also sells memberships for frequent players.
- More traffic. Public play can mean more golfers, carts and stray balls along the fairways than at a private course.
- The course is a separate business. A golf operator runs it, not the homeowners' association. Ask about any planned changes to turf, water use or layout near the home you're considering.
My golf course homes guide covers what else to check before buying on a fairway.
Homes in Painted Desert: 1980s and 1990s construction
Most homes were built from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Expect stucco and tile roofs, vaulted ceilings, and single-story and two-story plans, along with some smaller attached homes.
Golf-frontage homes carry a premium over interior streets, and condition drives value as much as location. A fully updated home and an original one a few doors apart can be priced very differently, so I compare each listing against close matches.
Single-story plans and homes with golf views tend to draw the most interest. If you're flexible on one or the other, you may find better value. Interior homes a street back from the course often give you the same gate and amenities at a lower price.
If this would be your first purchase, my first-time buyer guide walks through the process. VA buyers can start with my VA home loan guide, and it's worth confirming any lender requirements with your loan officer early.
Getting around: US-95 and drive times
US-95 is the main route, with an interchange at Ann Road close to the community. From there it's a straight run southeast toward downtown and I-15, and the 215 Beltway is a short drive north for trips around the west side.
- The Strip: about 20–25 minutes
- Downtown Las Vegas: about 15–20 minutes
- Harry Reid International Airport: about 25–30 minutes
- Summerlin: about 15–20 minutes
Grocery stores, restaurants and everyday shopping are along Ann Road and in the Centennial Hills area to the north.
Costs and inspections: buying in Painted Desert
Every home pays the community association, which funds the gate, security and shared amenities, and some neighborhoods carry a second association fee for items like front-yard landscaping. Ask for both budgets and the reserve studies. I pull current figures for every home my clients consider; my HOA explainer covers how the layers work.
Nevada has no state personal income tax and caps annual property-tax increases on an owner-occupied primary residence at 3%; confirm the specifics with a CPA. If a home has solar panels, find out whether they're owned or leased before you write an offer, since a lease has to be transferred to you.
With homes in the 30-plus-year range, these are the items I flag for inspectors:
- Plumbing: Confirm whether original polybutylene supply lines have been replaced, and look for signs of past slab leaks.
- Roof underlayment: Tile outlasts the underlayment beneath it. Ask when it was last replaced.
- HVAC and water heater: Get the age of each unit.
- Sewer line: Add a camera scope.
- Golf-side walls and windows: Look for damage from stray balls.
My home inspection guide covers each in more detail.
Dana's tip: Spend time in the backyard of a fairway home at the hour you'd actually use it. Morning tee times, afternoon sun and evening maintenance all change how a golf-frontage yard feels, and it's better to know before you write the offer.
Ready to look? Browse current listings or reach out to me to set up a tour.
Painted Desert questions
Is Painted Desert Golf Club still open?
Yes. As of fall 2026, Painted Desert Golf Club is operating as a public, daily-fee course open seven days a week. It's a Jay Morrish design that has hosted the Nevada Open in the past. Because a separate golf operator runs the course, ask about any planned changes to turf or layout before you buy a home along the fairways.
Is Painted Desert in Las Vegas guard-gated?
Listings in Painted Desert typically show a staffed guard gate at the community's entry, with association dues covering security and shared amenities such as tennis and pickleball courts and a community center. Some neighborhoods also have their own association. Confirm the gate setup for the specific home. My guard-gated vs. gated guide explains the difference.
Do you need a membership to golf at Painted Desert?
No. Painted Desert Golf Club is a public course, so anyone can book a tee time, whether or not they live in the community. The club also sells memberships for frequent players. Living on the course doesn't come with golf privileges by default, so ask the club about current rates and options if you plan to play often.
How old are the homes in Painted Desert?
Most Painted Desert homes were built from the late 1980s through the 1990s, so many are more than 30 years old. Condition varies from fully remodeled to largely original. Plan on a full inspection plus a sewer scope, with a close look at plumbing, roof underlayment and HVAC age. My home inspection guide has the full checklist.
Where is Painted Desert in Las Vegas?
Painted Desert is in northwest Las Vegas, just west of US-95 near Ann Road, in the 89149 ZIP code. Centennial Hills is next door to the north, and the 215 Beltway is a short drive away. Downtown Las Vegas is about 15–20 minutes down US-95. See my Centennial Hills guide for the surrounding area.
Weighing Painted Desert against another area?Put up to three neighborhoods side by side.
CompareBuying in North Las Vegas? Read North Las Vegas Real Estate Agent: City Lines, New Construction and VA Buying.
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