The Lakes is an established west Las Vegas community built around Lake Sahara, a private, roughly 30-acre man-made lake south of Sahara Avenue between Durango Drive and Fort Apache Road. The lake was built in the mid-1980s, and The Lakes is one of the few places in the valley where you can own your own shoreline.
Homes range from condos and townhomes to large custom estates, and lakefront owners can keep a boat at their own dock. Add a central location just east of Summerlin, with the 215 Beltway close by, and you get water views without a long commute. Here's what I tell my clients before they buy.
What is The Lakes like?
The Lakes fills the area roughly bounded by Sahara Avenue, Desert Inn Road, Durango Drive and Fort Apache Road. Lake Sahara sits at the center, and because the lake branches into several arms, an unusually large share of homes back onto the water. The original plan called for two lakes; only one was built.
The Lakes Association describes the community as a set of villages, each with its own gated entrance, tied together by greenbelts, walking and bike paths, parks overlooking the water and a small shopping plaza on the lake with its own boat dock. Office buildings and shopping along Sahara and Fort Apache surround the residential core.
Most of the shoreline is privately owned by the lakefront homeowners, while the greenbelt common areas are shared by everyone in the association.
Because the lake predates most of Summerlin, The Lakes has tall trees and mature landscaping that newer west-side neighborhoods are still growing into.
Homes at The Lakes: waterfront, condos and custom estates
Homes here date mainly from the mid-1980s into the 1990s, and the range is wide, from compact condos to custom homes of more than 10,000 square feet. Styles run from Mediterranean stucco to Tudor-inspired designs to contemporary remodels.
| Type | What you'll find | Price tier |
|---|---|---|
| Lakefront custom and semi-custom homes | Private shoreline, many with docks | Upper to luxury |
| Interior and lake-view homes | Single-family homes on greenbelts and quiet streets | Moderate to upper |
| Condos and townhomes | Attached homes, some with lake views | The most affordable way in |
Waterfront homes carry a clear premium, and the gap between a lakefront home and one a street back can be large. If you're shopping the top of the range, my Las Vegas luxury homes guide covers how I approach custom-home pricing. Financing a condo? Read my FHA and VA condo approval guide first.
Lake Sahara rules: boating, fishing and what's not allowed
According to The Lakes Association, every residential owner can use Lake Sahara for boating and fishing, subject to its rules. The current published rules include:
- Electric only. Battery-powered electric boats are allowed. Gas and diesel engines are not, apart from the association's own work boat.
- Size limits. Boats can't exceed 18 feet. Single-hull sailboats are allowed and have the right of way.
- No jet skis or inflatables. Rafts, inner tubes, windsurfers and sailboards are also prohibited.
- No swimming. Swimming, wading and diving aren't permitted in the lake.
- Registration and docks. Boats must be approved, registered and insured with the association. Shoreline owners need an approved dock, and dock work requires architectural review.
- Fishing. Open to members, residents and accompanied guests, with rules on bait, gear and which fish can be kept.
The lake holds bass, bluegill and catfish, draws plenty of waterfowl and serves as a refuge for the endangered razorback sucker. Rules can change, so I always ask for the current version in the resale package.
Getting around: a central west-side location
Location is The Lakes' quiet advantage. Downtown Summerlin and the 215 Beltway are a few minutes west, Summerlin Parkway is a short drive north, and Sahara Avenue and Desert Inn Road both run east toward the Strip.
- The Strip: about 15–20 minutes
- Harry Reid International Airport: about 20–25 minutes
- Downtown Summerlin: about 5–10 minutes
- Red Rock Canyon: about 20–25 minutes
Grocery stores, restaurants and medical offices line Sahara and Fort Apache, so daily errands rarely need a freeway. To compare the west side, see my Summerlin guide and my guide to Canyon Gate, just across Sahara.
HOA costs and buying at The Lakes: my advice
Homes pay The Lakes Association, which maintains the lake, greenbelts and paths, and many also pay a village or condo association for their own enclave. Dues vary widely, so I pull current numbers, budgets and reserve studies for every home my clients consider. My HOA explainer covers how these layers stack. Nevada caps annual property-tax increases on an owner-occupied primary residence at 3%; confirm your situation with a CPA.
- Clarify what you own at the water. Much of the shoreline is privately owned, so ask what the lot includes and who maintains the dock and shoreline.
- Inspect for age. Many homes are 30 or more years old. Check plumbing, roof underlayment, HVAC and the sewer line, and have the dock looked at separately. My home inspection guide has the full list.
- Read the boat rules before you buy a boat. Approval and insurance come first.
- Check leasing rules if you might rent the home later. They can differ by village and condo association.
Dana's tip: Walk the greenbelt and the shoreline near a home before you write an offer. Paths and common areas can sit closer to some backyards than the listing photos suggest, and that affects privacy.
The Lakes questions
Can you swim in Lake Sahara?
No. The Lakes Association's rules don't permit swimming, wading or diving in Lake Sahara, and the lake is designated non-swimming under health district rules. Residents use it for boating and fishing instead. If a pool matters to you, look for a home with its own pool or ask whether the village or condo association has one.
Are motorboats allowed on Lake Sahara?
Only electric ones. Battery-powered electric boats are allowed, but gas and diesel engines are prohibited apart from the association's work boat. Boats are capped at 18 feet, single-hull sailboats are permitted, and jet skis, inflatables and windsurfers are not. Every boat must be approved, registered and insured with The Lakes Association before it goes on the water.
Do you have to live on the water to use the lake at The Lakes?
No. According to The Lakes Association, every residential property owner has the right to use Lake Sahara for boating and fishing, subject to its rules. Lakefront owners have the advantage of a private dock, which is where boats are kept. If you're buying away from the water and plan to boat, ask how docking would work before you buy the boat.
Is The Lakes part of Summerlin?
No. The Lakes is a separate, older community just east of Summerlin, centered on Lake Sahara south of Sahara Avenue. It has its own association and isn't part of the Howard Hughes master plan. Downtown Summerlin is only a few minutes west, so you still get easy access to its shopping and dining. See my Summerlin guide to compare.
Is The Lakes in Las Vegas gated?
By village. The Lakes Association describes the community as a set of villages, each with its own gated entrance, rather than one perimeter gate. A gate can mean a staffed guard gate or an unstaffed one, so if a staffed gate matters to you, confirm it for the specific village. My guard-gated vs. gated guide explains the difference.
Weighing The Lakes against another area?Put up to three neighborhoods side by side.
CompareMy closed sales in The Lakes
4 closed sales in The Lakes since 2013, representing both buyers and sellers. Here are the most recent.
| Closed | Home | Price | Dana represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2023 | Single-family home · 3 bd | $390,000 | Seller |
| Dec 2019 | Single-family home · 2 bd | $226,000 | Seller |
| Jan 2017 | Single-family home · 3 bd | $287,999 | Seller |
| Sep 2013 | Single-family home · 3 bd | $200,000 | Seller |
From Las Vegas REALTORS® MLS records of Dana’s closed transactions since 2011, across the brokerages she has worked with. Leases are not counted. Addresses are omitted for client privacy.
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