Even with Cedar Creek Lake at a low level, 505 Ranch Club enjoyed a spike in sales in the last few months of 2014, according to Bonny Miller, director of marketing for the luxury lakeside resort development.
505 Ranch Club sold the 5,500 square-foot custom home on two lots it unveiled in 2014 for $1.7 million in August and four undeveloped lots from September through December. The buyers viewed the lake being down as an opportunity to dredge their lakeside property before the lake rises again, she said.
“We took a negative and turned it into a positive,” Miller said. “We can’t do anything about the lake level, but we expect it to come back.”
The resort, a former ranch graced with ancient oak trees on the shores of the lake, is near Mabank, Texas, and 45 minutes southeast of Dallas. Birds and wild animals inhabit the pristine woods.
“We are so different from other resort developments on Cedar Creek Lake,” Miller said. “Our residents really enjoy the peace and quiet they find here.”
A new spec home will be showcased by the resort in March. With 181-foot of lakefront footage, the 3715-square-foot home has 600-square-foot of porches, hardwood floors, Carrera marble, Marmol Venatino porcelain tile, Calcutta Marble and other quality finishes. It features four bedrooms, five full-baths, two half-baths, a game room, and an open kitchen and den with soaring cathedral ceilings highlighted by a large fireplace and expanse of windows. The home is light and airy with incredible views of the lake and woods. A dry-stacked outdoor fire pit adds to the exterior ambience. The home sits atop a hill. It is offered at just under $1.3 million.
“505 Ranch Club appeals to those families who enjoy privacy and an intimate treed environment,” Miller said. “It is so peaceful and quiet that one feels comfortable sitting on their porch overlooking the lake in the mornings still in their pajamas with a cup of coffee.”
Miller noted that although lake levels are down in most lakes in the state, 505 Ranch Club residents could enjoy their boats off their private docks last year. The residents enjoyed the development’s many amenities, and they jogged, strolled, biked, fished, shot skeet, four-wheeled on ATVs, swam, skied, watched Polo matches, rode horses and relaxed in the clubhouse all summer long, she said.
The development offers its residents whatever appeals to them, Miller said. “Many times, I do not even know a family is here,” she said. “Being a low density and very private, heavily-wooded community, our families come in and just enjoy the privacy of their beautiful homes overlooking the lake – just chilling and being still.”
Miller said she enjoys the resort as much as the residents do. “I’ve fallen in love with it,” she said. “I love that end of the lake with the pelicans floating in the water.”
The amenities of the resort include equestrian stables, paddocks and a training course for Western and English riders, a polo field, stocked fishing lakes, a skeet and trap range, rustic camping areas with teepees and trails for hiking, biking and ATV riding,
For the less active wanting to socialize in comfort, there is a luxurious clubhouse with a pool room, full service kitchen, dining room, lounge area, terrace, infinity swimming pool, sandy beach and a guest house that can be reserved when homeowners need extra space for overnight guests.
And for the ultimate in comfort and peace of mind for the homeowners, the resort comes equipped with a ranch staff on site 24/7.
The resort enjoys all city services, including water, road maintenance, fire department and police protection.
The ranch resort, named after the number of its acres, features 56 waterfront lots ranging from 1.2 acres up to 3.5 acres. All of the waterfront property owners also proportionally own the 400-acres of common ranch area and its amenities. Homeowners wanting to board horses pay extra fees, but other than that all of the resort's resources are available equally to all.
The houses that have been constructed range from 4,800- to 8,500-square foot. There is no limit on how large of a house can be built, and it's possible to buy more than one lot at a time.
There is no time limit on when a house must be built, but a minimum 3,000-square-foot home built of 80 percent stone and with a roof that is not composition is required.
For information visit 505ranch.com or call Miller at 214-801-0753 or email [email protected].