Torn between Ascaya and MacDonald Highlands? You are not alone. Both deliver Henderson hillside living with sweeping Strip views, resort amenities, and privacy. The difference comes down to lifestyle, product mix, elevation, and timeline. In this guide, you will get a clear, side‑by‑side view so you can match each community to what you value most. Let’s dive in.
Quick take: which fits your lifestyle
- Choose Ascaya if you want dramatic top‑of‑range elevations, strict desert‑modern design, and an intimate, architecture‑forward enclave with a resort clubhouse for owners.
- Choose MacDonald Highlands if you want an active country‑club scene at DragonRidge, a wider range of homes and builders, more near‑term inventory, and access to branded condo living.
Location, elevation, and views
Ascaya sits higher in the McCullough Range with homesites from about 1,900 to 3,200 feet, which helps create unobstructed Strip and valley views on upper tiers. You can see the community’s canyon‑style setting in the developer overview of Ascaya’s community and setting.
MacDonald Highlands occupies the foothills above Green Valley and DragonRidge. Elevations generally range around 2,100 to 2,700 feet based on local mapping, so you still get wide skyline views, just not the very top elevations found at Ascaya. For context, see this MacDonald Highlands elevation snapshot.
Both locations are convenient to I‑215 and major services. Typical drives to the Strip and Harry Reid International vary by time of day and entry gate. If commute time matters, test your route at peak hours.
Homes and pricing at a glance
Ascaya: small, custom, ultra‑luxury
Ascaya is intentionally limited in scale, with about 313 custom homesites and a strong emphasis on desert‑contemporary architecture and careful design review. Expect large custom lots, showcase design‑build programs, and a small number of move‑in options curated by the developer. Explore the current approach on Ascaya’s luxury homes page.
Pricing runs in the multi‑million range for both lots and finished homes. Recent headlines include a notable $16.25 million sale in March 2025, reflecting the community’s ultra‑luxury tier and thin inventory. You can see that context in the Review‑Journal’s report on the $16.25M closing.
MacDonald Highlands: broader product, more inventory
MacDonald Highlands spans roughly 1,320 acres with multiple sub‑neighborhoods and builders. You will find attached luxury homes, semi‑custom neighborhoods, and large custom estates, which opens up more price bands and timelines in one master plan. Christopher Homes offers semi‑custom options in enclaves like Vu and Vu Pointe, which can shorten the path to move‑in. Get a feel for current offerings at Christopher Homes’ Vu Pointe page.
At the top end, MacDonald Highlands has produced record prices, including a $25.25 million resale in July 2025 that underscored buyer demand for marquee hillside estates. See the sale context in Mansion Global’s coverage. At the same time, many builder products begin in the low‑to‑mid millions, which draws a broader buyer pool than Ascaya’s tighter ultra‑luxury niche.
Amenities and everyday lifestyle
Ascaya: owner‑focused resort clubhouse
Ascaya centers social life on a design‑forward, approximately 23,000‑square‑foot clubhouse with a resort pool, wellness and fitness spaces, tennis and pickleball, a chef kitchen, and family programming. It feels private and architectural in tone, aligned with the community’s design ethos. Get a sense of the amenities in Ascaya’s clubhouse overview.
MacDonald Highlands: DragonRidge Country Club at the core
MacDonald Highlands is built around DragonRidge Country Club, an 18‑hole championship course with a large clubhouse, dining, fitness, tennis, and social events. Membership is typically offered in tiers and is not automatic with every home purchase, so plan to review options during due diligence. See details on DragonRidge Country Club and amenities.
Outdoor access
Both communities integrate trails and parks. Ascaya highlights private trails and immediate mountain access from the terraces, which is ideal if you want hiking steps from your door. MacDonald Highlands blends golf, parks, and neighborhood paths with regular club programming.
Build rules, sitework, and timelines
Architectural controls
Ascaya’s architectural review emphasizes a coherent desert‑modern language and site‑specific design on a capped lot count. Buyers who want a strong architectural statement tend to value these controls, which help preserve the look and feel of the enclave. See high‑level community context in Ascaya’s overview.
MacDonald Highlands has multiple enclaves with varying product types and design guidelines. Some are fully custom behind secondary gates, others are semi‑custom builder neighborhoods that streamline choices.
Engineering and site complexity
Ascaya’s mountain setting required significant engineering, including major rock work and specialty construction for the clubhouse site. Steeper, rock‑cut parcels can translate into higher site‑work budgets and longer permitting and build calendars. For a window into the project’s complexity, review Ascaya’s clubhouse award and construction notes.
MacDonald Highlands lots range from gentle golf‑course settings to hilltop sites. Semi‑custom builder neighborhoods generally control for lot surprises, while bespoke custom sites will require full geotechnical review and robust site budgets.
Move‑in speed
If you want a custom home with maximum control, Ascaya delivers that vision but usually on a longer timeline. The developer also offers curated accelerated homes through partners to shorten the path to keys. You can explore that program on Ascaya’s luxury homes page. If speed matters most, MacDonald Highlands often has more immediate or near‑completion inventory in its semi‑custom neighborhoods.
Branded residences: a unique MacDonald Highlands option
A key differentiator is the arrival of the Four Seasons Private Residences Las Vegas within MacDonald Highlands. This brings high‑service, lock‑and‑leave condominium living with brand‑level amenities to the community, which Ascaya does not offer. For details, visit the Four Seasons Private Residences project site.
Who each community fits
- Ascaya suits buyers who want top elevations, a smaller enclave, and architecture as the statement piece. You get privacy, dramatic views, and a design‑centric amenity set.
- MacDonald Highlands suits buyers who want an active club and social calendar, more product types and price points, and the option for branded condo ownership.
Smart buyer checklist
Use this to frame your tours and questions:
HOA and inclusions. What are current HOA or master HOA fees and what do they cover? Fees vary by sub‑neighborhood, so confirm line items for maintenance, clubhouse operations, and any food and beverage minimums.
Exact elevation and view corridor. For a specific lot, ask for the topo, elevation, and any recorded view easements. Community materials for Ascaya show elevation bands, which you can reference in the Ascaya community overview.
Club membership details. At MacDonald Highlands, is DragonRidge membership included, optional, or separate? Review tier options and initiation dues on the DragonRidge information page.
Building envelopes and geotech. If building, request soils and geotechnical reports, building envelopes, height limits, and allowed grading. Mountain building can involve higher site‑work budgets, especially in Ascaya.
Recent comps and timelines. Review the last 12 months of sales in your exact sub‑neighborhood for days on market and negotiation patterns. Note that Ascaya has thinner, more variable comps, while MacDonald Highlands sees more transactions across product types.
Ready to compare specific lots, test drive times, and map real build or move‑in calendars to your goals? Reach out to Mark Pepe for a private consultation and a curated tour plan.
FAQs
What is the main difference between Ascaya and MacDonald Highlands?
- Ascaya is a smaller, ultra‑luxury enclave focused on desert‑modern custom estates and top elevations, while MacDonald Highlands is a large master plan built around DragonRidge Country Club with more product variety and social programming.
How do elevations and views compare in Henderson’s hillside communities?
- Ascaya lots span roughly 1,900 to 3,200 feet, which maximizes Strip and valley views on upper tiers. MacDonald Highlands typically ranges around 2,100 to 2,700 feet, offering wide views with slightly lower maximum elevations.
Which community offers faster move‑in options for luxury buyers?
- MacDonald Highlands often has more near‑term inventory in semi‑custom neighborhoods, while Ascaya focuses on custom builds with a smaller set of accelerated, developer‑partnered homes.
What amenities define daily life in each community?
- Ascaya offers a private, design‑forward clubhouse with pool, fitness, and courts for owners. MacDonald Highlands centers on DragonRidge Country Club with golf, dining, fitness, tennis, and active social events.
Are there branded condo options in either community?
- MacDonald Highlands includes the Four Seasons Private Residences, a high‑service, lock‑and‑leave condominium option. Ascaya does not offer a comparable branded condo product.
