Neighborhood of the week: Elkhorn Ranch Estates

Views. Mature trees. Views. Open space. Views. Large lots.

And did I mention the views?

Elkhorn Ranch Estates in Rathdrum offers all of this, and more. Nestled at the foot of Round Mountain are over 300 acres of forested land that have been carved into 3 to 4-plus acre lots as the third and final phase of this sylvan development.

Charlie Potts of Potts Construction, Inc. is the developer of Elkhorn Ranch Estates. He "ran into the property by accident," he said, when he bought the Twin Lakes Golf Course. He purchased the land at three different times, and started development in the early 2000s.

"We had the good fortune to finish developing it when the market crashed," he said. "We're marketing in earnest, now that it has rebounded."

"There's been lots of interest," said Ken Moeller, a Realtor with Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty representing Elkhorn Ranch Estates. There are 19 lots available in this final phase, with prices ranging between $125,000 and $150,000. Home-land construction packages are also available.

The density is one home for every five acres, with 28 acres set aside as open space.

"The houses are far enough apart that you don't know what your neighbors are doing," Potts said.

In the first phases, many of the homeowners were families with children. This third phase primarily consists of retired couples, folks downsizing from larger homes, and second and third homes. Houses are in the $400,000 range in this phase, in the area that they refer to as "above the hill."

"This is the last of what you might call land that is owned by the general public," Potts said. Elkhorn Ranch is surrounded by acreage owned by timber companies, which traditionally are long-term property holders.

The lots are heavily forested; they have been careful to leave a lot of big timbers in place when developing the property. "It's a double-edged sword," Potts said. "There are so many trees, it's hard to see what you've got. But if you take them out, you're missing the point." His property is a prime example of removing just enough trees to expose the incredible views, yet still retain the privacy that this development boasts.

There were a couple of sales where the trees were the main reason the buyers purchased specific lots, Moeller said. "We have a terrific variety of trees - cedars, firs, pines, and tamarack." What you won't find is the more "undesirable" species, such as lodgepole and black pine.

In most developments with trees and views like this, Potts said, the land is steep. Here, that's just not the case. "You can put a house anyplace you want to," he said. Most of the land in the lots is usable, providing a number of large building sites. "It gives you a lot of options; they're not steep lots that you'll fall off the face of."

There's a one-mile loop perfect for walking Fido or Fifi, or just stretching your legs. You're apt to see moose, turkey, elk, or deer as you wander through this secluded neighborhood.

But even though it's secluded, it's not isolated. If you like the amenities and quality of life that the city affords, but prefer living in the country, this is the place for you. You're minutes away from all that North Idaho offers in the way of outdoor recreation: golf courses, lakes, skiing, camping, hiking, fishing and boating. Rathdrum, with all of the services it provides, is 15 minutes away; it's 30 minutes to Coeur d'Alene, 10 minutes to Hayden, and 45 minutes to the Spokane Airport.

A unique feature of this neighborhood is that the homeowners own the water system, Elkhorn Ranch Water, managed by a dedicated board.

The land is over the aquifer, Potts said, so it has a great source of water. They have two holding tanks - 65,000 and 165,000 gallons - with fire flows of 1,000 gallons/minute for two hours, which meets the standards. Water pressure is between 70 and 130 pounds.

HOA fees cover the cost of the water system - $25 for the first 10,000 gallons and $1 for each 1,000 gallons after that. Utilities are underground, including natural gas, and the paved roads are maintained by the Lakes Highway District.

There's a "quasi-sewer system" that utilizes septic tanks and effluent collection sites, thus avoiding the need for drainfields; the HOA manages the septic tanks for a monthly fee, so the homeowners don't have to worry about that task.

You can bring your own builder to Elkhorn Ranch Estates. Potts Construction is currently building a spec home, 2,680 square feet on a single level with granite, tile, carpet, hardwood, a three-car garage, natural gas fireplace, paved driveway, landscaped, that can be yours for $449,000.

Moeller moved to North Idaho in 2004, and spend a lot of time searching for the perfect place to live. He knew he'd found it when he discovered Elkhorn Ranch. "We didn't know it was here," he said. "You end up in a little paradise if you drive 10 miles further out of town."

"I challenge you to go around and find a neighborhood with everything that we offer," Potts said. "You don't get tired of the view."

If you're interested in owning a piece of this woodland paradise, contact Ken Moeller at (208) 661-8043 or Chad Salsbury at (208) 660-1964 for a personal tour of Elkhorn Ranch Estates.

"I don't think there's anything quite like us north of Coeur d'Alene," Moeller said. "It's like the Idaho dream."

If you have a neighborhood that you would like to be featured in this series, please contact Beth Hanggeli at bhanggeli@cdapress.com or (208) 664-0248.