When RainDance brought more single-family homes to Windsor’s Water Valley in 2018, most of the homeowners were young families. Since then, the area has grown to serve other members of the community, offering everything from condos to custom homesites in what is known as Emerald Estates. The result is a dynamic golf course community that prioritizes luxury and connection in everyday life.
“We don’t want you to have to go on vacation to be on vacation,” says Krystal Lind, vice president of real estate marketing and community relations at The Water Valley Company and daughter of developer Martin Lind. Her role in the family business, alongside her sister and two brothers, is to foster the sense of community that makes RainDance one of Northern Colorado’s most sought-after places to live.
Amenities on amenities
With countless amenities ranging from an award-winning golf course to a tubing hill that doubles as an amphitheater in the summer (this September, there’ll be performances by Cold War Kids, Third Eye Blind, Randy Houser and Chris Lane, among other big names), RainDance attracts residents who want to love the area where they put roots down. Everything is accessible via golf cart—including the RainDance River Resort water park, The Grainhouse restaurant and Ted’s Sweetwater Grill—even from the neighboring communities that are connected by a bridge and trail system.
Nearby are parks, lazy rivers, orchards and gardens that honor Windsor’s agricultural heritage, something Lind says was at the heart of the community’s design.
“My dad grew up in this area. He was a farmer, so he intimately knows the way the land falls, the way the water rolls down the hill and where it’s going to pool,” she says. “There’s a negative perception of developers that they come in and destroy the land and that it’s all about money. That is not the case here. The farming history is being preserved, the views are being preserved and the water is being used in a thoughtful way.”
Golf course views
Part of that design features the transformation of steep arroyos into RainDance National, the longest golf course in the country. While golfers love it for its 8,463 playable yards and 250 feet of elevation change, homeowners in Emerald Estates enjoy basking in the emerald hues from above.
All of the lots in Emerald Estates feature walkout basements, and because they are high up, the homeowners have stunning mountain views to the north, south and west. Their position also secures “forever views” due to the inability of other developers to build multi-story buildings that would obstruct the scenery.
“The planning, positioning, landscape and height…everything down to the minute detail is on purpose,” Lind says. “Before, there were no trees, and there was no grass. Now it’s a thriving ecosystem. It’s not like living on a normal golf course: You’re watching wildlife in your backyard, and you’re watching the sunrise and sunset. It’s an experience. Truly one of one.”
Custom design
Since the lots in Emerald Estates are all custom, homeowners can bring their own builder and do almost anything they want to do, says Marissa Donahoo, vice president of real estate for The Water Valley Company and also a daughter of Martin Lind. The lots range from 9,000-13,000 square feet, with home sizes between 4,000 and 8,000 square feet. The homes are typically completed with a value of $2-3.5 million.
“We have architectural guidelines that keep the cohesiveness of the neighborhood, but they are pretty flexible, which leaves a lot of creativity to the buyers and builders,” Donahoo says.
This gives homeowners a unique opportunity to build their dream home on a golf course, she says, which is rare in Colorado (once those lots are gone, they’re gone). The lawns are also a manageable size, so they don’t require extensive landscaping or maintenance. Instead, the golf course provides the serene ambiance of a manicured lawn—no work required.
“We have a lot of retirees who love the neighborhood because of the environment, but it’s also great for families who want easy access to all the family-friendly amenities,” Donahoo says. “Homesites with walkouts in this location and on this golf course…it’s like every view becomes a statement. You don’t live in Colorado to stay inside all day. Life at Emerald Estates maximizes the Colorado lifestyle and allows you to live every day like you are on vacation.”
Explore custom homesites, community amenities and availability at emeraldestateswindsor.com
