“This community is prairie country—and the beauty is all in the Alberta sky.” At the Lakes of Muirfield, in the rural hamlet of Lyalta, “you’ll see gorgeous skies, long shadows at dusk, and the curvatures of the land. It’s very tranquil out here,” adds Holden. The Lakes of Muirfield is within easy reach to Calgary, Chestermere Lake and Strathmore—about 20 minutes away by car. Meanwhile Calgary International Airport is just a 25-minute commute and downtown Calgary a 35-minute drive via Country Hills Boulevard and Deerfoot Trail. Upon completion of the new Stoney Trail, there will be even faster access to Calgary’s myriad amenities.

The Lakes of Muirfield is a gated, master-planned com­mu­nity featuring golf course or water feature views, while some west-backing lots also lend mountain views. Purchase of a home here includes golf club membership with no initiation fees or monthly dues. Newis Wilson designed the par-70, 6,100-yard course, implementing the WID canal, ponds and a creek. Other recreational opportunities abound in the area, from cycling and walking, to cross-country skiing on the links or skating in the winter thanks to ponds being cleared off for the favourite pastime.

“Homeowners here will say to their friends and family ‘Come to my house in the country. Let me host you,’ ” says Holden, adding buyers are looking for a break from city living and all the stress that is part of a boom town. Plus, many buyers looking into weekend recreation properties would rather forego the work of two properties and enjoy a vacation lifestyle daily, she adds.

“In Calgary, people are feeling rushed in traffic, stressed at work, and come home only to feel closed in with their neighbours shoulder to shoulder. Out here it is clean and safe and easy to unwind. “

The large lots also enable designers some room to create spectacular and creative home plans not possible on a city lot. Elite’s home plans at Lakes of Muirfield were developed specifically for the area, to maximize views and lifestyle features made possible by the location, notes Holden. “The Lakes of Muirfield is like ‘acreage light’—meaning there’s privacy to retreat to because each lot is large and has no backyard neighbour. Plus it is also a gated community, so the bulk of the work is done for you.”

Built in to all plans is, of course, glass galore, but attention was also paid to outdoor living spaces on huge solid surface decks (some as large as 27 by 14 feet), and four-sided architecture which ensures the homes are as beautiful on the back as the front. Within, homes feature high ceilings and interior finishing in scale to the grandeur of the home, plus thoughtful features to make living easy—such as wide stairs and storage aplenty often in unexpected places, such as seats for tucking belongings beneath in the deluxe laundry room, one of the two bedrooms located upstairs, and the front foyer.

Upon entering the 2,540-square-foot, three-bedroom show home located on Muirfield Boulevard, added “extras” are evident. The arched entryways, extensive wrought iron railings, rounded corners, hardwood or ceramic tiled floor­ing, in-stair lighting, tiled backsplashes, built-in appliances, and knockdown ceilings are standard, as are the built-ins found in the den and great room. Unique to this plan is the master bedroom and master ensuite’s location—on the main floor. “The two-storey Castle Park MK1 can also be built as a bungalow,” explains Holden, adding the name becomes the Winterfield for the single-level design.

The great room boasts a floor-to-ceiling cultured-stone gas fireplace, while second and third fireplaces are found in the bright bonus room upstairs and beautifully developed walkout lower level.

Lot prices begin at $164,900 up to $219,900, with homes starting at $560,000 including lot, GST, and a long list of standard features. Twenty-two walkout lots (including two show homes) are available, plus 16 level lots and four half-walk-outs.

To get to Elite’s show homes in the Lakes of Muirfield, take Country Hills Boulevard east 20 minutes past the city limits, turn right on Range Road 264, and follow the signs.  NL