Picture a quiet alpine base where summer mornings start on a championship fairway and winter days pivot to Beaver Creek and Vail. If you’re weighing a second home in the Vail Valley, Red Sky Ranch in 81632 blends private-club golf, wide-open views, and easy resort access. In this guide, you’ll learn how the club operates, what to expect from homesites and prices, and the key due diligence items that help you buy with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Where Red Sky Ranch fits in 81632
Set on historic ranchland just east of Wolcott, Red Sky Ranch is a gated, private golf community positioned above the Eagle River valley. Developer and club materials place the property at roughly 700 to 800+ acres across rolling sage, juniper, and aspen at about 7,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation. That elevation helps support a somewhat milder valley climate and an extended golf season compared with higher-elevation courses in the region. You can see more background on the site’s ranchland setting in local reporting from the Vail Daily.
From Red Sky, club materials note approximate drive times of about 15 minutes to Beaver Creek, 20 minutes to Eagle County Regional Airport (Vail/EGE), and roughly 25 minutes to Vail, depending on weather and traffic. Those times make it a practical home base for both golf and skiing.
Golf-first lifestyle overview
Golf is the organizing amenity at Red Sky Ranch. The club is private, and golf access runs through membership, with a limited guest program for partner hotels and Stay & Play packages.
Two championship courses
You get two 18-hole, par-72 championship courses designed by Tom Fazio and Greg Norman. The routing moves through native vegetation, rock outcrops, and meadows with big mountain views. The courses and club have earned national rankings, and the property highlights historic Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification efforts in its environmental narrative. Review the club’s golf overview for current details on course setups and member programming.
Member and guest access
Red Sky operates separate member and guest experiences. Members and guests have dedicated clubhouses, and the club alternates which course is open to members versus guests each day. If golf access is a top priority for you, plan to speak directly with the membership office early to understand current membership categories, initiation fees, annual dues, and any transfer or waitlist policies.
Practice, instruction, and seasonal dining
The club runs a golf academy with PGA professional instruction and family and junior programming. Dining is seasonal, with member dining at Silver Sage and guest dining at Summer Thyme. Restaurant operations and hours vary by season and weather, so check current schedules when you plan visits.
Real estate: homesites and price signals
What you’ll see in listings
Red Sky offers a spectrum of homesites. Across the community, marketing and past listings commonly show a range from about 1 to 13 acres. In enclave streets like Juniper Trail, you’ll often see sub-acre to roughly 1-acre lots, while larger estate parcels sit on several acres. Exact lot sizes, building envelopes, and permitted uses vary by parcel, so verify details with current plats, CC&Rs, and your contract documents.
Juniper Trail enclave
Juniper Trail is presented in developer and brokerage materials as a custom-homesite enclave that leans into the golf-and-summer lifestyle, with convenient access and lower-maintenance parcels compared with larger estates. Project marketing positions it as “designed for those who visit in winter but stay for the summer,” and you can find examples of both vacant lots and finished custom homes within the enclave.
Pricing context to frame your search
Public MLS data and luxury brokerage pages show a wide price spread at Red Sky Ranch. It is common to see select vacant homesites under 1 million dollars and finished luxury homes trading from about 2 million dollars up to 8 million dollars or higher, depending on location, views, size, and finishes. Treat these as directional guideposts only. The market changes quickly, so ask your agent for current, dated MLS comparables and a neighborhood trend report when you are ready to write an offer.
Adjacent land and future context
You may see properties marketed near the community, such as a larger 284-acre parcel branded as Red Sky Ranch West. Note that adjacent offerings may have different zoning, infrastructure, services, or governance than the existing HOA. Review seller disclosures and district documents before assuming any shared amenities or rules.
Governance and services to know
Metropolitan district basics
In the Red Sky area, a metropolitan district helps manage roads, water and wastewater, storm sewer, and mosquito control. The district posts public documents and board materials online, which is useful when you want to understand fee schedules, planned capital projects, and timing.
HOA and owner communications
Red Sky has an active property owner association. Listings often note HOA or POA fees that may cover items such as snow removal, security, and common-area maintenance. Always confirm the current assessment amounts and inclusions for the specific parcel you’re considering.
Building guidelines, rentals, and use rules
Plan time to review CC&Rs and architectural guidelines. Materials, exterior colors, landscaping, and rental policies are governed by community standards that vary by parcel and evolve over time. Your contract, seller disclosures, and association documents are the authority.
Access and seasonal rhythms
Getting here and around
For air travel, Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is the closest commercial airport, with seasonal flight schedules and resort shuttles. From Red Sky, club references place you about 20 minutes from EGE and within an easy drive to Beaver Creek and Vail. Always factor in road conditions during winter.
Summer peak, winter pivot
Summer is Red Sky’s busiest on-site season. Golf, dining, and the academy operate most fully from late spring through early fall. In winter, many owners use Red Sky as a quiet base while spending more time on the slopes at Beaver Creek and Vail. Some brokers market access to winter club privileges at nearby private ski clubs for certain Red Sky homeowners. Check the specifics for your prospective property and confirm details with the relevant clubs.
Who Red Sky Ranch tends to suit
If you want a low-density, golf-centric mountain retreat with privacy, big views, and convenient access to Beaver Creek and Vail, Red Sky is worth a close look. Many buyers pair a summer golf lifestyle with winter ski access, and they value private-club services, well-managed roads and snow removal, and a quiet setting that still connects to the valley’s dining, shopping, and events.
Your buyer checklist
Use this list to focus your due diligence early:
- Membership details. Confirm initiation fees, dues, categories, waitlists, and whether membership is required or can transfer with your property.
- HOA and district assessments. Review association budgets, current and special assessments, and the metropolitan district’s fee schedule and board minutes for upcoming capital projects.
- Year-round access and snow services. Understand snow-removal standards and service windows for your street or enclave.
- Utilities and design guidelines. Check architectural standards, exterior materials, landscaping, and any rental limitations in the CC&Rs.
- Parcel-level facts. Verify lot size, building envelope, view corridors, and nearby planned development before you waive contingencies.
- Adjacent offerings. If you are evaluating land marketed near the community, verify zoning, infrastructure, and whether it participates in existing HOA or district services.
Start with a local advisor
Buying in a private, golf-centered community is about more than a pretty view. You want clear answers on membership, assessments, building rules, and the comfort of a seasoned advocate at the table. As a multi-generational Vail Valley team, we guide you through neighborhood nuance, MLS comparables, and club and district disclosures so you can buy with confidence and enjoy your home in every season. Ready to explore Red Sky Ranch? Start the conversation with Kyle Denton.
FAQs
Is home ownership at Red Sky Ranch tied to a golf membership?
- Membership is private and subject to club rules; requirements and privileges vary by property and membership category, so confirm details directly with the club’s membership office and review your deed and CC&Rs.
How close is Red Sky Ranch to Beaver Creek, Vail, and the airport?
- Club materials place Red Sky about 15 minutes to Beaver Creek, about 25 minutes to Vail, and about 20 minutes to Eagle County Regional Airport (drive times vary with weather and traffic).
What are typical lot sizes and price ranges?
- Community marketing often shows lots ranging roughly from 1 to 13 acres, with enclave parcels like Juniper Trail closer to about 1 acre; public listings commonly show select lots under 1 million dollars and finished homes in the 2 to 8 million dollar range, subject to market changes.
Which amenities operate seasonally at Red Sky?
- Golf programming, the academy, and on-site dining run most fully from late spring through early fall; restaurant hours and guest operations are seasonal and weather dependent, so check current schedules before you visit.
Who manages roads, water, and other services?
- A metropolitan district in the Red Sky area manages items such as roads, water and wastewater, storm sewer, and mosquito control; review posted board materials for fee schedules and planned projects.
What is Juniper Trail within Red Sky Ranch?
- Juniper Trail is a custom-homesite enclave within Red Sky that features smaller-lot parcels and a golf-forward lifestyle; you’ll find both vacant lots and completed custom homes marketed there, so verify specifics parcel by parcel.
