SPECTACULAR LAKE OKANAGAN
Where vistas embrace nature
Calgarians David and Norma Gallagher are ready for a lifestyle change. These empty nesters, both 63, recently sold their family home in Elbow Valley and purchased a lakeside lot in Lake stone in the heart of the Okanagan’s Lake Country, where they are in throes of building a walkout West Coast contemporary ranch-style home with a huge deck that will sport tremendous lake views.
“It will eventually be our retirement home, although I hate to use the “R” word,” says David, who has left a long career as a software executive and hopes to be setting out on new adventures, cycling between periods of work and play.
Lake stone embraces more than 223 hectares of hillside land, peppered with fragrant ponderosa pine trees and natural foliage, laced with 27 kilometres of walking trails and eight destination parks.
From every vantage point, the views of Lake Okanagan are spec- tacular and the property spills onto a sandy beach and the lake.
“You reach a point in life where you contemplate a change,” says David, adding that he and Norma looked at several destinations including Oregon and Victoria.
“But moving to the U.S. presents challenges that we really didn’t want to entertain, especially when you look at medical coverage, so we decided to stay in Canada.”
Where to land came down to two spots: B.C.’s Okanagan Valley and the fertile shores of Vancouver Island.
“We really didn’t think that we would end up in the Okanagan, but we fell in love with the view. This is definitely the place,” says David.
Located 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna, Lake stone is the quintessential jumping off point for a multitude of outdoor activities.
It’s surrounded by six championship golf courses, including Predator Ridge Golf Resort and Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club. Oenophiles will be in heaven with 10 wineries five minutes from the front gates.
Hop on a bike and cycle along country roads to Mission Hill Family Estate Winery and the vineyards at Summerhill, Quail’s Gate and Gray Monk Estates.
“It’s a very attractive location. Lake Country is really coming of age; it’s the fastest growing municipality in B.C. It has a vibrant arts community and loads of great restaurants,” says Howard Kruschke, director of sales and marketing at Lake stone.
The family-owned development company behind Lakestone, Macdonald Development Corp., is no stranger to creating award-winning master-planned communities. It is the force behind Watermark at Bearspaw in Calgary and The Outback, The Lakes and Highpointe in B.C.’s Okanagan.
Howard says buyers are coming from all over, with 90 per cent of the purchasers from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Fort McMurray and locally throughout the Okanagan Valley.
But the property is also on the international radar. “Last week, I was on the phone with Bermuda, Rio, Malaysia, Dubai and Toronto, all in one day,” says Howard, noting the attraction lies in the value of the Canadian dollar. “Everyone is thinking in U.S. dollars, so $1 million Canadian is really $750,000 US. That’s a big difference.”
Several other factors are also enticing buyers.
For David and Norma, location was the No. 1 beacon. “It’s close to Calgary where our kids live,” says David.
Lakestone is also en route to Oregon and California, where the couple enjoys taking long, leisurely road trips to scout out stellar vintages. Needless to say, living minutes from a handful of excellent Canadian producers is also real plus for the couple.
“It certainly doesn’t hurt to be close to the vineyards,” says David, an ardent wine collector.
World-class health care at the doorstep is a huge draw.
“It is a really important part of the buying decision, whether you are from Alberta or Rio,” says Howard, adding that the two local hospitals, Kelowna General and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, have received major provincial funding for upgrades over the past five years, catapulting both to premiere status.
But all in, Norma and David are looking the most forward to having less winter and pursuing an active, healthy lifestyle, one that includes lots of golfing, hiking and biking.
“This is just like Sonoma Valley, except that it has the lake. You can experience the 20-mile diet here, which is very attractive to people,” says Howard.
Upon build-out, Lakeside will feature 1,365 homes, comprised of 1,200 single-family homes and 165 condominium-style townhomes and villas. The homes will centre around three amenity facilities: a $3.5 million lakeside beach clubhouse with pool, hot tubs, outdoor barbecue and kitchen facilities, an indoor library, lounge and fireplace and a private dock for launching kayaks and paddleboards and just lazing in the sun; the Benchland’s Clubhouse located midway on the hillside with a pool, two tennis courts, a fitness facility, coffee shop and grocery store and a hilltop amphitheatre with 360-degree views of the lake and surrounding countryside.
Owners have private use of and access to all three amenity centres. The Beach Clubhouse, the first in the series, is slated to open at the end of October.
Lots are currently available in the lakefront enclave of Waterside, near the Beach Clubhouse. Every lot is unique and all offer incredible lake views. Lot sizes are predominantly 60 feet wide and encompass 0.2 acre. Prices start at $240,000.
“They are all prepared and geo-teched, designed for walkout rancher style homes with an orientation towards the lake,” says Howard.
Buyers can choose from a handful of preferred builders or choose their own.
“All of the homes are custom designs with West Coast contemporary exteriors,” says Howard, adding that the esthetic will carry up the hillside.
In mid- October, Lakestone will introduce 16 semi-detached homes that will emulate the floor plan and design of the hugely successful Watermark Villas at Bearspaw in Calgary. These 2,000- to 2,400-squarefoot walkout bungalow-style villas will all have fantastic lake views and spill luxury from head to toe. Prices start at $750,000.