Albertans soaking up the sun in ‘Toscanada’
Calgarians Paul and Kim Murray have a little nickname for Toscana, their tucked-away residential community and winter home in sun-soaked Indian Wells, Calif. “We call it ‘Toscanada’,” says Kim. “We are surrounded by Canadians! It’s awesome. Toscana is full of people from Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, and, of course, Calgary. We feel right at home.
“We have been vacationing in Palm Springs for more than 30 years and we’ve considered several other clubs and communities. But every time we drove into Toscana, it was so lush and beautiful, we liked it the best.”
Situated in the heart of Indian Wells, just 20 minutes from Palm Springs International Airport, Toscana’s prime location in Greater Palm Springs is just the tip of the iceberg (not that there’s much ice in Palm Springs!) when it comes to its winning attributes. And you certainly don’t need to be a Canuck to appreciate them. Of course, when it’s frozen hockey-puck solid in every Canadian city and Palm Springs is basking in 30 C heat, just being there is about the only “attribute” one needs.
The private and gated residential community boasts an attractive list of activities that starts with its two stunning Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. As a bonus, they are totally different in character. The newer North Course (the back nine is just three years old) is a classic desert golf course with fairways and greens protected by cacti, exposed rock and plenty of sand. It’s reminiscent of many of the top desert tracks in Scottsdale, Las Vegas and other desert locales. The more mature South Course is a pristine parkland oasis with wall-to-wall turf (absolutely perfect turf, I might add), gorgeous shaping, white-sand bunkers and stunning water features. Like the entire community, it’s immaculate and framed with thousands of trees, shrubs, and flowers of every shape and colour. In short, it’s Tuscany in Southern California.
“It’s wonderful to have two impeccable and very different private courses to choose from,” says Paul, who plays golf regularly at Toscana during the winter months and shoulder seasons. “And the practice facility, which includes a massive double-sided range, a couple of spacious short-game practice areas, and the Bill Harmon Performance Center, is top-notch.”
However, while the world-class golf is, for many homeowners, the most appealing aspect of the community, the rich, active-lifestyle opportunities are endless.
“Toscana has thought of everything,” says Kim. “All of the activities are optional, but the participation rates are high. The activities really draw the community together. There is something for everyone. There’s a bike club, hiking club, Zumba, Pilates, numerous yoga classes, water fitness, masters swim club, dances, dinner clubs, pickleball, world-class tennis facilities, book club, painting classes, poker nights, bridge and the list just goes on and on. And, to top it off, there are dozens of special wine and culinary events that the club puts on. Put it this way, you won’t ever be bored here!”
Although the development, which is owned by the Sunrise Company, is more than 80 per cent complete, there are still more than 100 homesites available, most of which back onto the North Course. The spacious lots feature beautiful mountain and golf course views. The luxury residences at Toscana “embrace a seamless transition between indoors and out.” Courtyard pools, spacious detached guest houses, patio bars and intricate stonework, all inspired by authentic Mediterranean architecture, are the common themes of every home at Toscana.
The residences are currently priced from $1.3 million to $5 million. Estate home sites start at $625,000. The initiation fee for a golf membership is currently
$65,000. The initiation fee for the sports club and spa membership is $45,000. You do not need to purchase memberships to live in Toscana.
After selecting a homesite and floor plan, Toscana homeowners work with professional in-house designers in the 5,400-square-foot Design Center to choose all of the finishing touches in their home. Everything is custom-made for the buyer and hundreds of options are carefully selected. There are currently 12 exquisitely furnished show homes to view at Toscana. In November, the Toscana Villas (rental homes) will open, giving prospective buyers an opportunity to truly experience Toscana before making a purchase.
“Out of the dozen, or so, floor plan options, we chose to build the Amalfi 641 plan with a courtyard pool,” says Kim. “However, like every owner here, we really made it our own, adding a two bedroom plus casita, and extra space in the house. We ended up with five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, and over 4,500 square feet of living space.” The Amalfi, including lot, starts at approximately $2.2 million.
Besides the many amenities at Toscana and the strong community spirit, Palm Springs itself is the star of the show for the Murrays.
“It’s simple to get to Palm Springs from Calgary,” says Paul. “The flight time is under three hours and both WestJet and Air Canada offer direct flights. We love the mountains and the desert, the hiking and cycling trails, and the multitude of fabulous restaurants. And, of course, the warm climate and the sunshine is worth it alone!”