Community designed for thrill-seekers

Pahrump racing destination home to new housing development

It’s difficult to ignore the Robinson R-44 helicopter on the roof of John Morris’ nearly 5,000-square-foot home at Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club’s housing development, Spring Mountain Estates.

Morris is the co-owner of the Pahrump-based racing destination, which is home to a 6.1-mile race track, clubhouse, condominiums, racquetball court and 4.5-acre freshwater lake where swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking and Jetpack rides are available.

“I wanted something that blended with the mountains and desert,” he said of his home, which was built in 2014. “I wanted a view based around how the sun rises and sets.”

If Morris’ helicopter isn’t on the roof, it’s housed in his 1,100-squarefoot recreational vehicle garage on the right side of his home.

Upon walking into Morris’ house, there’s a glass panel on the floor that looks down into his wine cellar in the basement.

Also in the basement are his race cars, which are situated in a nearly 1,500-square-foot garage, including a Wolf GB08SM, Radical SR3, Wolf GB08 and a Corvette Z06.

The Pasadena, California, native was previously in the computer software industry before selling his company and purchasing Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club in June 2004 with his brotherin-law, Brad Rambo.

The duo bought the property, which is more than 60 miles outside of Las Vegas and just three miles from the center of Pahrump, from Rupert Bragg-Smith, who opened it in 1998.

“I raced against him in 2002 and bought it from him two years later,” Morris said of Bragg-Smith. “The whole idea spawned from when I raced and how it was just asphalt and Porta-Potties. I wanted to make something comfortable so racers could bring their spouses and families.”

Morris can watch over the race track from one of his patios off his master bath that also houses most of his workout equipment.

The master bedroom is surrounded by patios on either side so he can watch the sun rise and set.

In the backyard, there’s a large swimming pool with waterfall features as well as a hot tub, builtin trampoline and a small shooting range that leads into the desert.

A spiral staircase in the backyard leads to Morris’ helicopter, which is situated on a helipad made from 3 inches of concrete and can hold up to 10,000 pounds.

“Flying and racing help me to focus and it’s a definite adrenaline rush,” he said. “The friends I’ve met in the racing world are some of the closest because we share that passion for competition. We all want to win.”

Morris said in addition to his helicopter, he also has an airplane, which he keeps at the nearby Calvada Meadows private airport.

“I’ve taken the helicopter around the country and I take the plane everywhere,” he said. “With the helicopter, you have to make more stops but you’ve got a better view.”

What you won’t find a lot of in Morris’ home are bedrooms. Aside from the master suite, there’s only one other bedroom for guests.

He also has an office in his home, which must get a lot of use these days as he said Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club is set to undergo $200 million in development over the next two years.

Included in his plans are expanding the race track by nine miles, adding commercial developments such as a movie theater and hotel to the property as well as increasing Spring Mountain Estates from its current three homes to 80.

Home prices for Spring Mountain Estates start in the $500,000 range and 28 deposits on home lots have been accepted, he said.

TONYA HARVEY/REAL ESTATE MILLIONS Developer John Morris takes his helicopter for a spin. When it isn’t on the roof of his house, it’s stashed in his 1,100-square-foot recreational vehicle garage on the right side of his home.