Desert Shores vs. The Lakes – Which Community is Better?

Desert Shores vs. The Lakes – Which Community is Better?

If you’re looking for an established west Las Vegas community with mature landscaping, water features, and a location near Summerlin, two neighborhoods that often come up are Desert Shores and The Lakes. While both neighborhoods offer a rare waterfront lifestyle in the Las Vegas desert, they are very different when it comes to amenities, lake access, location, and overall community feel.

Both communities were developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s and are located on the outskirts of Summerlin without actually being part of the Summerlin master-planned community. That means homeowners still get the benefit of being near many Summerlin shopping, dining, and entertainment amenities without paying Summerlin HOA fees.

But once you compare the two side by side, some major differences start to stand out. Desert Shores features four man-made lakes with community-wide access, beach-style amenities, and recreational areas designed for all residents to enjoy. Meanwhile, The Lakes centers around one large lake that is mostly reserved for homeowners living directly on the water, which honestly makes the name “The Lakes” feel a little ironic.

In this blog post, we’ll compare Desert Shores versus The Lakes, including their amenities, lake access, development history, location advantages, and which neighborhood offers the better overall lifestyle experience.

DESERT SHORES OVERVIEW

Desert Shores was developed beginning in 1988 and quickly became one of the most unique master-planned communities in Las Vegas. Located in the northwest part of the valley east of Summerlin North, Desert Shores was designed around water, recreation, and community lifestyle.

The neighborhood is built around four separate man-made lakes connected throughout the community. Unlike many lake communities where only waterfront homeowners benefit from the water features, Desert Shores was designed so the entire community could enjoy the lakes, walking paths, parks, and recreational amenities.

The four lakes inside Desert Shores are:

• Lake Jacqueline
• Lake Sarah
• Lake Lindsey
• Lake Maddison

This creates a true waterfront atmosphere throughout the neighborhood with bridges, palm trees, mature landscaping, and scenic lake views spread across the entire community.

Desert Shores Amenities

Desert Shores has some of the best amenities of any older community in Las Vegas, including:

• Four man-made lakes
• Community clubhouse
• Beach-style lagoon pool with sand
• Basketball court
• Sand Volleyball Court
• Parks and picnic areas
• Paddle boating and kayaking
• Catch-and-release fishing for residents
• Miles of tree lined walking paths around the lakes
• Mature trees and landscaping
• Waterfront homes with private docks
• Lakeside Village shopping center with restaurants, coffee shops, and local businesses inside the community

One of the biggest advantages of Desert Shores is that all residents have access to the lake lifestyle, not just the homeowners sitting directly on the water. Even if you live inside the community away from the shoreline, you still get to enjoy the lakes, walking trails, beach lagoon, and waterfront atmosphere. That community-wide lake access is what truly separates Desert Shores from The Lakes.

THE LAKES OVERVIEW

The Lakes was developed primarily throughout the 1980s and early 90s and is located just east of Summerlin South near Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Road. The community was built around one large man-made lake called Lake Sahara and became popular for its custom homes, mature landscaping, and convenient west Las Vegas location.

Now here’s the funny part… The neighborhood is called “The Lakes,” yet there is really only one lake. Originally, there were plans for additional lakes within the development, but the project was eventually scaled back to a single large lake. While Lake Sahara is beautiful and surrounded by some incredible waterfront homes, the overall community experience is very different from Desert Shores.

In The Lakes, the lake itself is mostly enjoyed by homeowners living directly on the waterfront. If you do not own a lakefront property, your interaction with the water is much more limited compared to Desert Shores where the lakes are integrated throughout the community for everyone to enjoy.

The Lakes Amenities

The Lakes still offers a very desirable lifestyle and includes:

• One large man-made lake
• Miles of beautiful tree-lined walking paths
• Exercise stations and scenic rest areas throughout the community
• Ponds and greenbelts
• Mature landscaping
• Waterfront homes with private docks
• Lake Center Town Plaza shopping center with nearby restaurants, retail, and local businesses

One of the biggest draws of The Lakes is the peaceful atmosphere created by the mature trees, shaded walking paths, and waterfront scenery throughout the neighborhood. The community feels established and relaxing, especially compared to many newer Las Vegas neighborhoods.

The biggest advantage of The Lakes is definitely its location. The community sits much closer to:

• Downtown Summerlin
• Red Rock Casino
• Boca Park
• Tivoli Village
• Summerlin shopping centers
• Restaurants and entertainment
• 215 Beltway access

For buyers who prioritize convenience, dining, shopping, and central west-side access, The Lakes has a strong advantage.

WHICH COMMUNITY HAS BETTER AMENITIES?

When it comes to amenities and overall lifestyle experience, Desert Shores clearly stands out.

Having four lakes spread throughout the neighborhood completely changes the feel of the community. Residents can walk around the water, enjoy beach-style amenities, go fishing, access recreational areas, and experience waterfront living even if they do not own a waterfront home.

Desert Shores feels more like a true lake community. The Lakes certainly has beautiful waterfront homes and mature landscaping, but unless you actually live on the lake, the water becomes more of a visual feature instead of an everyday lifestyle amenity.

That is why Desert Shores wins when it comes to overall community amenities and lake access.

WHICH COMMUNITY HAS THE BETTER LOCATION?

This is where The Lakes probably takes the win.

The Lakes offers a more central west Las Vegas location and sits much closer to Summerlin’s major shopping, dining, and entertainment areas. Getting to Downtown Summerlin, Red Rock Casino, Boca Park, or the 215 freeway is generally quicker and more convenient from The Lakes.

Desert Shores feels more tucked away and residential, which some buyers absolutely love, but others may prefer the convenience and accessibility of The Lakes.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Both Desert Shores and The Lakes offer a unique waterfront lifestyle on the west side of Las Vegas with mature landscaping, tree-lined walking paths, larger lots, and an established community feel near Summerlin.

If you want the better overall amenities and true community lake access, Desert Shores stands out with its four lakes, beach lagoon, fishing, boating, recreational amenities, and Lakeside Village shopping center.

The Lakes, on the other hand, has the advantage when it comes to location, with quicker access to Downtown Summerlin, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the Las Vegas Valley, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll get back to you personally and promptly. Thanks for visiting!

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Angela O’Hare
Favorite Las Vegas Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas
Lic. #180246
702-370-5112
[email protected]
www.neighborhoodsinlasvegas.com