Lake Mirage Racquet Club

Quorum Article - April 2002

Lake Mirage Racquet Club is a guard-gated community located on 75 acres of fee simple land in the heart of Rancho Mirage. The project was developed by Dividend and built out between 1984 and 1990. The project was designed with tennis players in mind but has wide appeal beyond tennis.

Lake Mirage offers two open lakes covering 25 acres, 11 tennis courts, 11 pools and spas, a 3-hole pitch & putt course. Its 20,000 square foot clubhouse accommodates 2 racquetball courts, a basketball court, state-of-the art exercise room, billiard room, card room, and more. There are gazebos to relax in and pathways that are perfect for biking or just taking a stroll around the lushly landscaped grounds and of course the lakes.

The lakes, which are home to 12 pairs of swans, boaters and fishermen, make this community a truly special oasis in the midst of the desert. Handy for shopping, golf, theater and restaurants because of a convenient location on Country Club Drive between Monterey Avenue and Bob Hope Drive, it is a complete retreat. About 24 percent of Lake Mirage owners are permanent residents. For the rest it is a perfect getaway.

Lake Mirage Racquet Club comprises 238 condo units based on 10 distinct models, including some two-story units, and some freestanding units. The homes range in size from approximately 1,600 square feet to more than 3,000 square feet. Many homes have lake frontage and every home has access to a boat dock. Prices range from $250,000 to $430,000. The market for homes at Lake Mirage remains strong, notwithstanding the events of September 11.

Association dues are $498 per month and provide for all exterior maintenance of the units (painting, roofs, etc.), the common areas (including the lakes), hazard and earthquake insurance, pest control, 24-hour guard service, etc. Association dues include unlimited tennis.

Lake Mirage is a mature community and is taking active steps to deal with problems arising out of the passage of time. This includes removing trees whose roots now threaten damage to drives and walkways, and a program to replace the built-up roofs over the next 5 years.

In addition, the Association plans to upgrade its irrigation system. It is typical of developments of this vintage to find only a single irrigation system for lawns and shrub and flowerbeds. This means that when the lawns are dried out for scalping, while it is still very hot, shrubs and flowers are stressed and often die. Therefore, as part of an overhaul, to include replacing control wires, the flowerbed irrigation systems will be separated from the lawn systems.

While the energy crisis of last year may be only a memory, it is still in mind at Lake Mirage, which has developed an energy conservation schedule. In December and January heat to all but the main pool is shut off. In October and November half of the ancillary pools are heated. The other half is heated in February and March.

A five-member board of directors governs the Association. Architectural and Landscape Committees support the Board. The community also supports and enjoys the efforts of active committees for the tennis program, social club, and cards.

The management company is William Pullis Inc. Other vendors serving the Association are Pro Landscape, Farmers Insurance, Western Pacific Roofing, Powerful Pest Management, M&M Street Sweeping, and Asphalt MD’s.

What homeowners love best about Lake Mirage are its views, lakes and grounds, and boating on a lazy afternoon. Says Association Manager Bill Pullis, "This is one of the most pristine and beautiful clubs I have ever seen"