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Our thanks to the local and national media folks who have supported our properties through the years. . . . From CNN to Fox Network, and in Phoenix broadcasting, Diane Ryan, the long-time host of "Cool House" on Fox 10 and Syleste Rodriguez who currently does an excellent job on the program.  We've put together a compilation of some of amazing properties.  Click the photo.
And to see the entire real estate tours, on our TV page, follow this link! Amazing TV Tours
Check out these vintage radio promos done for Preston's show when on KTAR Radio!  KTAR Promos for Preston

Live next to this!  See the photo below.  Our KT Palmer Ranch listing borders this gorgeous lake at world-famous Estancia golf course, 4th hole.  Imagine the views your home could have! Horses are ok as  well for a picturesque ranch!  See this amazing property


A world-class parcel of land has just gotten better! Breaking. . . .the city of Scottsdale has agreed that 2 boulder easements that limit the building envelope can be released and be incorporated into a dramatic home.  Engineering studies are underway to complete the release.  This greatly enhances the possiblities for a world-class home on one of the most dramatic land parcels  we have seen.  Also frees up more land for a small horse ranch that could be spectacular! This is  part of the former ranch of K.T. Palmer, the co-founder of the Town of Carefree.  Palmer, back in the early 1930's,  chose this property as the "anchor" of 640 acres he homesteaded. He had never seen such mature cactus, and dramatic landscapes with a wonderland of boulders. At the time, the closest neighbor was 5 miles away, and he actually hacked a 2-mile road from Pinnacle Peak Road,  to get better access.  Today, the property borders the lake and 4th hole at prestigious Estancia golf club.  The 5+ acre piece is offered for  $ 2 million dollars. It contains a capped and registered well,  a waterfall, and historical sites.   Noted architect Allen Tafoya had visited the scene and thought a remarkable and landmark home could be constructed amongst the rocks on the NorthEast portion.
Photos below, from the front off the property on 95th Street, to the rear of the land, along the lake and 4th hole of the prestigious Estancia Golf Club. Be sure to watch the video tour! See this amazing property
The ranch is heavily featured in KT's book "For Land's Sake" Contact us for a guided tour.
located at 27777 N. 95th St., Scottsdale, AZ. 85262   MLS 6645024
Thanks to Russ Lyon Sotheby's and our publicists and marketing folks for getting the word out to the press about this listing. Thanks to the Phoenix Business Journal for covering the story. Here's another  sample story: Media Coverage


Above left, K.T. Palmer in his main Carefree sales office. (courtesy Arizona Memory Project) K.T. and Tom Darlington were the founders of the Town of Carefree.



Investors are buying gold.  And as you saw,  gold recently closed at the highest price in history, $2100/an ounce.  Land brokers, speculators, mining companies. . .consider the Octave gold mine, a perfect acquisition for a quality land portfolio.  24 miles of tunnels dug out just on the bottom part, producing 200,000 oz of gold and 75,000 oz. of silver, and the current owner has added a total of 266 patented acres over the vein. The Octave is an exclusive offering from Russ Lyon Sotheby's Int'l Realty in Carefree.  See more about the incredible Octave and the book written about it, plus media coverage at: Famous Octave Mine
Contact us for further info or to set up a showing for qualified buyers.
Read about gold prices setting records here: Strong Gold Prices


Here's a look an a classic Carefree home, the community we've lived in for over 40 years.  This residence is no longer available for sale, but was heavily featured in the media when we had it listed and it made architectural and Hollywood History.  The Slingman House, is in a setting as stunning as the Boulders Resort (across the street!) When Gerry  Jones figured out how to bridge  an inaccessible canyon, he won National Design and Engineering Awards as the first residence in the state to bridge a rocky canyon. It became one of Orson Welle's favorite homes to rent. Pivotal scenes from his final movie were shot  at the house.  Don't miss the video tour! And the Fox 10 broadcast with Brian Webb!  Slingman House on Fox 10
 Slingman Home Details
And  we were impressed when  our Russ Lyon Sotheby's marketing and PR folks  got the word out: Media mentions  Again, the home is no longer on the market for sale.

 
One of the best home tours we have had done was put together by Brian Webb and the special projects team who spent 3  hours on the property and probably more in the editing booth to produce a real showpiece. Love the look of an old Western movie when it starts out!  Watch it here:  Slingman House on Fox 10


Fox 10 was a big fan of this house and we gave them entry and a tour for "Cool House"  with  Slyeste Rodriguez and videographer Juan Thanks to Fox for all their support of the house.  Watch the program:  Slingman House on Cool House




We sell the secret, the unique . . . . .and sometimes the impossible.
Preston and Nancy Westmoreland-Russ Lyon Sotheby's Int'l Realty in Carefree, AZ.        May we help?       Some of our sales include:
1) The Boulder House, "the most unique home in America"-Stanley Marcus, and  featured on the cover of Architectural Digest
2) "La Costa Plenti," largest mountain top estate in Phoenix area
3) The Fortress of Stone-astonishing rock wonderland in Carefree
4) Golden Star, secret ranch with double artesian wells, in Cave Creek
5) The Pueblo-residence in Tonto Hills with 38 rare museum-quality prehistoric ruins
6) "The Lost World-spotted by an airline pilot, who first bought it-a square mile near Bagdad, in a prehistoric sink hole, forested by pines, with huge water rights. (165 acre/feet annually)
7) Carefree Hacienda-palatial estate on 2 lots, on a runway AND golf course!
8) "The Fortress" Highest view home in Phoenix on Cottonwood Canyon.
9) "The Last Outpost" 40 acre historic gold mine property near Scottsdale!  And we sold it twice!



Interested in Skyranch?  Let us help you with your search and purchase. We are the Skyranch experts and have sold more houses, lots, hangars and townhomes than ANY other agents.  And as charter members, original board members, and Skyranch pilots, we can help you with all aspects of aviating and living at  Skyranch. Click on the picture below left for a dramatic flyover!   Pilots and hangar owners at Skyranch for three decades, and forty year Carefree residents!   Call us for updates at 602-377-0060      preston.westmoreland@russlyon.com
As charter members and pilots at Skyranch, we have had a long affiliation with this amazing private airpark, and have sold almost all properties on the North side of the field for 20 years.  Take the home on the lower right, built on two lots, with a separate casita and bordering the golf course. We sold this years ago to a pilot and car collector who loved the huge hangar.  Let us know what you're looking for and we will start our search!



Why is the Carefree area so famous for its rock houses?  Famous homes built into boulders that appear to be nearly-impossible to achieve?  Carefree resident Gerry Jones had a lot to do with it.  He is the"Dean of Rock  Engineering, and for 17 years  taught extreme terrain construction at Taliesin. Watch this video to see some samples of rock houses!
Below, Boulder Reign, the former Wedding Cake House, and the home of Tom Darlington.
here's the video: The Rock Houses of Carefree



RECENTLY SOLD $ 1,0200,000.  SECOND TIME SELLING THIS AMAZING LAND!   Below, Rare Legacy Property. "The Last Outpost" featured on Fox 10 TV,  and Phoenix Business Journal.   Rare, historical and astonishing 40 acre parcel of patented  mining land on Continental Peak.  Off-grid, secluded, possible helipad, gold mine and the mineral rights.  "Bug-out" here! Photo below.   See more:  The Last Outpost 40 acres
Be sure to watch the video tour, be amazed at the location!



Come on along on our Adventure.  The Cave Creek Museum was running out of gold ore for their magnificently-restored stamp mill, so they asked if volunteers could come up to the Last Outpost gold property we have listed for sale, and gather ore!  A Fun Trip!  Trip to Gather Gold Ore


Our prayers and condolences go out to the family of former President Jimmie Carter, on the passing of his wife of 77 years, Rosalyn Carter.  While a talk-show host in Phoenix on KTAR, I had the pleasure of talking with the former president about his book  "Christmas in Plains. He also turned out to be a great fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks and rooted for the team wile on  a peace mission to  Central America.  Follow the link below to hear the broadcast.  Regardless of political affiliation, he was one of the nicest guests I had interviewed out of over 25,000. 
 Jimmy Carter on KTAR                                   



Again, it was our honor to emcee the annual Veteran's Day Program at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree.  I told the story this year of Colonel Blaine Keith, a Carefree resident who has now left us.   I heard the famous "yucca" story when we listed and sold his house.  Read on. . . .Blain learned to fly at age ten, got his license at 17 and flew with legendary Joe Foss at Guadalcanal. NASA borrowed him from the Marines and made him a senior test pilot. Yes, he was the first "accidental" astronaut, fired too high on an X-1 rocket, he crossed into the boundary of space, but was not allowed to tell anybody the story for 50 years, as NASA wanted the Mercury astronauts to get the glory. Colonel Keith later piloted the 747 with the space shuttle on top during the first tests. But its the story of the yucca I wanted to tell. He had crashed an experimental jet at Edwards Air Force base, shot off the dry lake, and uprooted a small yucca plant as he rocketed off the dry lake. One rescuer threw it into the back of the rescue vehicle, only to have it planted later by Blaine and Martha Keith's California home. The Yucca was then dug up and planted in their front yard of their Carefree home when they relocated. I saw Blaine watering it one day as we had his house for sale. He told me to take good care of it. A month later, the yucca was gone. Blaine had been moved into a retirement home and his friends, including an Air Force General, and his Mason friends, transplanted the yucca one last time, in front of his window at the home. Blaine slipped the surly bonds in 2018. I was able to locate a photo of the yucca plant from an old real estate picture, below.   Photo Credit: NASA

 


Below, Big lot sale (PHOTO BELOW)  Skyranch Lot  $ 1.5 million.  The Value of Location.   This is the largest amount ever paid for a one acre lot in the history of Carefree and Cave Creek.  The property is  sandwiched between the Skyranch runway and the Top 100 Desert Forest Golf Course.  Our thanks to the Idaho buyer and family who will enjoy this new base of operations, and also our dedicated seller, who had the faith in Nancy and I to represent his property for this memorable sale.
In recent years,  we closed escrow on  a contemporary residence for $1.9 million, then the house next door $1.2 million,  And  then the next house for $ 1.55 million.  What a thrill to sell 4 houses and a lot, all in a row.!   Price per sq. foot of the last two homes exceeds $500 sq. ft., some of the highest prices per sq. foot in over two years.  Looking for Airport Property?  We were charter members of Skyranch, and Preston was a pilot operating out of the field, and a former Member of the Original Board.  We are proud to say we have sold almost every property on the North side of the runway, both homes and lots, for the last 20 years.  Plus many townhomes and hangars on the South side of the field.  Preston was also the radio commercial voice of Stellar Airpark Estates!  

 


Historic home SOLD.  $ 1.815 MILLION. Thanks to our Seattle buyers. Welcome Home to Carefree!
The home where many of the greatest golf courses started, the former home of legendary golf course designer Pete Dye, with innovated circular contemporary design, super views, no HOA, quiet street.
Pete designed of the 17th hole at Sawgrass, one of the toughest and most photographed golf hole in the world!  The Life of Pete Dye




The most unique and distinctive home we've ever rented!  With modules made in a Phoenix factory,  delivered by truck and assembled by crane, this prototype residence of the future was a stunner!  We were honored to sell the company the lot, and then found a wonderful renter who loved it.  See the incredible photos of the truck transport and crane operation below, that had the whole town talking!   There is nothing like this just completed showcase contemporary residence of minimalist Industrial design, built to exemplify the mountain and desert views of Carefree, with a cosmopolitan ''loft'' feel,. And next to the world-famous Boulder Resort, and several doors down from the former home of broadcaster Hugh Downs on Stagecoach Pass.  Floor to ceiling treated windows with cork floors on the upper level, finished concrete on the bottom, with 90 degree opening walk-out doors. Open floor plan with panoramic mountain, golf course and city light vistas! Private office, Kitchen has large sweeping granite island, built-in Miele appliances, whole house WiFi. Lower floor entertainment room opens to a view patio. Even the garage is a stunner.  Full-floor-to-ceiling glass walls.  Dramatic cork floors upstairs.  glass-enclosed garage. Just in case you're curious. it rented for $ 20,000 a month but no longer available in the rental market.  Call for us for updates.  3 bed/4bath approx. 4300 sq. ft. 



Two gold properties sold! We have sold the Golden Star Ranch,  LOADED WITH WATER, $2.15 million. Patented land with artesian wells and historic gold mines. Forbes Magazine says "Gold prices set to explode, and there is big interest in quality gold properties.    Forbes Magazine Gold Story
And we have sold this one twice!  The "Last Outpost," 40 acres patented gold mine on top of Continental Mountain overlooking Phoenix, sold for $ 1,020,000.. It was featured  on Fox10 , who called it a "Pure Gold Property." Our thanks to anchor/reporter Brian Webb, for the wonderful story. . See stories and links below.  It was the only piece of land currently available on Continental Peak. Thank you!



Below, Syleste Rodriguez of Fox 10 also showcased our other Skyranch sale!  We've sold that house twice and a honor to do so.  Contact us for the latest on Skyranch homes, townhomes and hangar availabilities.

    
Fox10's Story on Cool House!




Could Cave Creek look like this in a thousand years?  Director Adrian Carr (Crocodile Dundee and Quigley Down Under) shot a sci fi movie "Solus" on the Golden Star Ranch in 2019.   Its a futuristic tale of a dystopian world. Check out the title shot below. Photo courtesy of J2 Productions.  They computer-generated a futuristic city where Cave Creek, Arizona use to be. If you know the area, you'll recognize Black Mountain on the left.  They picked the Golden Star for its mines, tunnels, cliffs and abundant foliage for the producer. 
See the Solus preview movie clip, from the spectacular opening scene, showing what Arizona might look like in 1,000 years! (Still shot below)  Solus Preview Cut-The Opening




Fun time awhile back, thanks to Diane Brennan, my former newscaster at KTAR Radio, who letting me fill in for her on her That Real Estate Show.com  We're both in real estate now. It was like homecoming week for me, having been on the KTAR microphone for over 26 years and inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame!
 photos below at the new KTAR Studios off 16th Street.




See the Fox News show on "The Property Man with Bob Massi" What an honor it was to have worked with the late Bob Massi and the Fox Network Team.  Here's the entire story on the gold mine properties: Tour Gold Hill and the Octave While Gold Hill no longer available,  the Octave is. Its an incredible adventure into the tunnels!  And check out this Fox 10 story done on the Octave Mine. You'll notice former newscaster Kari Lake (now running for Arizona Governor) introduces the story:
Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake intros story
Most Amazing house, Fox tours the Boulder House, built in a pile of rocks!    The Boulder House on Fox


About Us-Preston and Nancy Westmoreland   Agents of Distinction with Russ Lyon Sotheby's Int'l


We find hideaways!  We're Preston and Nancy Westmoreland from Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty in Carefree, and we've been fortunate to call this amazing area home for 40 years!   Preston has been put into the Lyon's Chairman's Board category,  for exceptional sales volume.  We'd love to help you find your special hideaway or use our expertise to help market your home for sale. Call us at 602-377-0060.  Quick bio: Preston was a sergeant in the Marines, and  a Marconi award-winning talk show host before joining Russ Lyon Sotheby's. His wife of 50 years, Nancy, was a long-time escrow officer and branch manager with First American Title prior to joining Preston at Russ Lyon.  Get 2 Realtors working for you, for the price of one!
The distinctive desert of North Scottsdale, Cave Creek and Carefree is the "Upper Sonoran" desert, described by National Geographic as "the most beautiful desert in the world," one of the most desirable living locations anywhere.  It's where the world-famous Boulders Resort is located, along with  some of the most unique residences in the world!   I was amazed the other day going through my archives of how fortunate I have been to have led so many TV tours through unique valley properties.  See what you think!  Preston's House Tours on TV



This area has an abundance of landmark homes used in movies!  The house below left called Boulder Reign,  the former home of Rusty Lyon, was featured  in the movie Zabriskie Point, where a model of the home was blown-up for the climactic end of the movie (middle) and also used for Bob Hope's "Cancel my Reservations"  (Below right) In a remote area of Cave Creek, a residence there was used in the movie "The Getaway" with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.  They planned the crime around the pool.  Click on the  two photos on the left, below, to find out more about Boulder Reign.





                                                                       
(Above)  The astonishing Boulder House we sold and was featured by Fox News. The famous residence sold in 2005 for $ 4.8 million.  Click on the newspaper story to read coverage from the Arizona Republic of the Boulder House!  See an historical overview of this amazing structure: Boulder House Webpage    And view a rare tour of the inside by clicking on the aerial tour below. Boulder House Aerial Tour

 


 
Fox News
  On occasion,  TV stations  have asked us  for comments on various real estate issues.  On Fox10, Preston Westmoreland toured this extraordinary buy in Estancia, that sold in several days for $100,000 above the asking price!  CBS 5 StoryPreston also took the Fox cameras also through the highest view property in Phoenix   and then led CNN and other TV stations deep inside the $2.79 million dollar  Gold Hill gold mine  in Scottsdale. Below, Preston was interviewed about an incident with his plane where he and his wife experienced an attempted hijacking!!

channel five interview pilot interview
    


We specialize in airport properties and hangars!  As long-time pilots in the Phoenix area, we can help your search for the perfect airport property.  We are the Skyranch Experts.  Charter members, hangar owners and pilots, and board members.  Avoid Scottsdale Airport 20-year waits & Deer Valley Airport super congestion. Let us know if you want us to keep an eye out for airport property. Skyranch is perfect  for many of the Very Light Jets!  And gets no Federal funding! Very private and exclusive. We can also show you key properties at Stellar Airpark in Chandler. Quick video of Skyranch: Fly-over Skyranch!


preston photo Nancy Westmoreland


For further information or to tour these properties, call Preston and Nancy Westmoreland, at Russ Lyon Sotheby's International at: 602-377-0060. Let them help you find your true Arizona getaway!
email:  preston.westmoreland@russlyon.com

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 Bonus site! Why is Marie Osmond giving Preston Westmoreland a back rub?  Find out more about his "other" life as one of the top radio talk show hosts in the nation, winner of the "Marconi" award, a member of the Arizona Broadcaster's Hall of Fame,  with 27,000 guests interviewed in a thirty-year radio career!  Radio Pages