Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by Kim Labriola
Skyline Country Club Estates was established in the 1960s and has continued to be among the most sought after neighborhoods within the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson. The neighborhood is tucked into the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains on the northside of Tucson and offers unparalleled city and mountain views.
Skyline Country Club Estates – Homes for Sale
Looking to buy or sell a home in Skyline Country Club or elsewhere in Tucson? Contact us today to get started!
Skyline Country Club Location
Skyline Country Club Estates is just east of Swan Road north of Skyline Drive.
The Country Club Amenities
There are many amenities that come with joining the Skyline Country Club including golf, tennis, pickleball, fitness classes, a gym, pool, spa, social clubs for all ages, and dining. Joining the country club is not a requirement for living in the neighborhood. The club offers several types of memberships to homeowners and to the general public.
Golfing
Developed in 1962, the 18-hole, par 71 golf course offers stunning views of the Catalina Mountains as well as the city below.
Tennis and Pickleball
Skyline offers 5 clay tennis courts, 4 of which are lighted for evening hours. The benefits of clay is a cooler surface which can extend playing time in the warmer months. And for those into pickleball, there are 3 clay pickleball courts as well.
Pool, Gym, Fitness, and Spa Sevices
The clubhouse has an Olympic size, 6 lane lap pool which is heated year round. They also have gym facilities with a variety of fitness classes. And don’t forget the spa to pamper yourself with a massage or a facial.
Social Clubs For All Ages
Of course there is a variety of social clubs for all ages offered at the clubhouse. Kiddos can take advantage of crafts, golf classes, tennis classes, and homework help.
And for adults, the club organizes a calendar full of activities that varies from month to month, including hiking, bridge, book clubs, and more.
There’s a variety of dining options available both indoors or on the patio. Reservations are available for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Sundays offer breakfast.
Skyline Country Club – Guard gate
Skyline Country Club Estates has a 24/7 manned guard gate.
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Variety of homes within Skyline Country Club Estates
Skyline Country Club Estates offers a wide variety of types and styles of homes with a variety of price points. Everything from well-appointed townhomes to elegant custom estates on 1 or 2 acres of land. Homes here have been built from the 1960s all the way to 2010s. You’ll find impeccably maintained homes as well as fixer-uppers with loads of potential.
Styles of homes run the gamut from Mid Century Ranch and Mid Century Modern to Territorial to Southwestern to Mediterranean to Santa Fe to Modern and Contemporary.
Skyline Country Club Townhomes
If you’re looking for something requiring a little less maintenance, but still want the Skyline Country Club lifestyle, perhaps a townhouse in Skyline Country Club would suit your needs. Townhomes typically have at least one shared wall with a neighboring property. They also are on much smaller parcels, which requires less landscape maintenance.
El Diamonte
El Diamonte is one of the townhome communities within the Skyline Country Club, built from 1986 to 2000. All of these Mediterranean-style townhomes back to greenspace or the golf course and oftentimes have a nice patio space and a courtyard. They feature a creamy white-painted stucco with clay tile roof accents. These homes are spacious, usually over 2300 square feet with 2-3 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage. Most are single level, but there are some with 2 levels. The interiors often feature vaulted cathedral ceilings in the main living space.
Skyline Viviendas
Skyline Viviendas are townhomes located on the western edge of the neighborhood. They are Territorial style homes built of burnt adobe giving them a distinct Tucson style. Gracious arched patio walls and arched front windows are abundant here. Most of the townhomes were built between 1967-1974. They are usually between 1500 – 2200 square feet with 2-3 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage. The Skyline Viviendas community has it’s own community pool.
Mission Hills Townhomes
Mission Hills are the smallest of the townhomes within Skyline Country Club. They were initially offered as rentals for guests of residents. Some of them now serve as rental properties. They are around 1100-1300 square feet with 1-2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Each has a balcony patio facing south to provide great city views. The homes share a parking lot. They are located adjacent to the clubhouse which is just a quick walk across a pedestrian bridge and the tennis courts are nearby.
Chapala Townhouses
Chapala townhomes are located just south of the guard gate, immediately after entering Skyline Country Club Estates. These were designed by David Fraker who designed many homes in the neighborhood, as well as the clubhouse at Skyline Country Club. Most of these were built in the early to mid 1980s, ranging from 1700 – 3500 square feet. Some even have large enough backyards to fit a pool. Chapala townhomes share a community pool.
We can help you buy or sell a home in Skyline Country Club Estates. Contact us today!
Homeowners Associations
All single family homes are covered under the Skyline Country Club Estates Improvement Association which is the master homeowners association for the entire neighborhood. In addition, the townhome developments also have a secondary HOA for their respective community. For the townhomes, both the master association and the secondary association are separately managed with separate fees and amenities.
As of this writing, the master HOA includes limited access to some of the amenities that the Skyline Country Club offers. But if you’re considering a home here, you’ll want to check with the HOA to confirm any policy changes or restrictions.
Noted architects
David Fraker designed and built many of the homes in Skyline Country Club Estates. Architects Lewis Hall, Ivan Sarkiss, and Robert Jenkins have all worked in the neighborhood.
Nearby Amenities
Skyline Country Club is located close to shopping, grocery stores, services, and restaurants. La Encatada is about 3 miles away. It’s a luxury indoor/outdoor shopping mall with lots of great stores like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Crate and Barrel, Apple, Tommy Bahama, White House Black Market, and many more . AJ’s Fine Foods is a high-end grocery store located there.
Of course there are several restaurants at La Encantada like North Italia, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Ra Sushi Bar, Blanco Cocina, and Frost. And there’s many other stores and great local restaurants across the street from La Encantada.
For closer shopping and services only about 1.5 miles away, there’s a Safeway at Sunrise Drive and Swan Road. That corner also has Ace Hardware, Walgreens, and several local restaurants.
Ted DeGrazia’s Gallery in the Sun is just south of the neighborhood.
School District
Skyline Country Club Estates is within the Catalina Foothills School District #16. It’s serviced by Sunrise Drive Elementary School, Orange Grove Middle School, and Catalina Foothills High School.
Skyline Country Club History
Skyline Country Club Estates was developed by John Bender, who also developed Flecha Caida Estates (located just a few miles south). David Fraker (1925-2008) was a builder and designer of many of the homes in Skyline Country Club as well as the Clubhouse building itself.
David Fraker served in WWII and the Korean War prior to becoming a builder and designer in Tucson in the mid-1950s. He went to school in Wisconsin and Iowa before completing his degree at the University of Arizona. His company was called DF Fraker Design and Building Corporation. In addition to building, he often worked on interior design and landscape design.
The striking Skyline Country Club clubhouse building was designed by David Fraker in the early 1960s. The grand opening was celebrated on March 9, 1963 and was described as ‘The Showplace of the Southwest’. Construction of the 3-story, 60,000 square foot clubhouse cost $1.5 million back in 1962. The iconic building is perched along the side of a hill allowing the long side to face grand views of the golf course and city below.
The opulent interior was described to have a venetian rococo theme with a double curving staircase featuring a rock garden and fountain.
The focal point was described as “a giant golf tee which is based in a resplendent tropical waterfall garden in the grand foyer. An imposing staircase leads to this area and the main lounge… Glass bubble domes which roof the golf tee podium at the second level and the open sky dome which centers the roof of the third level suggest a giant transparent sun umbrella in their ribbed construction… Lighting for the club ranges from immense hanging chain lanterns to fire fountains, twinkling miniature starlights, colorful hues achieved through cathedral glass and Grecian-urn torches dotting the borders of the third level.” (Tucson Daily Citizen, by Mary Brown – 2/16/1963). The article describe several walls that were constructed of stone from the Grand Canyon.
Of course over the last 60+ years, the clubhouse has been remodeled to suit the changing tastes and trends and unfortunately the giant golf tee has not survived to modern day.
Disaster Strikes!
In September 1964 the clubhouse caught on fire. Fortunately, the fire occurred just after midnight after it was closed. However, there were 4 employees present and thankfully everyone made it out okay. The fire was reported by Dorothy C. Harris, the club’s telephone switchboard operator, who was on duty at the time. To escape, she had to crawl out through the main entrance, engulfed in smoke. Harris stated, “The whole place looked like one big torch.”
The fire caused approximately $200,000 -$300,000 in damages. It started in the bar and quickly spread eastward through the cocktail lounge and dining room. The second level and staircase to the third level had the most damage. After the fire, the first level was able to remain open and they were able to re-open the burned portion only a few months later. The cause of the fire remains a mystery, however there was no evidence of arson found.
David Fraker went on to work on many high profile projects, including the remodel of the Pioneer Hotel in downtown Tucson in 1966. Tragically, the Pioneer Hotel also was the site of a horrific fire in 1970, which claimed the lives of 28 people.
Fraker designed many other buildings throughout the Tucson area, most were homes and townhomes, but he also worked on commercial buildings. He went on to design several townhome communities in the 1970s and 1980s including: Loma De Las Brisas townhomes (just south of Skyline Country Club), La Toluca townhomes (near Swan Rd. and Fort Lowell Rd.), Chapala townhomes (in Skyline Country Club, mentioned earlier), and townhomes in Finisterra (located directly east of Skyline Country Club).
Looking to buy or sell a home in the Skyline Country Club or elsewhere in Tucson? Contact us to get started!
We can help you buy or sell a home in the Tucson area. Contact us today!
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