Eastern Washington vacation homes located near golf courses

By Teresa Kenney
Special to New Homes

CLE ELUM -- Perched on a ridge overlooking a golf course on either side, Black Nugget at Suncadia offers buyers a home away from home 80 miles east of Seattle near Roslyn.

The collection of 37 single-family vacation homes features three- and four-bedroom designs and is priced from $619,900. Extended open-house hours are offered for Labor Day weekend: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Black Nugget at Suncadia was built by Steve Burnstead Construction LLC. Six homes have been sold in the past three months, which makes Black Nugget the fastest-selling neighborhood at Suncadia.

Corey Atherton, managing broker at Suncadia Real Estate Sales Company, says buyer interest in the collection continues to be strong.

"Black Nugget is definitely one of the most popular neighborhoods at Suncadia," he says. "When a home is under construction, it sells long before it's completed. Most of our homeowners are from the Seattle area and either own a Burnstead home already or know someone who does, so they know Burnstead's reputation for quality. When they see that Burnstead is building a community on the sunny side of the mountains, they get excited.

"Currently, we have some homes under construction, and a couple more are breaking ground in the next few weeks. So depending on the one you choose, you could very well spend the holidays in your new vacation home," Atherton says.

Suncadia offers year-round recreation, including hiking, biking, fly fishing, river rafting, ice skating and cross-country skiing. As part of Suncadia Resort, homes at Black Nugget are within walking or biking distance to amenities such as neighboring Swiftwater Cellars, as well as the resort's spa, swim and fitness facility.

"Black Nugget is close to Suncadia's core amenities," Atherton says. "It's close to the new winery, the new golf course, the new golf park -- you can walk to everything. But at the same time, when you're on the ridge you feel like you're away from it all.

"A lot of homeowners at other Suncadia neighborhoods come through Black Nugget, and one of the things I hear often from them is that they feel Black Nugget is the nicest piece of property in Suncadia because of the location and setting on the ridge. Although they purchased before Black Nugget was available, they tell all of their friends and family about it," he says.

Black Nugget's heavily wooded neighborhood pays homage to the surrounding area's coal mining roots with architectural designs that feature natural cedar siding, aged metal, stone and exposed timber. The homes include two-car garages, as well as lodge-inspired covered back porches with wood-paneled soffits.

"We specifically chose materials that added character to the homes," says Leo Suver, president of Steve Burnstead Construction. "We used Cor-Ten metal, which has a nice rustic look and texture to it. We also used a lot of rustic wood finishes throughout the interiors, including wide-plank hardwood floors."

Home designs feature open great rooms with gas fireplaces framed in stone from floor to ceiling, and kitchens with custom cabinetry and slab granite countertops. Some also include daylight basements or main-floor lock-off suites with attached baths that can be used as rentals or private suites for visiting guests.

As a nod to their natural surroundings, the homes are equipped with 95-percent-efficient natural-gas furnaces and high-efficiency on-demand tankless water heaters.

Steve Burnstead Construction has been building homes in the Puget Sound area for more than 25 years and is committed to building sustainable communities. Extensive use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials and standard Broan HEPA air-filtration systems help to create a healthier indoor air environment. In addition, recycled-content building materials are incorporated throughout the company's new homes.

"I encourage you to take advantage of the three-day weekend and visit Black Nugget," Atherton says. "There's a lot going on at Suncadia year-round. Almost every weekend you can see Black Nugget homeowners cruising around on scooters or bikes, heading off to the pool or winery or the golf course. This Sunday, Swiftwater Cellars is holding its popular Wine in the Pines event, and this fall is our Harvest Festival."