DC Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ
ClozeEZ's guide to DC Ranch, Scottsdale: DC Ranch sits in the McDowell Mountain foothills of north Scottsdale, generally east of Pima Road along the Bell Road and Legacy Boulevard corridor, with its eastern edge running directly against the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. 1,279 Scottsdale homes are for sale on ClozeEZ today.
That adjacency is by design: developer DMB Associates sold 4,600 of the original 8,300 acres to the City of Scottsdale in 1998, and that land became the heart of the Preserve.
The community is organized into villages: Country Club, Desert Camp, Desert Parks, and the ultra-luxury guard-gated Silverleaf. The villages mix custom lots, single-family homes, condos, and townhomes. Build-out began in the 1990s. More than half the original acreage is permanently protected open space, and the Arizona chapter of the American Planning Association recognized the community with a Distinguished Historic Landmark award.
Around DC Ranch
Restaurants & coffee
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Steakhouse and wine bar at Market Street.
- The Living Room Wine Café & Lounge: Wine-focused café and lounge at Market Street.
- Grimaldi's Pizzeria: Coal-brick-oven pizzeria at Market Street.
- Jalapeño Inferno: Mexican restaurant at Market Street.
- Eggstasy: Breakfast and brunch spot at Market Street.
Shopping
- Market Street at DC Ranch: Roughly 200,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, and offices on Pima Road, opened in 2003 and built deliberately as a small-town main street rather than a strip center.
Attractions & parks
- Gateway Trailhead, McDowell Sonoran Preserve: The Preserve's flagship trailhead on Thompson Peak Road, part of a system with 11 trailheads and more than 230 miles of shared-use trails, free and open sunrise to sunset.
Resorts & golf
- The Country Club at DC Ranch: Private 18-hole par-71 course designed by Tom Lehman and John Fought, with a clubhouse known as the Hacienda offering dining, fitness, tennis, and swimming.
Gyms & fitness
- Desert Camp Community Center: 8,000 square feet on nine acres with pools, a fitness center and studio, basketball, tennis, and pickleball.
- The Homestead Community Center: Community gathering space with a veranda, splash pad, playground, basketball, fitness classes, and the Homestead Playhouse community theatre.
- DC Ranch Village Health Club & Spa: Private health club and spa on Thompson Peak Parkway, open early morning through evening daily.
Getting around
- Loop 101 via Pima Road and Princess Drive: Freeway access sits southwest of the community; Scottsdale Airport is roughly 10 minutes, Old Town about 20-25, and Sky Harbor 35-40.
Selling in DC Ranch? Keep your equity.
List your DC Ranch home free on ClozeEZ and sell without a listing commission: a flat $200 Platform Success Fee is owed only if your home closes.
DC Ranch: frequently asked questions
Where is DC Ranch?
North Scottsdale (85255), in the McDowell Mountain foothills east of Pima Road along the Bell Road and Legacy Boulevard corridor, with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve directly on its eastern edge.
Why is DC Ranch next to protected land?
Developer DMB Associates sold 4,600 of the community's original 8,300 acres to the City of Scottsdale in 1998; that land became the heart of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. More than half the original acreage is now permanently protected.
What are the DC Ranch villages?
Country Club, Desert Camp, Desert Parks, and Silverleaf. Amenity access varies by village; for example, Desert Camp and Homestead each serve different parts of the community, so confirm which centers a specific home includes.
Is the golf club at DC Ranch public?
No. The Country Club at DC Ranch is a private member club. The community's public-access recreation is the adjacent McDowell Sonoran Preserve trail system.