By Ricky Allen & Tara Earley
Most people who've heard of Las Campanas know it as Santa Fe's premier gated golf community, but the details behind that reputation surprise even longtime Santa Fe residents. From a golf milestone tucked into its course history to a membership structure that catches new buyers off guard, there's more to this community than its polished reputation suggests. Here are things you might not know about Las Campanas.
Key Takeaways
- The Sunrise Course at Las Campanas holds a notable distinction as Jack Nicklaus's 100th golf course design.
- Club membership at Las Campanas is completely optional and by invitation, with no residence requirement tied to owning property in the community.
- The Equestrian Center opens directly onto 68,000 acres of adjacent open land in the Caja del Rio, letting riders explore for hours without ever trailering a horse.
- Las Campanas is preparing to launch The Village in 2026, its final new neighborhood, adding 38 custom homesites and 62 luxury homes.
The Golf Has a Milestone You Might Not Expect
Las Campanas is known for its two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, but one specific detail sets the Sunrise Course apart from nearly every other course in Nicklaus's portfolio. This isn't just another signature design.
What Makes This Golf History Notable
- The Sunrise Course, which opened in 1993, holds the distinction of being Jack Nicklaus's 100th golf course design, a milestone golfers with course pedigree in mind still talk about
- The Sunset Course followed in 2000, giving the community two full 18-hole layouts built around dramatic high-desert elevation changes
- Both courses play at roughly 7,000 feet elevation, with crystal-clear air and views spanning three mountain ranges
- The Club at Las Campanas has been recognized as a Platinum Club of America since 2014, a distinction reserved for a small number of country clubs nationwide
For golfers who care about a course's place in design history, the Sunrise Course carries weight well beyond its Santa Fe setting.
Club Membership Isn't Required to Live There
Here's a detail that catches many prospective buyers off guard: owning a home in Las Campanas doesn't automatically come with access to the golf courses, spa, or equestrian center. The Club operates as its own separate entity.
How This Structure Actually Works
- Membership at The Club at Las Campanas is optional, by invitation only, and entirely separate from property ownership in the surrounding community
- There is no residence requirement to join the Club, meaning membership and homeownership function as two independent decisions
- Buyers who assume amenity access comes bundled with a home purchase should confirm this distinction early in their search
- Some homeowners choose to live in Las Campanas purely for its privacy and setting, without ever joining the Club itself
Understanding this separation upfront helps buyers set realistic expectations about what a home purchase does and doesn't include.
The Equestrian Center Opens Onto 68,000 Acres of Open Land
Las Campanas honors New Mexico's equestrian heritage in a way that goes well beyond a typical community stable. The scale of what's actually accessible from the Equestrian Center surprises even some longtime residents.
What This Access Actually Means for Riders
- The Equestrian Center provides direct access to 68,000 acres of adjacent open land in the Caja del Rio, allowing riders to explore high desert terrain for hours without ever trailering their horse
- A 32,000-square-foot indoor riding hall supports year-round training regardless of weather
- Multi-discipline outdoor arenas accommodate western, dressage, and hunter-jumper training, along with fully customized trail rides
- Select enclaves, including the Ranch Estates neighborhood, specifically allow horses on individual homesites
For serious equestrians, this level of direct trail access from a residential community is genuinely rare, even among other high-end master-planned developments.
Las Campanas Is About to Add Its Final New Neighborhood
After more than three decades of development, Las Campanas is preparing to close out its master plan with one last neighborhood. This isn't simply another phase: it represents the community's final expansion.
What's Coming With The Village
- Scheduled for preliminary release in early 2026, The Village will introduce 38 custom homesites alongside 62 new luxury homes
- Many of these new homes and lots will offer unobstructed views of a Jack Nicklaus Signature course along with the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains
- The Black Mesa neighborhood, another recent addition, offers the community's largest lot sizes, ranging from 1.02 to 2.58 acres across just 25 homesites
- Once these final phases are built out, Las Campanas will have no additional undeveloped land remaining within its roughly 4,700-acre footprint
For buyers who've been waiting for a chance to build new within Las Campanas, this may represent one of the last opportunities to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to join The Club at Las Campanas if I buy a home there?
No. Club membership is optional, by invitation, and entirely separate from homeownership in the community.
Can I keep horses on any homesite in Las Campanas?
Not on every lot. Horses are specifically permitted in select enclaves, including the Ranch Estates neighborhood, so confirming this with your agent matters before assuming it's allowed.
Is there still room to build a new home in Las Campanas?
Very little at this point. The upcoming Village neighborhood, launching in 2026, represents the community's final planned expansion.
Get to Know Las Campanas With Local Experts
As Santa Fe real estate brokers and business partners, our passion for New Mexico includes being neighborhood experts throughout Santa Fe County. We leverage the internet and digital advertising while staying committed to the very best practices for reaching buyers interested in your home.
Our team specializes in enhanced marketing campaigns, careful attention to detail, and telling your home's story in a manner second to none. We love showing buyers everything Santa Fe has to offer, from unique neighborhoods like Las Campanas to world-class shopping, dining, and year-round outdoor activities. If Las Campanas has you curious about calling it home, we would love to help.
