Three for All Seasons

At the Four Seasons, Scottsdale, you can own a home or a condo, or simply be a hotel guest.

text by: Kim Fredericks

October 1, 2004

Bob Borzone lives and works in northern California, but he prefers the heat, the flora and fauna, and even the monsoon season of the Sonoran Desert. Longing to get back to his roots, the former Tucson resident checked in for a short vacation to the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, Ariz., three years ago and never really checked out. When he learned that the property also offered vacation ownership at the Residence Club, he purchased eight weeks in a two-bedroom villa, four for himself and one for each of his four children.

No newcomer to the fractional-ownership market, Borzone has accumulated time at resorts in Lake Tahoe and at another residence club in Arizona. “But every shared-ownership property is not the Four Seasons,” says Borzone. “Here, the units are spacious, there are more amenities, a higher level of customer service, and you don’t feel ostracized as a club member.” 

At the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, Ariz., guests can stay at the hotel, buy a fractional condo or purchase a predesigned private residence. Bottom Left: The condo complex. Bottom Right: The hotel pool and a guest casita. (Click images to enlarge)

In addition to the hotel and fractional-ownership condos, the resort also offers full home ownership with the option of purchasing a prebuilt, predecorated residence or buying a lot and building your own custom estate. All three entities have their own entrances and space, yet all stay closely knit by sharing the hotel experience and receiving the same high-end service. “This melding of three lifestyles into one is a manifestation of our customer’s lifestyle,” says Four Seasons project director Tony Dennis. “People are looking for a hospitality resort experience in all elements of their lives. Which one they choose depends upon where they are in life.”

The Residence Club’s fractional shares have been popular with Scottsdale homeowners, who have purchased time to use for their houseguests, but many sales have come directly from hotel guests. Fractional ownership is most appealing to buyers who want to vacation in Scottsdale, but do not want to lock themselves or their money into one place. “Fractional ownership lets buyers say they are masters of their own domain while allowing the portability of exchanging time at other Four Seasons destinations,” says Dennis. This flexibility let Borzone trade one of his weeks for a vacation at the Four Seasons in Sydney.

The adobe-style condos have spacious living rooms and two bedrooms. (Click image to enlarge)

While fractional owners and hotel guests like to keep their options open, single-family vacation home buyers crave permanence, and the Four Seasons delivers it without the usual wait. “Scottsdale is known for its custom home market, but building these homes can become a two- to four-year process,” says John Pappas, principal of Crescent Moon Development and the developer of the resort’s private residences. By delivering predesigned homes, Pappas was able to shrink the delivery time to 12 months, while using high-quality materials and allowing enough flexibility in the layouts for buyers to personalize their homes. “The final product is a functional and flexible home designed for entertaining and having fun,” says Pappas.
Eleven lots have been set aside for those who want to build their own homes, but most buyers are opting for the guided design approach. For them it begins with a five-day design retreat, where they meet with a team of construction, design, landscape, lighting, and audio/security professionals, all the while enjoying a complimentary stay at the hotel. The design process, handled by Sue Calvin of Wiseman and Gale Interiors, is a historical journey through three different periods in Southwest architectural history—Southwest territorial, Spanish Colonial and Arizona contemporary. Her decorating philosophy involves matching the spacious interiors of the new homes to the Arizona landscape. “When you look at the desert landscape, you see that it’s big and bold and not refined—the mountains are knobby and the cacti are prickly,” says Calvin. “The territorial theme has been the most popular because it features relaxed, comfortable furniture and decor representative of old ranches that existed when Arizona was a territory.” For those who require a more refined look, the Spanish Colonial theme mixes Spanish influences such as wood and wrought iron with European design, while the Arizona contemporary style is more clean and streamlined.

The private residences, within a 65-acre gated enclave, offer three different design packages that relate to the Southwest. (Click images to enlarge)

Single-family vacation homebuyers have the privacy and security of a gated community with easy access to the resort. “It’s like living at home without the heavy lifting,” Dennis says. “You can have dinner served at home through room service or arrange to have someone do your grocery shopping and load up your refrigerator.”

A dedicated concierge service helps guests make last-minute dinner reservations. The golf concierge can access priority tee times at neighboring Troon North as well as garner a spot at any of the other 200 golf courses in the area. “Access and priority are the name of the game, especially during peak season,” observes Dennis. “It’s comforting to know that you have that connection covered.”

Guests at the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, Ariz. can select from three lodging options: