The Discovery Land Company is an American real estate development company and hospitality operator based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1994 by Michael Meldman, the company mainly operates private residential communities and clubs in North America.[1][2] In 2022, the company made public that they will follow an international expansion strategy.[3][4] Discovery had an annual turnover of $2 billion in sales in 2020.[5]

History

Discovery Land Company was founded in 1994 by Michael S. Meldman. Previously, Meldman worked as a commercial broker in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1980s. His first independent real estate project was Blue Oaks in Portola Valley, California, which he developed with financing from three friends in the mid-1980s. In 1996, he opened The Estancia Club with more than 200 homes in Scottsdale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.[6] Its golf course was named the best new private course by Golf Digest.[6][7]

In 1998, Discovery opened the Iron Horse in Whitefish, Montana,[8] where it introduced their Outdoor Pursuits program.[7] A year later, the company developed Kukio in Kona, Hawaii, and then 535-acre Vaquero Golf Club in Westlake, Texas, in 2000.[8][9] Discovery acquired and completed The Hideaway in La Quinta, California, in 2002 following the original owner's failure to complete its development. The development consists of 500 residential lots, which were sold within 18 months of the project's relaunch.[8][9] Discovery opened the Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club in Cashiers, North Carolina in 2003, and Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 2004.[8]

The Yellowstone Club in Montana, a private ski and golf facility, was acquired jointly by Discovery and the Yellowstone Club organization in 2009, following the divorce of previous owners Tim Blixseth and Edra Blixseth.[8]

Discovery's residential communities experienced growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, approximately 100 families chose to quarantine at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, with additional residents staying at Discovery's Madison Club in La Quinta, California, and Silo Ridge Field Club in New York's Hudson Valley. The communities experienced a demographic shift, with an uptick in younger family residents.[10]

Discovery acquired land in 2021 to build CostaTerra in Comporta south of Lisbon, Portugal.[11]

The Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club opened in May 2022 near Austin, Texas.[12]

Barbuda Ocean Club opened in 2023 on the island of Barbuda.[13]

In May 2024, Discovery opened its first club in the Middle East, Discovery Dunes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[14] The Austin Surf Club, a 190-acre site 15 miles from Austin, Texas and joint venture between Discovery and surfer Kelly Slater, was announced in 2024. The development has a 2,220-square-foot surf basin and 140 residential units.[15]

Operations

Michael Meldman remains the chairman of the Discovery Land Company.[16] The company has more than 35 properties in Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada,[17] Idaho, Montana, Texas, Tennessee, New York, and North Carolina in the U.S., in addition to Los Cabos, Mexico, Great Guana Cay, The Bahamas,[18][19] Dubai South, the United Arab Emirates,[20] and Portugal.[21][22][16]

The Discovery Land Foundation was established in 2007 to support the communities around the company's resorts. The foundation reports annual investments in the hundreds of millions.[23]

As of 2022, Discovery's sustainability department manages programs focused on renewable energy, waste reduction, water conservation, and habitat preservation.[24]

As of 2023, golf course architect Tom Fazio has created approximately fifteen golf courses for Discovery.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Development Newsmaker of the Year 2007" (PDF). Golf Inc. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2011.
  2. ^ "Leading Man" (PDF). Luxury Living. February–March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "Discovery Land Company Plans Global Expansion With Brett White and Michelle Ngo". www.businesswire.com. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  4. ^ "Discovery Plans Global Expansion With Two High-Profile Additions". Connect CRE. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  5. ^ Vora, Shivani (2022-09-09). "Meet the Man With a Plan to Build Greener Golf Communities". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  6. ^ a b Solo-Lyons, Natasha (June 4, 2021). "Mike Meldman is one of the most influential real-estate moguls in the country thanks to his luxurious live-in resorts, which became irresistible to the rich and famous during the pandemic". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BIns12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e Strong, Kathy (April 29, 2011). "Developer Michael Meldman brings star power to luxury, kid-friendly residential clubs". Palm Springs Magazine. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Dabney, Courtney (July 11, 2024). "The Most Expensive Homes For Sale in Westlake — The Wealthiest City in Texas". Paper City Magazine. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Vora, Shivani (March 5, 2022). "The Luxury Real Estate Empire Where Tom Brady and Reese Witherspoon Can Hide Out". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Vora, Shivani (November 5, 2021). "On the Portuguese Coast, an Appealing Spot for Seaside Homes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Kazlowski, Mark (May 9, 2023). "Tom Fazio-designed Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club voted best new course in Texas". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Ellwood, Mark. "The best VIP WFH Caribbean villas hitting the market now". New York Post.
  14. ^ Collins, Leah (May 22, 2024). "This ultra-luxe, ultra-exclusive community in the desert is selling plots for up to $50 million". CNN News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Sayers, Justin (October 25, 2024). "More than five years after closing, NLand Surf Park to get new life as private surf community". Austin Business Journals. Archived from the original on October 25, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Solo-Lyons, Natasha (June 4, 2021). "Mike Meldman is one of the most influential real-estate moguls in the country thanks to his luxurious live-in resorts, which became irresistible to the rich and famous during the pandemic". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Kaufmann, Martin (June 29, 2017). "Las Vegas' economy is back, and that's good news for city's private golf communities". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Strong, Kathy (April 29, 2011). "Developer Michael Meldman brings star power to luxury, kid-friendly residential clubs". Palm Springs Magazine. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  19. ^ Kaufmann, Martin (January 11, 2010). "Discovery Land plans Baker's Bay opening". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  20. ^ Illankoon, Kasun (December 20, 2023). "Discovery Land Company To Develop The First Ultra-Luxury Project in the Middle East, Discovery Dunes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  21. ^ Vora, Shivani (November 5, 2021). "On the Portuguese Coast, an Appealing Spot for Seaside Homes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Vora, Shivani (March 5, 2022). "The Luxury Real Estate Empire Where Tom Brady and Reese Witherspoon Can Hide Out". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Millington, Alison (December 8, 2018). "George Clooney and Rande Gerber have a third partner in their $1 billion tequila company, and he happens to be a real estate tycoon". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  24. ^ Vora, Shivani (September 9, 2022). "Meet the Man With a Plan to Build Greener Golf Communities". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  25. ^ Kazlowski, Mark (May 9, 2023). "Tom Fazio-designed Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club voted best new course in Texas". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukio,_Hawaii
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