Trying to choose between Hassayampa and Prescott Lakes for your next Prescott home? You’re not alone. Both offer beautiful settings, private golf, and resort-style living, yet the day-to-day feel is very different. In this guide, you’ll learn how the golf, HOA structure, amenities, homes, and location compare so you can decide which community fits you best. Let’s dive in.
Quick comparison
- Hassayampa: Smaller, gated, luxury-leaning neighborhood on Prescott’s west side built around Capital Canyon Club. Expect a boutique, traditional country club feel and more custom home options.
- Prescott Lakes: Larger master-planned community with broad housing choices and a full-scale athletic center in addition to private golf. Expect an active, social vibe with many clubs, classes, and events.
Golf experience
Capital Canyon Club at Hassayampa
Capital Canyon Club is a Tom Weiskopf design set among pines and dramatic granite outcrops. It runs as a private country club with full clubhouse, dining, and fitness amenities, and is known for scenic elevation changes and a tighter, more target-style feel. Industry coverage details the club’s reopening and premium positioning for members seeking a traditional private experience. You can review the background on the club’s facilities and pedigree in this industry profile of Capital Canyon Club’s evolution and setting at Thumb Butte (Club + Resort Business coverage).
Membership is optional when you own in Hassayampa. Public features have also referenced short-term or trial membership offerings at times, which can be helpful if you want to sample the experience before making a long-term decision. For context on past membership options, see this overview of the club’s lifestyle and trial concepts (Jetset Magazine’s profile). Always confirm the current fee schedule and categories directly with the club.
The Club at Prescott Lakes
Prescott Lakes centers on a Hale Irwin designed championship course with a private membership model and a robust social calendar. Beyond golf, the community features a large athletic and fitness complex with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and extensive fitness programming. You can scan the course and clubhouse highlights in this Prescott Lakes overview (GolfCourseHomes community profile).
How the golf differs on course
- Course character: Capital Canyon plays through forested, rocky terrain with dramatic views and a more intimate feel. Prescott Lakes stretches longer through a park-like setting with lakes and broader fairway corridors.
- Culture and scale: Hassayampa’s club experience leans smaller and more traditional. Prescott Lakes supports a wider roster of athletic and social activities that appeal if you want more than golf.
HOA and memberships
What to expect in Prescott Lakes
Prescott Lakes operates with a master association and multiple sub-neighborhoods. Many buyers will see layered billing that can include a master HOA assessment, a neighborhood HOA, and a separate line for the community’s athletic club. Public listing disclosures have shown examples such as a master assessment billed quarterly and athletic club dues billed monthly. One representative listing cited a master assessment around a few hundred dollars per quarter and athletic dues roughly in the mid one hundred dollars per month as an example. You can see a sample disclosure in this representative listing note (sample fee example from a Prescott Lakes listing).
Important: Fees change and can vary by sub-association, home type, and whether any initiation contributions are due at closing. Always verify with the HOA and the club before you write an offer.
What to expect in Hassayampa
Hassayampa has a master HOA and multiple sub-associations for condos, villas, and custom home enclaves. Billing varies by product type. Condominium and villa neighborhoods may include some exterior maintenance and utilities in their dues, while single-family custom lots typically have different responsibilities. If you want to review current HOA documents or contact management, start with the official HOA portal for the community (Hassayampa HOA resource).
Membership at Capital Canyon Club is separate from HOA dues and is optional for homeowners. Initiation and dues structures are set by the club and can include different membership categories. Confirm the latest details with club staff.
What dues typically cover
- Master HOA: Common-area landscaping, private road or gate maintenance, community management, and reserves.
- Sub-associations: Often add exterior building insurance, roof or paint for attached products, plus water and trash in some condo or villa tracts.
- Athletic club or golf dues: Operations and access to fitness, pools, programming, and member privileges on the course and in the clubhouse. Confirm if any parcel has mandatory athletic club access.
Homes and lifestyle
Hassayampa housing and vibe
If you want a luxury-leaning, boutique setting, Hassayampa tends to fit. You’ll find custom single-family estates on larger or view-oriented lots along with select golf villas and condos. The environment feels quiet and private inside the gates, with easy access to Prescott National Forest trails and a short drive to Courthouse Square. Inventory is smaller, which many buyers see as a plus when they want exclusivity and a tighter-knit neighborhood feel.
Prescott Lakes housing and vibe
Prescott Lakes offers a broader mix of housing, from condos and patio homes to single-family residences and estate sites. Several builder neighborhoods are present, and product types range from low-maintenance lock-and-leave options to larger homes. Community life is very active, with social clubs, fitness classes, and a calendar of events tied to the athletic center and clubhouse. For a concise look at the range of homes and amenities within the community, review this summary of Prescott Lakes’ product mix and activity focus (55places community overview).
Location and access
- Proximity to downtown: Hassayampa sits on Prescott’s west side near Thumb Butte and is a short drive to Courthouse Square. Prescott Lakes lies to the north within a larger master plan, also a quick drive to downtown shops and dining.
- Travel: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is commonly quoted at roughly 90 miles and about a 2-hour drive from Prescott, which is useful if you plan regular trips in and out of state (regional travel context). Prescott Regional Airport serves the area with select commercial service.
- Outdoors: Both communities put you close to trail systems, lakes, and the high-country scenery that defines Prescott. Capital Canyon’s forested setting and Prescott Lakes’ park-like corridors offer different takes on the same outdoor lifestyle.
Buyer checklist
Use this checklist to organize your priorities before touring.
- Golf or everything-under-one-roof: Do you want a traditional private golf club with a smaller membership or a larger community club with pools, fitness, and many classes? If you want a boutique golf-first culture, lean toward Hassayampa. If you want a broad amenity set, explore Prescott Lakes.
- Home type and maintenance: Prefer custom homes on larger lots and a gated, boutique setting? Hassayampa is a strong fit. Want more price points and lower-maintenance condos or patio homes? Put Prescott Lakes high on your list.
- Total monthly cost: Add up master HOA, any sub-association dues, potential athletic club fees, and optional golf dues. Ask for the most recent budgets and fee schedules to avoid surprises.
- Location priorities: Is a forested, elevated setting near Thumb Butte the dream, or do you prefer lakes and park-style landscaping in a larger master plan? Both are a short drive to downtown.
- Community policies: Review CC&Rs for any rental restrictions, pet policies, and neighborhood guidelines. In Prescott Lakes, confirm whether athletic club access is mandatory for the specific parcel you are considering.
- Resale dynamics: Smaller inventory in Hassayampa can mean fewer options at any given time, which some buyers see as a value signal. Prescott Lakes’ size offers more frequent listings across many price points.
How to compare costs the smart way
Before you write an offer, ask for and review:
- The latest HOA budget and assessment schedule for both the master and any sub-association that applies to the home.
- A clear answer on whether athletic club access is mandatory for the parcel and who bills it.
- The club’s current initiation fees, monthly dues, any trial membership options, and guest privileges.
- Exactly what exterior services are included for any condo or attached product you are considering.
If you plan to join golf, request the club’s membership categories and a written fee schedule. If you prefer the broader athletic lifestyle, request the amenity calendar and program list so you know you will use what you are paying for.
Which community fits you best
- Choose Hassayampa if you value a private, boutique golf environment, custom homes, and a gated setting in the pines with a quick hop to downtown.
- Choose Prescott Lakes if you want more housing choices and a comprehensive amenity package with pools, courts, fitness, and a lively social scene alongside private golf.
What to do next
Tour both communities back-to-back on the same day if you can. Walk the clubhouse areas, peek at fitness facilities, and drive a few streets inside each neighborhood at different times of day. Then compare fee breakdowns line by line so you understand your true monthly cost. Ready to narrow your search or see on-market options that match your goals? Connect with Peter Fife for local guidance, a short list of right-fit homes, and on-the-ground insights you can trust. Reach out to Peter Fife to get started.
FAQs
What is the main difference between Hassayampa and Prescott Lakes?
- Hassayampa centers on a smaller, traditional private golf club experience, while Prescott Lakes pairs private golf with a large athletic center and a wider range of homes.
Is golf membership required to live in Hassayampa or Prescott Lakes?
- No. Homeownership does not automatically include or require golf membership in either community, and club enrollment is handled directly with each club.
Are athletic club fees mandatory in Prescott Lakes?
- It depends on the parcel and sub-neighborhood. Some homes include mandatory athletic club access, so verify with the HOA and seller disclosures before you offer.
How close are these communities to downtown Prescott?
- Both are a short drive. Hassayampa sits west near Thumb Butte, and Prescott Lakes is just north of downtown, so you can reach Courthouse Square quickly from either.
How do HOA fees compare between the two communities?
- Both have a master HOA and may include sub-association dues for specific neighborhoods. Prescott Lakes often has a separate athletic club line item, so always request current fee schedules.
What types of homes are available in Prescott Lakes?
- You’ll find condos, patio homes, townhomes, and single-family homes across several builder neighborhoods, including options suited to low-maintenance living.
What types of homes are common in Hassayampa?
- Expect custom single-family homes on larger or view lots, plus select golf villas and condos within a gated, luxury-leaning setting.
How should I verify current fees and membership costs?
- Ask for the latest HOA budgets and club fee schedules in writing, review CC&Rs, and contact the HOA or club directly for any parcel-specific requirements.
