Once-Bustling Las Vegas Golf Course Sold After Years of Decay and Bankruptcy Battles

A former golf haven in northwest Las Vegas finds a new owner as locals wait to see what’s next

A long-abandoned golf course in the northwest Las Vegas valley has been sold at auction, potentially signaling the end of a nearly decade-long saga of bankruptcies, lawsuits, fires, and frustrated homeowners.

On May 8, the Silverstone Golf Course — located near Grand Teton Drive and Rainbow Boulevard — was purchased at a Clark County trustee auction for the minimum bid of just under $2.8 million. While the buyer’s identity remains undisclosed, county officials confirmed the new owner is not affiliated with the former one. The buyer’s name is expected to become public once the sales deed is officially recorded, which should happen by June 8.

A Troubled History and Faded Greens

The Silverstone Golf Course, once a 27-hole oasis surrounded by the 1,500-home Silverstone Ranch community, has been closed since the mid-2010s. Its closure marked the beginning of a drawn-out period of decline. Overgrown fairways, boarded-up buildings, and repeated issues with trespassers transformed the once-luxurious space into an eyesore and safety concern.

The clubhouse — long vacant — was destroyed in a fire in 2021, suspected to have been caused by arson. Fire crews battled the flames for over six hours before extinguishing the blaze, which caused an estimated $5 million in damage. The property, uninsured at the time, never recovered financially from the loss.

Legal Struggles and Bankruptcy Attempts

The course changed ownership several times, each transition marked by controversy. In 2015, a Southern California investor acquired the course after a previous owner shut it down. Within days of finalizing the purchase, the new owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under a holding company, citing the course’s inability to generate profits and mounting community opposition.

Attempts to repurpose part of the land for housing development were met with legal resistance from the homeowners' association (HOA), which insisted that any changes to the golf course’s designated use required the approval of 75% of local homeowners.

The HOA stood firm. Meanwhile, over the years, the course faced further deterioration. Wildlife began reclaiming the land, and ponds that once held fish and turtles dried up. Residents reported issues like snakes, trash, and mosquitos — transforming the once-pristine property into what some described as a "semi-wilderness."

Millions in Unpaid Liens and No Insurance Coverage

By 2022, another bankruptcy filing followed as the property headed toward foreclosure. Legal documents revealed the extent of the property’s financial burdens, including:

Over $1.7 million in unpaid property taxes

More than $2 million owed to the Las Vegas Valley Water District

Nearly $1.8 million in HOA-related liens

$88,000 in city utility liens

Over $6.4 million in claims from a private lender

Despite these financial troubles, the golf course remained legally bound to operate as a golf facility — a restriction tied to the original community design, unless a significant majority of homeowners agree otherwise.

Homeowners Demand Compliance With Land Use Covenant

The Silverstone Ranch Community Association continues to monitor the fate of the golf course and has expressed a clear desire for the original covenant to be respected. Whether the new owner will attempt to redevelop the land or restore the golf course remains to be seen.

For many residents, the sale offers hope for a resolution to years of stagnation and decline. But uncertainty lingers, as the identity and intentions of the new buyer remain under wraps.

In the meantime, nature continues to reclaim the course, and the community watches closely — hoping the property’s next chapter brings restoration rather than more courtroom battles.