With the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course opening earlier this year and a Tom Fazio championship course in the works, Pronghorn golf community and resort, now in its second phase, is continuing to build up its community presence, amenities and membership.

During the 2002 opening of the ”Pronghorn Discovery Center” on Wall Street in downtown Bend, contracts were signed on 71 homesite lots, each averaging $371,000.

Now in its second phase, lots in Pronghorn are averaging $500,000 and are expected to rise to $750,000 in the next few weeks, according to Pronghorn officials.

The average lot prices are based on the type of lot. Pronghorn officials said the premiere lots will be selling for the higher figures.

The well-known golfers behind the two courses have helped bring in about 160 members to Pronghorn so far, about 40 percent of which are local, said Zach Denney, a tour assistant with Pronghorn.

”The names draw the people,” Denney said. ”They hunt us down.”

In addition to Central Oregonians, members are from Seattle, Portland, California and as far away as London and Ireland.

There are only three other resorts in the world that offer a Nicklaus and Fazio course side-by-side, Denney said.

”And we are the only ones that offer memberships to both courses,” Denney said.

The Nicklaus course, which opened in June, is a 7,381-yard, par-72 course, intertwined with lava rock ridges, native plants and mountain views.

The Fazio course is 7,462-yard, par-72, and will include a unique 8th hole with a 45-foot canyon, exposed lava tube and possible suspension bridge and ”wine cave” for tastings and events.

The first nine holes of the Fazio course are expected to open in spring 2006 with the entire course completed in fall 2006.

While the golf courses are the main attraction of the 640-acre property, which is surrounded by 20,000 acres of undeveloped federal land north of the Bend Airport, the resort is in the process of constructing additional amenities and homesites.

By July 4, Pronghorn is expected to hold a grand opening celebration for Camp Pronghorn, a family recreation center with a pool, tennis courts, climbing wall, fitness center and restaurant.

The camp will also house Pronghorn Adventures, where members and guests can sign up for recreational activities provided by local outfitters.

Three of the 76 shared-ownership villas at The Residence club overlooking the Nicklaus course are also expected to be completed for the celebration.

The two- and three-bedroom villas will be sold in quarter, sixth and twelfth shares ranging from $140,000 to $425,000.

In addition to the shared ownership villas, 120 wholly-owned villas ranging from 2,400 to 4,400 square-feet will be sold for between $950,000 to $2 million.

The property also offers 289 homesites that owners can purchase and build their homes on.

The homesites range in size from a half-acre to one-acre and in price from $400,00 to $1.8 million.

To date, 170 of the sites have been sold.

Dr. Tom Carlsen, who works at the Orthopaedic Center of the Cascades, said there were two reasons he purchased a homesite in Pronghorn.

”I think it is an exceptional golf course, the quality of the course is tournament level … and I found Tom Hix to be a good community steward who will give back and help the community,” Carlsen said.

Carlsen, who lives in downtown Bend, said he hasn’t yet decided if he will eventually build a home on his site.

Many of the homes have been bought by local development companies, which are building spec homes on the property, Denney said.

Signs on the various homesite parcel listing the owners include a variety of buyers from Oregon and California, including Oregon Ducks football coach, Mike Bellotti.

The first couple to have their home constructed on the homesites moved in in August.

Additional projects in the works at the resort include a 55,000-square-foot clubhouse built in the style of the National Park lodges from the West. The two-level clubhouse with wine tower and restaurant will be the center of the Pronghorn community.

It it expected to be completed in summer 2006.

A 10,000-square-foot spa and wellness center with lap pool, fitness center and exercise studio, steam room and sauna will also be built on the property and is expected to be completed in winter 2006.

Pronghorn is being developed by High Desert Development Company, LLC. and is the vision of Thomas Hix and Scott Denney.

Hix, managing partner of High Desert Development, is the founder and president of Hix Rubenstein Companies of Los Altos, Calif. and managing partner of Lions Gate Limited Partnership, the developers of CordeValle Golf Club and Resort in San Martin, Calif.

Denney, who grew up in Oregon and has children who graduated from Redmond High School, is a veteran of Nicklaus Designs and originally introduced Hix to the property.

”Growing up in Oregon, I have always loved Bend, so it’s important to me that the development of Pronghorn has a positive impact on the community around us,” Denney said in a release.

Many of the trees on the property have been transplanted and environmentally friendly grasses have been used.

The development company also contributed to the restoration of the Tower Theater and paid for upgrades to the local water treatment center.

Pronghorn officials expect the majority amenities of the resort to be completed at the end of 2006.

The resort currently employs 160 people, the majority of which are full-time.

Kristy Hessman can be reached at 541-383-0350 or khessman@bendbulletin.com.