Eagle Mountain

Big houses and low cost – these are the driving forces behind families flocking to Eagle Mountain. One of Utah’s largest and fastest growing cities, Eagle Mountain has no plans to slow down. This rural, wide-open space used to be home to a mere 250 people; but in the years since the city’s 1996 incorporation, these 50 square miles have become home to 50,000 neighbors right in the middle of Eagle Mountain’s growth spurt.

No matter which direction you turn, everything is new: new houses, new stores, new restaurants. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, it’s either being built right now or a contractor is currently drawing up the plans.

“When I was growing up, that place was nothing but desert,” says Realtor and Utah native Scott Walters of Best USA Realty. “Now there’s houses everywhere – it’s amazing.”

However, people who want to jump at the opportunity to live in Eagle Mountain must understand owning a big house that’s both new and affordable comes with a cost money can’t cover—living in a construction zone. Large trucks hauling rocks may put a crack in your windshield, workers building the Wal-Mart Supercenter in The Ranches may cause a delay in your morning commute and jackhammering on your soon-to-be next-door neighbor’s home will likely disrupt your baby’s nap schedule. Neighbors who live here know these inconveniences come with the territory in Eagle Mountain and choose to move here knowing construction will continue throughout the next several years.

There are two key locations to consider when you go house hunting – The Ranches and City Center. The Ranches is in the northern part of Eagle Mountain and a quick drive from neighboring cities like Saratoga Springs and Lehi. You’ll appreciate this location if you want a shorter drive to shopping malls, department stores and local restaurants not yet built in Eagle Mountain. You’ll also have more options to choose from when considering the scenery you want to see from your living room window. Subdivisions within The Ranches are located on the back, side and front of the Lake Mountains – the range separating Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. Many houses on the front of the Lake Mountains face Utah Lake with the Wasatch Mountains in the background. This prime location provides stunning views of the sun rising above the mountains and sparkling down onto the lake.

On the flip side, living in City Center will do exactly what its name says – put you in the city’s center. Located about five miles south of The Ranches, City Center gives you direct access to stores, restaurants, and parks Eagle Mountain already offers. People who don’t mind driving between 15 and 20 minutes to surrounding areas will be content living here.

House styles and prices remain consistent throughout Eagle Mountain. Single family homes pop up faster than flowers in springtime. Most range between $550,000 and $700,000 and include three to six bedrooms, unfinished basements and garage space big enough for at least 2 cars. Homes on the lower end of that scale will be cozy with next-door neighbors, while homes on the higher tend to come with acreage. Condos and townhomes make up their own mini-communities and range between $300,000 and $400,000. Expect two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a slew of amenities like clubhouses, pools and homeowners’ associations. More than 30 miles of parks and trails run through all these neighborhoods, providing easy access to outdoor recreation.

Cedar Valley High School opened its doors just a few years ago in 2019. Most teens attend that high school while some in The Ranches go to Westlake High in Saratoga Springs. Vista Heights Middle is also in Saratoga Springs and Frontier Middle is just up the road from Cedar High. Several elementary schools are scattered across the city. Rockwell Charter High School is in The Ranches and John Hancock Charter School is set to open later this year for elementary and middle school students.

Rural wide-open spaces make up much of the city: a total playground for people who enjoy walking, jogging, biking, and taking their horses on trail rides.

“People like having a lot of outdoor recreation,” Walters says. “Eagle Mountain is no exception.”

If you’ve got a need for speed, hop on your dirt bike, ATV or side-by-sides and kick the dust up on 80 miles of off-highway trails. The West Desert is a popular spot for that and camping, but keep a watchful eye for wild horses and antelope. Back up north, play a round at The Ranches Golf Course. It’s lined by houses, but the fairways are so wide neighbors never worry about rogue golf balls shattering a window.

Eagle Mountain may be a young neighborhood, but the city’s history dates back hundreds of years. Pony Express Days is an annual festival celebrating Eagle Mountain’s historic ties to the Pony Express Trail. Typically held the week after Memorial Day Weekend, this is the city’s unofficial summer kick-off. Different events happen each day of the week including a Carnival with live music and fireworks, but it all leads up to the main attraction – The Pony Express PRCA Rodeo and Demolition Derby. Thousands of spectators pack the stands at the Pony Express Memorial Park Arena to watch the action unfold as neighbors celebrate their western roots.

If your hobbies include shopping, you’ll need to hop in the car and hit the road. There are very few stores in Eagle Mountain, however a Wal-Mart Supercenter is coming soon in The Ranches. Right now, residents up there can pick up groceries at Ridley’s; neighbors in City Center can shop at Macey’s. Chain restaurants are spread out across the city, but if you want a nicer meal or a local shop, head to Saratoga Springs or Lehi.

Eagle Mountain Boulevard, Pony Express Parkway and Mountain Lake Road are the main roads that run through the city. Keep in mind, the community’s exponential growth means more traffic; your normal 20-minute drive through Eagle Mountain will likely take longer during rush hour and on the weekends. Tech industry workers are only 15 minutes from Silicon Slopes, but those employed by Brigham Young University have a 45-minute commute. Big cities like Salt Lake and Provo are also a 45-minute drive.

Neighbors move to Eagle Mountain understanding it’s not a walkable city, but that doesn’t surprise them. Some are patient enough to wait while their community becomes more established; others moved here because they enjoy how unestablished the community is compared to surrounding neighborhoods. But all residents saw an opportunity to own their dream home and be the first to hold the key.

Written By

Tess Evans

Photography Contributed By

Todd Cook

Video By

TJ Wengert