Wealthy buyers are buying up desert land for millions (3 photos)
A new property war has erupted in one of Nevada's most gated communities: wealthy buyers are spending millions of dollars on vacant lots, and not all locals are happy about the changes. 
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, developers of The Summit Club, an elite complex in Summerlin, a gated community near Las Vegas, have sold vacant lots for approximately $134 million. That's an average of $6.7 million per acre, even before construction began.
The Summit Club's latest expansion phase spans over 50 acres of desert, with plans to build approximately two dozen individual homes. Construction hasn't begun yet, but owners have already been selected. Among them is Switch founder Rob Roy, who purchased the five-acre property for an impressive $33 million.
Developed by Discovery Land Co. and Howard Hughes Holdings, the complex bills itself as Summerlin's most exclusive gated community. Current residents include movie star Mark Wahlberg and Raiders owner Mark Davis. The grounds boast an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse amenities, and recreational areas. 
The Summit Club's popularity highlights how wealth concentration is reshaping neighborhoods across America.
TCD notes that local residents and environmental activists are expressing concern that the purchase of prime land is accelerating inequality, suburban sprawl, and environmental pressure.
The region is already facing water shortages, rising temperatures, and shrinking natural areas. Las Vegas remains the fastest-heating major city in the US, and the level of Lake Mead, its main water source, has dropped to historic lows. 
