One of the true visionary development projects of the Heber Valley has been the Red Ledges community. The mastermind behind the project is Tony Burns, whose initial concept has been continued through the efforts of his son and chief operating officer, Mitchel Burns.
Well before the concept of the Red Ledges community was a reality—Tony Burns married Joyce Jordan, a Heber native. Tony and Joyce, like so many of us, were completely in love with the Heber Valley. Their love evolved into a vision for a unique, family community situated on the eastern slope the valley.
“He started acquiring the land 33 years ago. It took 27 different transactions to assemble this collection of property. Honestly, he’s been dreaming about it for 40 years,” said Mitchel.
Tony, the long-time chief executive officer of Ryder Systems, partnered with Nolan Archibald, the Ogden-born president and chief executive of Black & Decker, to begin planning a community on the land he had acquired. Mitchel left his position at a software development company in Seattle to help manage the family endeavor.
“We worked hard, fought for every sale and watched as our competitors walked into bankruptcy,” Mitchel said. “We committed to doing whatever it took to maintain our integrity for our partners and to our owners.”
Today, Red Ledges is characterized by setting a regional standard for premier mountain living. The lifestyle promoted is an active community with a full schedule of club socials and recreational activities for all ages. Amenities include renowned golf, tennis, and equestrian programs, along with a luxurious clubhouse that features a full-service restaurant, pro shop, and a swim and fitness club. On-site winter activities include dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Architectural Beauty
Red Ledges has celebrated the natural beauty of the Heber Valley by creating architectural guidelines that complement the surrounding landscape and encourage homeowners to make design decisions that are harmonious with both mountain contemporary design trends and the native landscape. Tony has declared, “Every effort has been made to protect the architectural integrity and natural surroundings to maintain these qualities and the enduring value of the community.”
Tony and Mitchel Burns have illustrated their community pride through action and have honored the great responsibility held by community developers to make their mark personal, meaningful, and lasting. History will show their actions as defining stages within the sculpture of the Heber Valley of tomorrow.
