An upscale suburb of St. George, with golf course communities and a state park
In the 1990s, Ivins was considered the armpit of Washington County — tumbleweeds, trailers and horse pastures. The Mojave Desert town has since transformed into a high-end community against the backdrop of the Red Mountains. “They have these gated communities and multimillion-dollar homes, so if I'm in southern Utah, wanting to rub shoulders with other fancy country club folks, I’d choose Ivins,” says broker Ian Allen, who works with Realty Absolute and has about a decade of experience in the area. The city’s luxurious Black Desert Resort just hosted the PGA Tournament in 2024 and will host the LPGA and PGA Tours in 2025. More attractions include a state park and an amphitheater, every outdoor experience enhanced by the area’s scenery.
Ivins is a high-end community set against the backdrop of the Red Mountains.
Ivins is comprised of several gated communities and multimillion-dollar homes.
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Snow Canyon State Park and more recreation spaces
Snow Canyon State Park borders the community to the north, with about 40 miles of trails through lava rocks and sand dunes. “Snow Canyon is beautiful. The thing I really love is the colors. Anywhere you go, you can find red rocks to look at, but Snow Canyon has a higher concentration of a variety of colors: red and orange sandstone juxtaposed with white sandstone. There are deep black basalt lava rock flows peppered in the landscape and green sage brush and other desert plants. It's a cool rainbow of desert colors,” Allen says. From rock climbing to hiking, the state park has recreation ranging from child-friendly to highly technical. On the west side of Ivins, Fire Lake Park features the Ivins Reservoir, where visitors can kayak or swim at a beach. At the Black Desert Resort in the eastern part of Ivins, there’s a public 19-hole course, complete with 360-degree views.
Fire Lake Park features the Ivins Reservoir, where visitors can kayak or go swimming at a beach.
At the Black Desert Resort in the eastern part of Ivins, there’s a public 19-hole course, complete with 360-degree views.
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Tuacahn Center for the Arts and Kayenta Art Village
Tuacahn Center for the Arts draws locals and tourists to northern Ivins. “It's a huge attraction. People come from all over, and I think it’s one of a kind because of the sandstone cliffs backdrop. It’s tucked away in a canyon,” Allen says. The massive amphitheater has Broadway-style shows like “Mamma Mia” and “The Music Man.” It also features comedians and concerts throughout the year. “It’s really hot during the summertime, but people put up with it. They buy frozen lemonade and hunker down with the playbill — every seat is full every time I go,” Allen says. At the Kayenta Art Village, there are multiple galleries and an art festival surrounded by desert scenery on the city’s west side.
Tuacahn Center for the Arts draws locals and tourists to northern Ivins.
The Kayenta Art Village offers an outdoor theater, center for arts, and more in Shonto Point.
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Contemporary architecture in Ivins
On Main Street and in the middle of Ivins, prospective buyers can find cottages from the 1920s through the 1930s. Otherwise, the majority of housing in the city is contemporary, with many homes from the 2000s through today. There are many contemporary mansions on the edges of Ivins, including in the neighborhood Shonto Point. These homes usually have panoramic views of the Red Mountains, pools and HOA amenities. “Houses sit for months and months because of relative unaffordability,” Allen says. The city’s median sales price is $600,000. In Ivins, homes stay on the market for 53 days on average, higher than the national average of 45 days. “Spring is our busy selling season. We sell a lot of homes, but the rest of the year is hit or miss,” Allen says.
Prospective buyers can find cottages from the 1920s through the 1930s on Main Street and in the middle of Ivins.
Contemporary homes in Shonto Point are aesthetically nested in the neighborhood.
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Washington County public schools
On Niche, Washington County School District has a B-plus rating. The district also has an A-plus for administration, plus A ratings for clubs and teachers. With approximately 38,000 students, the district has a student-teacher ratio of 26-to-1. Utah Tech University is located about 15 miles away for higher education.
Shonto Point teenagers can attend Snow Canyon High School.
Utah Tech University is located about 15 miles away from Ivins.
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Canyon Crossing and more retail
Although the city doesn’t have any major shopping areas, it does have a few spots with retail. Canyon Crossing, a plaza on the western side of town, offers a cafe, a sit-down restaurant and a gas station with a convenience store. Red Mountain Boulevard runs through the middle of town, giving residents an accessible grocery store, pharmacy and two more restaurants. At the Kayenta Art Village, there’s a cocktail bar next door to an American eatery known for its red cliff views.
Red Mountain Boulevard runs through the middle of town, giving residents an accessible grocery store in Shonto Point.
The Rusted Cactus in Shonto Point is an American eatery known for its red cliff views.
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The 10-mile commute to St. George and more logistics
Via state Route 18, Ivins is about 10 miles away from St. George. The city also has access to Old Highway 91. The SunTran bus system serves the community, with multiple stops along East Center Street and Red Mountain Boulevard. For medical care, there’s Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital, located about 10 miles away. The closest airport is the St. George Airport, located about 20 miles away, while the closest major airport is the Harry Reid International Airport, about 130 miles from Ivins.
The crime rates and weather in Ivins
According to the FBI, the violent and property crime rates in Ivins were low, compared to the state of Utah and the United States in 2023. The community is served by the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department.
Ivins residents experience all four seasons, from hot dry summers to snowy winters. The area has severe heat and wildfire risks because of heat waves in the summertime.
Robert MacFarlane, a proud Utah native, is a dedicated husband and father to three adventurous boys. He holds a BA in Political Science from Cal State Fullerton and is the co-founder of both Real Estate 435 and the 435 Podcast. With a passion for making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who know, like, and trust him, Robert is driven by a mission to create lasting value in his Family, Real Estate and the Southern Utah Community. Mission: Help those in the community around us build wealth through real estate by coaching them decisions that align with their long-term goals. Vision: Be the most trusted and sought-after Real Estate Agents by fundamentally changing the client experience. Values: We focus on offering a unique & professional client experience. We attract, develop, and retain great relationships. We are accountable for our behavior and our results. We conduct business with uncompromising integrity.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
