Saddleback Plan Shifts to Up to 6,500 Homes
Peoria homebuyers near the 5,300-acre site should expect a residential-focused community with more than 60 miles of trails.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Real Estate — General
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Castle Hill Partners, an Austin, Texas developer, has scaled back plans for the 5,300-acre Saddleback master-planned community in Peoria. The current plan calls for as many as 6,500 homes and 180 multifamily units, replacing earlier entitlements that were set decades ago.
Why it matters
For Peoria households, the shift from a resort-and-golf-heavy plan to a residential-focused layout changes what kind of neighborhood Saddleback will become, with more homes and trails rather than large commercial and hospitality components. Buyers and current residents nearby may want to watch how the project's density and amenities take shape over time.
The 5,300-acre Saddleback site is planned for up to 6,500 homes and 180 multifamily units, down from 8,000 homes originally entitled, with more than 60 miles of trails including a 13-mile Saddleback Trail. The original plan included three golf courses, a resort, and up to 2 million square feet of commercial space, while the current entitlement covers 800 hotel keys.
The players
Castle Hill Partners
Austin, Texas-based developer that took over Saddleback and is now pursuing a residential-focused plan of up to 6,500 homes.
The details
The original entitlements were granted decades ago to a previous developer and covered a far larger mix of uses, including three golf courses, a resort, and substantial commercial space. Castle Hill Partners took over the project and has replaced that layout with a smaller, residential-focused plan. The new plan keeps the 800 hotel keys on the books but has no immediate plans to build a hotel or golf courses.
Timeline
Decades ago: original entitlements for 8,000 homes and a resort were granted for Saddleback.
November 3, 2026: reports of the scaled-back Saddleback plans were published.
The Home Front
Saddleback's shift from the original 8,000-home, golf-and-resort entitlements to a plan of up to 6,500 homes and 180 multifamily units shows how a master-planned community can be re-scoped after its first developer's vision is set aside. Peoria homebuyers considering the area will want to compare current neighborhood plans against what was originally approved decades ago.
If you live near Saddleback or are considering a home in the area, check the project's current plan for the number of homes and trails you can expect nearby. Keep copies of any purchase documents and HOA or community disclosures so you can compare future development changes against what was promised at closing.
The takeaway
Large master-planned communities can change substantially after a change in developer, so the originally approved plan is not always the final one. Keep a record of the community's current entitlements and planned unit counts when comparing neighborhoods in Peoria.
Further reading
For more on how local housing projects are changing, browse our Real Estate — General coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by abc15 Arizona.
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