More than meets the eye

Top attractions in picturesque Priddis

When many people think of Priddis, the first thing that comes to mind is often the quiet hamlet southwest of Calgary that bears the name. However, the Priddis area has so much more to offer, including world-class golf, beautiful acreage properties, luxury homes and vast natural areas to explore.

"The hamlet of Priddis is just a hamlet, but Priddis is quite large," said Wayne Chaulk, a Calgary-area REALTOR® who specializes in acreage properties.

According to Chaulk, Priddis is "more pristine and quieter in its appeal" than other acreage communities in the Calgary area. In addition to beautiful mountain views and wide-open spaces, Priddis provides quick and easy access to the southern end of Calgary.

"Sometimes Priddis is considered a bit of a drive, but the interesting thing is it's only about 15 minutes to Shawnessy," he said. "And now with the ring road developing, once the loops are in place near 37th Street S.W., the drive from Priddis to that ring road is going to be about 12 minutes."

Here are some of the top attractions that Priddis has to offer:

Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club
Established in 1983, this prestigious club is home to two 18-hole, championship golf courses and has hosted three LPGA championships.

"The views and surroundings are absolutely incredible once you get on it," said Chaulk. "It's a stunning golf course."

The golf course is flanked by the community of Priddis Greens, which includes a mix of estate homes and condos.

"An interesting thing about the people that live in Priddis Greens is 50 per cent golf and 50 per cent don't," said Chaulk. "A lot of the golf course appeals to people who just want to drive out there and experience it."

Hawk's Landing
Hawk's Landing is a luxury community located alongside Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club that's home to around 60 new estate homes ranging in price from $950,000 to over $2.5 million.

"The Hawk's Landing development is more of a destination neighbourhood, and they've got a lot of luxury homes in there," Chaulk said. "Very stunning architecturally, beautiful homes."

Azuridge Estate Hotel
A luxury retreat in picturesque Priddis, the hotel's design was inspired by the architecture of the Canadian Pacific Railway's Rocky Mountain train stations. Azuridge features 13 unique guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, world-class dining and spa services across the 13-acre estate.

"It's a stunning, private, boutique hotel that's becoming well known," said Chaulk. "A very unique setting, outstanding building design and the restaurant is top-drawer, so it's another iconic spot."

Hamlet of Priddis
The lovely hamlet of Priddis is home to a gas station, skating rink, community hall, church and post office, as well as a small selection of country-style cafes and restaurants. It's a perfect jumping-off point for visitors that want to explore the beautiful, natural surroundings.

"It's not unlike some of the other little hamlets like Millarville," said Chaulk. "It's quaint, and it hasn't really grown."

Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
The Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area is a 4,800-acre, day-use natural area in the Priddis area. The area is home to a diverse collection of native wildlife species and animal habitats, and offers a variety of youth conservation education programs.

"It's amazing because it's only just beyond the (Calgary) city limits going west, so there's this massive piece of land that very few people know about," said Chaulk. "That mass of land has actually prohibited a lot of development that would have gone ahead if that family didn't donate it to the province. So that's a really unique feature of a rural setting, to have that there tied to Priddis."