A view from a home at Thermal Club
Southern California has plenty of communities catered to niche crowds, but Thermal Club in Coachella Valley might be SoCal’s first for wealthy motorsport enthusiasts.
The 426-acre community has four racetracks and 268 homes each with 20-car garages, according to the Los Angeles Times. You have to own one of those $2.5 million to $12 million homes to get access to the tracks, which should be within the budgets for many involved in the notoriously expensive hobby.
Amenities work much like other niche planned communities, like equestrian communities and residential golf clubs. Owners get access to a clubhouse, restaurant, tuning shop and Thermal Club’s staff of pros and mechanics. Mechanics will ensure that cars are ready to hit the track and the three full-time instructors coach drivers.
About half of the residential properties are currently available for purchase, and 89 have sold. General manager John Rogers, whose family owns and developed the property, told the Times that current residents include amateurs and pros alike. The latter use the tracks to practice.
Some carmakers have taken notice. BMW purchased one of the 20 commercial spaces on the property and operates one of the race tracks. Porsche rented another space for a recent launch of new vehicles.
Other amenities include two putting greens, a tuning shop and an observation tower that overlooks the tracks. A gym with a tennis court and pickleball court, as well as two pools, are slated to open in November. Guest houses and another track are also in the works, according to the Times. [LAT] – Dennis Lynch