70149 Sonora Road

Architectural Masterpiece in Thunderbird Heights. Set high above the desert floor, behind the gates of coveted Thunderbird Heights, this rare modern estate is a study in vision, privacy, and timeless design. Conceived by architects Ira Johnson, AIA, and George Ritter, AIA—protégés of modernist icon William Cody—the residence is a masterful 1970s reinterpretation of Cody's desert modernism, executed with precision and restraint. Spanning approximately 4,700 square feet, the home is defined by steel-beam trusses, expansive walls of glass, and luminous white mud brick—an architectural language that feels both grounded and ethereal. Thoughtfully composed sight lines frame sweeping 360-degree panoramas, from the Santa Rosa Mountains to the desert valley and city lights beyond. Each bedroom suite enjoys its own immersive view, creating a deeply private, resort-like experience. At the heart of the home, an expansive open living space unfolds beneath soaring ceilings, where floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the boundary between indoors and out. Light, landscape, and architecture converge in a serene, almost meditative flow—equal parts gallery and sanctuary. Set on over half an acre, the grounds are lush, mature, and impeccably curated, offering a quiet counterpoint to the dramatic elevation and views. This is not simply a residence—it is a private compound, designed for those who understand architecture as art. A rare opportunity to acquire a singular work of desert modernism—elevated, authentic, and quietly iconic.