Newport Bluff Top Community
This Newport Beach property is recognized as a family-friendly planned community situated on 150 gently rolling acres overlooking the bay. The community boasts over 125 acres of open space with extensive greenbelts, meandering footpaths, and thousands of trees with gorgeous panoramic views.
Landscaping Excellence
Bemus Landscape professionally manages the Bluffs’ landscaping, which is integral to the community’s identity and appeal. As one of Orange County’s largest urban forests, the landscaping creates a distinctive environment that enhances property values and residents’ quality of life.
I am very happy with the level of service compared to other landscapers out there. They are responsive and keep up the grounds around our complex. I would highly recommend them for your community!
– Manda K.
Residential customer
The Bemus Landscape Impact
Newport Bluff Top Community has a fascinating origin story. What was once flat land that served as the Palisades Naval Landing Field (a satellite airfield for the Los Alamitos Navy Flight Training Station from 1942 to 1951) was transformed into a sculpted residential community in 1964-65. The developer George Holstein & Sons undertook the ambitious project, working with architect Richard Leitch and engineers Jack Raub & Associates to create a European sea village atmosphere on this 300-acre parcel of the Irvine Ranch.
The most remarkable aspect of the development was the dramatic reshaping of the previously flat terrain. More than 1.5 million yards of earth were moved at a cost exceeding $1 million to create the community’s signature contoured valleys and hills, providing dramatic view sites for many homes that would have otherwise only had views from the edge properties.
Today, Bemus Landscape provides the landscape management of The Bluffs, which encompasses:
The professional landscape management by Bemus helps fulfill the original vision of Holstein, who planned “fully maintained parks, green areas, front yards, pools and planting” as central features of the development.
While some of Holstein’s planned services, like maid and linen service, never materialized, the maintained landscaping did come to fruition, creating “one of the most interesting, well-organized and beautiful developments in Orange County.”
The Distinctive Landscape Character of Newport Bluff Top Community
Newport Bluff Top Community stand as a testament to visionary landscape architecture and ongoing professional maintenance by Bemus Landscape.
What began as an ambitious $1 million earth-moving project in the mid-1960s has matured into one of Southern California’s most distinctive residential environments.
Unlike typical developments where landscaping is an afterthought, Newport Bluff Top Community was conceived with the landscape as its defining feature – transforming flat former airfield land into a sculptural topography that maximizes views and creates a unique sense of place.
Today, this master-planned community showcases the following landscape elements that collectively establish its renowned character and contribute significantly to both property values and quality of life:
The key features of the landscaping at Newport Bluff Top Community include:
Newport Bluff Top Community landscaping represents far more than mere decoration — it embodies the community’s founding vision and continued identity. Through Bemus Landscape’s professional landscape management, these features work together to create a cohesive environment that balances aesthetic beauty with practical functionality.
