The story of how a rodeo clown established Landmarks West, one of Utah’s leading custom homebuilders
Prioritizing a close, unified relationship between contractors and clients, Landmarks West is a luxury custom homebuilder in exclusive neighborhoods across Utah. While the business also completes commercial real estate projects, its primary focus is the custom residential market. Established by two good friends, Van Kelly and Jared Higgins, Landmarks West is passionate about people, from its open approach to client relationships to the way in which it supports employees.
“Me and Jared both grew up in the industry,” Van begins. “Even as a child I loved building tree houses, but I officially entered the construction market in 1998, as a salesman for lumber, doors, and hardware. Then at weekends, I was a professional rodeo clown and funny man and even appeared in some rodeo movies. I wore a lot of different hats and diversified my talents, and you might still see me jump in the barrel occasionally. It can be confusing how a rodeo career ties into homebuilding, but both are all about networking. I view myself as being in the networking business, and I just so happen to own a construction company. 
“I met Jared over 20 years ago when we both worked for a previous company, Sunroc, which remains one of our key suppliers today. We were on a business rewards trip in Costa Rica, talking about our futures, and I asked Jared where he saw himself in ten years. He hesitated, and we suddenly thought about starting a company of our own, as we already had a fantastic working relationship. Money was never the main motivator, but we’re both passionate about people and liked the idea of being able to support our own employees and their families.
“We officially started Landmarks West in 2014; Jared was the first to quit his job, and I followed six months later,” he reflects. “I wanted to ensure a seamless transition that didn’t hinder our relationship with Sunroc, so I gave six months’ notice and helped to train new people, and I’m proud that our relationship remains strong today. Our business gradually grew, and we’ve never looked back; we’ve also expanded into other markets with an ATV rental business, Uinta Adventures, and we even have a straw hat company, Warbonnet Hats.
“Today, we specialize in high-end custom homes, and in terms of design, most of our clients want mountain-modern homes, with clean lines and low maintenance requirements,” he continues. “However, functionality is key, and we focus on creating homes that meet the clients’ design preferences while also being user-friendly to suit their lifestyle. We tend to work with clients that are heavily involved throughout the process, and our approach places them at the heart of everything we do, from design selections to structural decisions. Our people are our greatest asset, and for me, the greatest compliment I receive is when my suppliers and subcontractors give me positive feedback on my team.”
Perfect locations
Turning to the company’s projects, Van shares more about what makes Landmarks West’s homes unique. “We’ve recently completed a fantastic project, the Lemaitre residence, which features an extensive outdoor area with beautiful landscaping and an infinity pool that stretches right up to the windows,” he says. “This was an incredible project to work on, and one that reflected both mine and Jared’s personalities while delivering the client’s needs.
“We’re now finishing the Krott’s residence, which has a phenomenal interior where everything is automated,” he explains. “It features a disappearing floating corner so the back of the home can be opened to seamlessly blend the outdoors with the interior. It’s a very private home but we added some fun elements like a see-through staircase and a sunken fire pit.
“Lastly, you might have seen the Stark residence featured online or on Instagram. This home was an incredibly unique project to deliver; it has an interior climbing wall, a yoga studio, and the bedrooms are split across a master wing and a wing for the children. There’s a pond with a stream that runs underneath a bridge outside the front of the home, and we’ve added glass in strategic places to maximize viewpoints over the water.
“We’re fortunate to be in a beautiful area of Utah,” Van states. “The area’s geography enables an active lifestyle, whether it’s snowboarding in the afternoon, wakeboarding on the lake, spending time outdoors, mountain biking around the hills, or visiting national parks. There’s something for everyone and beautiful scenery – what’s not to love?”
Longstanding relationships
From speaking with Van, it’s clear to see his passion for people and community. From personal client relationships to supporting employees, Van and Jared lead Landmarks West with the values of collaboration and integrity at its core. “We take a long-term approach to building homes and creating longstanding relationships with our clients,” he states. “A client whose home we built four years ago recently called me to ask for help with the back patio, and this is exactly the kind of service we want to offer. We build clients’ homes as if they’re our own and our relationship doesn’t end once the home is complete; it’s a relationship for life. I want the owners to call me when there’s a problem, and when or if they sell their home, I want the new owners to feel comfortable calling me.
“We’re passionate about what we do, and we genuinely care about our clients. We keep them updated throughout the process, using their preferred methods of communication, whether it’s calls, photos, or drone videos. We also offer weekly meetings and OAC calls with the owner, architect, and contractor, which provide an opportunity for us to discuss any obstacles or make decisions together.
“Thinking about the future, I’d like to see us continue our current operations but in a more in-depth realm,” Van concludes. “We have younger generations coming through, with Jared’s sons now involved in the business, so it would be great to see them flourish alongside our loyal employees that we see as our own boys regardless. We offer custom commercial work through a separate business, and I’d like to see this department grow, as well as add a remodeling division to our portfolio. As our capabilities and divisions grow, we’d love to offer our people more opportunities for their own professional and personal development.”