Legendary magician Teller, one half of the iconic duo Penn & Teller, is among a growing number of Nevada residents pushing back against a proposed housing development that would dramatically reshape a quiet rural area south of Las Vegas.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the 77-year-old illusionist has voiced strong opposition to plans that would place 99 homes on roughly 19 acres of land in Enterprise, a tranquil enclave known for its open horse trails, wide-open views, and distinctly rural character. The site sits just south of Blue Diamond Road at Tenaya Way, approximately ten miles from the Las Vegas Strip — a world away from neon lights and casino crowds.
For decades, this pocket of Southern Nevada has been regarded as a hidden haven, where horses travel dirt lanes, chickens roam backyards, and families enjoy a slower pace of life. Teller, who has lived in the area for nearly 30 years, described returning home from the Strip as “a refreshment of the spirit.”
That sense of peace, residents argue, is now at risk.
“This will damage us,” Teller told the Review-Journal, expressing concern that the development would permanently alter the character of the neighborhood by increasing traffic and reducing safety on roads traditionally shared by pedestrians, children, and horseback riders.
The proposal, brought before the Clark County Planning Commission, comes from Richmond American Homes and would require zoning changes and new land-use approvals to move forward. While Southern Nevada has experienced rapid growth for decades, this particular area has long been protected by low-density zoning rules that favor half-acre lots and prohibit suburban-style subdivisions.
Residents say this plan represents a scale of development unlike anything they’ve previously seen.
Teller has emphasized that he is not opposed to development in general, but warned that the project could overwhelm local infrastructure. Roads such as Meranto Avenue, long used as horse-friendly routes, would run directly alongside the proposed subdivision, raising concerns about traffic and safety.
Other residents echoed those worries. Bartender Olivia Hillcoat, who has lived in the area since 2018, noted that nearby commercial development — including a Walmart — has not disrupted the neighborhood because traffic does not flow through residential streets. Ninety-plus new homes, she said, would be different.
Retired economics professor Cynthia Parker, who moved to the area in 2021, told the Review-Journal she hopes to preserve what drew her there in the first place: “I like being in a nice, rural area. It’s just peaceful.”
Many residents point to the horses, chickens, older homes, and open space as what gives the neighborhood its identity — something Teller summed up simply by saying that with each new development, “you take away the rural character.”
Born Raymond Joseph Teller in Philadelphia in 1948, Teller legally changed his name as an adult to simply “Teller,” which now appears on his official documents. While he is best known globally for his silent stage persona and groundbreaking magic, his comments highlight a quieter side of the magician — one rooted in community, preservation, and quality of life.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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