Builder’s Story
Las Vegas has been home to several generations of the Jones family since the early 1930s, so their roots run very deep here. A young Stephen Jones, born in 1949 (population: 33,000) spent years gaining practical construction wisdom working as an apprentice for an old-school craftsman and journeyman builder named Audie Coker. Steve and Audie built small houses, from the ground up, throughout the Valley. During this priceless educational period, Steve gained hands-on experience with every skill and trade of the construction business.
Steve learned to treat every detail with utmost attention, regardless of how small or seemingly insignificant. Drywall was not hung until studs were planned to absolute perfection, creating a flawless interior wall. Stucco was hand troweled without leaving a trace of their start or stopping points, and copper pipe joints were soldered to look clean even though they would be hidden behind drywall.
He developed a start-to-finish, comprehensive understanding of home building skills essential for constructing finely finished custom homes. When mentor Audie retired in 1989, Steve created Merlin Contracting and Developing, llc.
In the late 1990s, when the nationally recognized planned community of Summerlin was in its infancy, Merlin was selected as one of the original eight builders in their “Featured Builders Program.” At that time, Merlin was the only one designated as the “estate builder.”
The business continued to grow and in 1994, Steve brought in his brother, Bart, to share some of the expanding business’s responsibilities. Bart’s expertise has been an invaluable asset to the company and its growth. Merlin now has 2,000 square feet of professional office space and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse, which is fairly unique for a custom home builder. We employ a trusted staff of 18, including three office staff, an estimator, five project managers, journeymen finish carpenters, laborers and a runner; some who have been with us for as long as 15 years.
Over time, the Merlin name has become synonymous with fine custom home building. Our reputation for impeccable quality has also opened many doors for us. We built a home for the “Street of Dreams” at MacDonald Highlands, as well as The New American Home® for the National Association of Home Builder’s National Council of the Housing Industry and Builder Magazine. We also have the distinction of building custom homes for two past presidents of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA).