Second Glances with Arabella

Yesterday, Linden Lab—perhaps already in a Halloween mood—decided to drop a house on us. Well, not just one, but several, like a virtual Wizard of Oz moment, except instead of Dorothy we get a shiny new Premium Plus housing development called Ridgewood Enclave. These homes, released less than 24 hours ago at the time of this post, sent the community straight into the familiar frenzy we all know as the Game of Homes.

According to Linden Lab’s own home selection site, Ridgewood Enclave:

“Blends contemporary design with lush landscaping, offering Premium Plus Residents a neighborhood that feels both modern and connected to nature.
Set among palm trees and winding sidewalks, this community balances clean architectural lines with soft greenery, creating a warm and breezy retreat.”

I dropped in yesterday to see it for myself, and honestly? I walked away fairly impressed. The landscaping alone feels carefully curated—inviting without being overdone—and the homes themselves make quite a statement. They lean heavily modern, flirting with brutalist architecture, yet Linden Lab softened the edges with creative touches like spiral stair towers, wood trim accents, skylights, and even open carports. Some houses look like they’re ready to host a poolside cocktail party, while others feel perfect for a quiet, breezy afternoon with the windows thrown wide open.

The selection ranges from smaller, single-story homes for the minimalist at heart, to multi-story models with rooftop patios, balconies, and clever extras like planter boxes. Those planters, by the way, are customizable via a nifty little side controller—you can swap between shrubs, lily-pad ponds, or bare dirt if you’d rather plant your own greenery. (It’s Second Life, so “plain dirt” still manages to look chic.)

There are six base designs, and each has an “open concept” counterpart for those who prefer fewer walls or the freedom to shape their own interior flow. Windows are everywhere, flooding the interiors with light and giving panoramic views of the generous 2048 m² parcels. Each lot comes with 936 prims, so whether you want to meticulously landscape, hang a skybox in the clouds, or just plaster the walls with Mondrian blocks and Frank Lloyd Wright art glass like me, you’ll have room to make it work.

Step outside, and Ridgewood Enclave reveals its Californian soul. Imagine gently rolling hills, wide green lawns, and palm trees swaying like extras in a Beach Boys song. Streets are broad, outfitted with stop signs, crosswalks, rez zones, and even little touches like newspaper boxes and kiosks. They weren’t functional when I visited, but they give the community a distinctly polished, urban feel—like living in an upscale suburb that remembered to budget for charm.

The topography also feels alive, with terraces, raised greenways, and small ponds sprinkled here and there. Most trees are palms, but Linden slipped in a few deciduous ones too, leaving space for residents to add their own flavor of seasonal foliage if they’re feeling “leafy.”

Not everyone may prefer this style of home, but the good news for you is that this latest home drop will alleviate some of the stress on the housing stock for those styles you might have been waiting on, such as Ranch, Mediterranean, and Tiki homes. If this, however, is what you have been hoping for and if you’re Premium Plus and on the prowl for a new home, keep refreshing that “available homes” page—new regions could drop any day. And who knows? Before long, you may find yourself humming “California Dreamin’” while sipping pixel lemonade on your Ridgewood balcony.