Living in Highlands Ranch, Colorado for 12 Years & Still Loving it!
Thinking of Highlands Ranch as your new home? You've picked a great place as its become one of the favorites in the south Denver metro area for many and has even been recognized nationally as a great place to relocate. Its my own favorite as well.
Highlands Ranch is located in Douglas County, Colorado - which by the way continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Once ranch farm land, Highlands Ranch has been transformed into a master planned community with a covenant controlled HOA that is now looked at nation-wide as one to model after. Adding to its charm, the original ranch and ranch home remains and sits high on a hill in Highlands Ranch with fabulous views of the front range.
I first moved to Highlands Ranch in 1995, the same year I was married. We were looking for a home with several qualities - a community for us to begin our family, a location that made commuting easy, good schools, and a very nice home that we could actually afford - we were young back then and I had previously been in an apartment in Denver.
In all honesty Highlands Ranch had not been on our radar at first. But as we scoured throughout the Denver area, we quickly came to the conclusion that this was it. I have to admit that my wife had a huge say in that
decision. But she was right and it is a decision neither one of us have ever regretted for one moment since. That was 1995 and we lived in the Eastridge area of Highlands Ranch. My wife then worked with a cable/technology company that was located in Englewood near the now Park Meadows Mall. Her commute wound up being about 12 minutes. Not bad! She also had begun graduate work and needed an easy ride to the University of Denver, which was a straight shot up University Blvd.- about 18 to 20 minutes. I had begun my career in real estate and was enjoying all of the communities that were growing all over the Denver area. We were still young and pre-kids, we regularly enjoyed quick trips to the mountains, journeys to Colorado Springs and many trips to downtown Denver to catch-up with our "urban" friends. As our children came into the picture, we quickly out-grew our first home and the search began, again.
This time, we settled on a brand new-build community in late 1998 of Westridge Pointe, in the Westridge section of Highlands Ranch. The growth of Highlands Ranch in just those 3 years was enormous but there was even more to come. When we moved into our new home, the road ended at our corner and the park that is now behind us was just a mere dirt thing. Now it has been transformed into the beautiful Redstone Park that I utilize myself personally almost every day. Just this evening as I am blogging, my own children are riding their scooters throughout the park. And loving it.
Nowadays, the build out of Highlands Ranch is almost complete. There are only a few areas left where the new 
construction communities are visible. But over time this "master-planned" community has become a place I know as my town - my home. I work here. I play here. With 4 beautiful community recreation centers, a library that some would be jealous of, parks for every activity you could imagine and a trail system for all abilities - Highlands Ranch is the whole package. The differing communities through Highlands Ranch will appeal to almost all looking for a place to call home - there are some apartment and many town homes and condos, The majority of homes though are single family homes that range for all from the low $200,000 to over $1,000,000. It is absolutely a true testament though to how many home owners that I work with that sell their home in Highlands Ranch, just to buy their next one a few blocks over or on the other side of town. Because just like me, once they are here & call it home, they generally don't want to leave.
Another reason that I enjoy Highlands Ranch so much, is its close proximity to so many other places just outside of town. My own family loves the outdoors, and now that my youngest child is a bit older, we are really getting a bit more adventurous and are getting around. We love to hike and visit the variety of parks in the area, and Highlands Ranch gives us easy access to places such as
There is the HighLine Canal (there is a feeder head trail practically out my back door!), Daniels Gate Park
and for some reason my children are always drawn to Westlands Park and request a visit there often. In the summer months, we also visit nearby locals such as Pirates Cove in Englewood and H2O O'Brien in Parker. Highlands Ranch is just a great local all around -with easy access throughout town on C470 and straight shots north to downtown on Santa Fe Drive, Broadway and University, it is truly a breeze to get around.
As for other local needs - a variety of state of the art hospitals are very close by, including Sky Ridge Medical Center and Littleton Hospital, along with a wide variety of urgent care facilities.
But back to in-town - Now that we have been here 12 years(!!) we have become somewhat grounded in our community. I am a member of the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce and do volunteer in other areas of the community as well. And for schools, Highlands Ranch is part of the Douglas County School system and many of the elementary schools attend class on the year round track system.
Of course I also have to list some of my favorite places in Highlands Ranch - some have been around for some time, and others are much newer. Either way, they are all places the contribute to our fabulous community and make it more than just another town.
As for businesses and other local establishments in Highlands Ranch - here are some of my favorites not to be missed:
- Cornzapoppin- fabulous gourmet popcorn to enjoy locally or order online
- Landsdowne Arms - A great local Irish Pub - a not to be missed establishment, especially in the summer
- Old Blinking Light Kitchen & Cocktails - my latest find - a very nice restaurant with a hint of southwest flavor
- Tattered Cover- A old Denver favorite has now opened in Highlands Ranch - a true gem of an independent bookstore offers great selection & yummy coffee to boot!
- Goodyear Tireon town Center & Santa Fe - ok, so yes -this is a chain - but I can not tell you how often they have helped me out of a jam - most recently they changed my wife's windshield wipers FOR FREE when they were so jammed with ice she could no longer drive. And everyone there is really very nice.
- Tokyo Joe's - another chain - but it's a local one - great fast food that is just slow enough to still be healthy - & yummy!
- Lodo's Bar & Grill - the original is downtown, but grab a seat on the roof top for views that can't be beat
- Pterodactyl Toys - looking for a child's gift a bit more original than a big box store - the excellent service at this local favorite will keep you coming back
- Highlands Ranch Golf Club - I am biased on this as I can almost walk here - but a great course that is right here in town
- Looking for Asian food locally - try Little Holly's Asian Bistro, Four Seasons or Pei Wei for a fast but yummy option.
Highlands Ranch is the whole package. A few other things that makes it so appealing is a jam packed cultural calendar with community activities geared toward all. Take a peak, Highlands Ranch is quite an attractive place to call home for so many, you may find it just right as well.
Highlands Ranch, Colorado is located approximately 12 miles south of downtown Denver, just south of C470 and is part of Douglas County. Its borders are County Line Road on the north and Santa Fe Drive on the west. Its east borders are a little less defined - starting with Quebec St, but then as its moves south it continues a bit until where Lone Tree begins. And on the south, the Southridge neighborhoods & open space along Wildcat Blvd border Highlands Ranch.
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Some Communities & Neighborhoods in Highlands Ranch
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Additional articles & information about Highlands Ranch:
Douglas County Growth Ranks Nationally Again
Highlands Ranch Homes for Sale: Why Can't You Find it Online?
Living in Highlands Ranch: Valor is Taking Shape
Buyer's Agent in Colorado: Do You Really Need One?
Highlands Ranch Community Association
Highlands Ranch Metro Districts
Attention Denver Home Sellers: There are Buyers in Colorado
Douglas County Schools: Understanding the Track System
Businesses in Highlands Ranch: Get Involved in Your Community
Living in Highlands Ranch: Redstone Park
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Steve Scheer, RE/MAX Masters, Inc.
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Steve--You make Highlands Ranch sound like a wonderful place to live! Great Post!