Our Highlands Ranch Colorado was prime hunting land for the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians before being claimed as a Spanish territory in the mid-1500's. Before being sold to the United States by Napoleon as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the territory passed back and forth between Spain and France.
Some of the visitors who homesteaded or passed through portions of the land included: David Gregory, the first person to actually live on land now recognized as Highlands Ranch; Lewis Wales Cleveland, the cousin of President Grover Cleveland; John W. Springer, a descendant of the russian czar; Johanne Welte and Plazidus Gassner, owners of a ranch that made brick and Limburger cheeses; and Rufus H. Clark - ol' Dad Clark himself!
Then Dad Clark filed a 160-acre homestead on the site of today's Highlands Ranch Golf Club in 1859. Colorado farmers were having success growing potatoes so Rufus decided to try it. His first attempt met with great success and he became known as Colorado's Potato King. Eventually he donated 80 acres of land and $500 to a Methodist college which bacame the University of Denver at University Park. He later sold some of his land to the City of Denver to use for Jewell Park and Overland Park.
The first phase of the Highlands Ranch Mansion was built from 1891 to 1904 and was called Castle Isabel. Then property owner John Springer purchased additional land, bringing the total holdings to 23,000 acres. The property then changed hands several more times until 1937 when Lawrence Phipps bought it for cattle ranching.
After Phipps died the property passed though Highland Ventures and Mission Viejo. Phil and Kay Scott led the first homeowners to Highlands Ranch in 1981. August 1997 Shea Homes purchased the property and began the community we know today.
Are you considering buying or selling Highlands Ranch real estate? Then visit the website of your Highlands Ranch Realtor and expert. You can access all the Highlands Ranch Homes for Sale.
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