Located approximately 12 miles from Downtown Denver is the 22,000-acre Highlands Ranch. With homes of various styles to fit multiple budgets and a gorgeous landscape, it isn’t hard to see why this is one of the area’s most popular planned communities. Since 1981, Highlands Ranch has proved time and again why its nearly 100,000 residents find this area to be a prime piece of Denver real estate.

Changes over Time

The area that would become Highlands Ranch switched hands several times before finally being developed into the planned community that the residents know and love today. It was originally home to several Native American tribes including the Cheyenne and Arapaho. It was once claimed by France for Louisiana, was taken by the Spanish, returned to France, and finally sold to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The area was a farming and ranching community for quite a while after that and switched hands a few times again before finally being developed as a planned community. It is now often considered to be a “bedroom community,” which means that many of its residents work outside of the community.

Parks and Recreation

Highlands Ranch is home to more than twenty parks, including Redstone Park and Lonesome Pine Park. Each park provides various activities for the entire family, whether you like to play tennis, picnic with your loved ones, or watch the kids play on a jungle gym or rock wall. You may even find yourself at Daniels Park where you can experience the occasional buffalo sighting. There are also recreation centers for swimming, pool, hockey, and more, plus a skatepark for the older kids and young adults. And, of course, there are miles upon miles of trails for walking, biking, and inline skating that will allow you to enjoy the fresh air and get in a little exercise.

Food and Fun

Planned communities are often known for their wide variety of dining opportunities, and Highlands Ranch is certainly no exception. They have the staples you might expect that include Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Boston Market, just to a few. There’s also more unique fare like Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza, where you can either dine-in, grab a baked pie, or take a pre-made one home and bake it yourself. Another great place — especially for fans of barbecue for obvious reasons — is Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, where the meat is always cooked to perfection and kids eat for free on Sundays. No matter what type of food you enjoy, you won’t have to search Highlands Ranch long before you find it.

Shea Stadium

People come from miles around to visit this attractive stadium. Located at the aforementioned Redstone Park, Shea Stadium has proven itself to be a prime piece of Denver real estate thanks to its 3,000 seats, parking for more than 700 automobiles, two concession areas, and press box with a filming balcony. Fans of football and soccer can bring the family down to the stadium for a day of relaxation, great food, and a wonderful atmosphere that is the perfect representation of what the Highlands Ranch community offers to its residents and visitors.