Hi Highlands Ranch,
The land around the Highlands Ranch Mansion is now officially owned by the Metro District.
On April 30, the Metro District finalized the conveyance of 197 acres from Shea Homesāland that has long been planned for community ownership.
āThe Metro District has worked with the community over the years on a vision for Historic Park land to become a passive park that will provide opportunities to enjoy nature, honor our history, and provide educational opportunities. Going into the public process the vision remains the same, and we hope to hear more specifically from the community about their needs and desires for the development of this park.ā
Cows Grazing in Pasture
Whatās Included
Hereās some of what the land features:
š¾Pastureland surrounding the Mansion
šļø13 historic outbuildings
š¬ļøThe iconic windmill south of the property
This expands Historic Park to nearly 250 total acresāone of the largest preserved pieces of original ranch land in the community.
Zooming Out
This wasnāt a sudden move. The transfer was part of a long-standing agreement dating back to 2010, when the Mansion itself was first conveyed and later opened to the public in 2012.
The land is still being used for cattle grazingāfor now.
From the Agreement
The Metro District will continue leasing the land to Clough Cattle Co.
The lease is expected to continue for a period (around ~18 months)
This stays in place until the District is ready to develop the property
What Happens Next
The District is taking a phased approach:
š§Planning: Community input + vision
āļøDesign: Refining what the park becomes
šļøBuild: Phased development over time
For now, the land will remain leased for cattle grazing while long-term plans take shape.
Why It Matters
This is one of the last major pieces of Highlands Ranchās original land being preservedāand how it evolves will be shaped, in part, by the community.
Grace
Editor, The Ranch Scoop