🏔️ Highlands Ranch, Meet Our Winner

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Highlands Ranch.

We have a winner. Sometimes the odds are in your favor, and consistency pays off.

This week, Abby and I surprised Gabrielle who won the $1,000 Colorado Giveaway to the iconic Broadmoor, officially wrapping up the park challenge.

After Abby drew her name, I found her husband on Facebook to let him know and asked him to keep it a secret. To his credit and my surprise, he did not spill the beans as Gabrielle had no idea when we showed up at her door. Check out her reaction here.

Out of 240 participants and 750+ entries, this had an epic ending: Gabrielle guessed week after week, faithfully shared the parks to her story, and then won it all on the last park drop—Park 26: Highlands Ranch Historic Park.

Thanks to everyone who joined in on this challenge. Our parks are even more loved because of you.

Onto this week’s Scoop:

Let’s get into it.

—Grace Hody

Thinking About A Move?

Whether you’re moving to the Ranch or moving out of it, having someone who understands both the neighborhood and the numbers matters.

Before real estate, Abby Barratt worked in wealth management, helping clients navigate major financial decisions. Today, she brings that same analytical approach to buying and selling homes because a home isn’t just where you live. For most families, it’s also one of their biggest financial assets.

And Abby knows South Denver from both sides. She intentionally chose the Ranch when her own family relocated to Colorado, and she’s since built her real estate business right here in the community.

So whether Colorado is calling you home to Highlands Ranch or your next chapter is taking you somewhere else, Abby can help you think through the move and what makes sense long-term. ➜ Start a conversation with Abby

Renew the Ranch — Highlands Ranch
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 3 (9–11 a.m.)
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Give a little time back to the Ranch by helping clean up local parks and open space. Volunteers can choose between Marcy Gulch near ThunderRidge High School or Falcon Park near Eastridge, with gloves and trash bags provided. Families and groups are welcome.

Gilly’s Pumpkin Patch — Castle Rock
🗓️ Friday–Saturday, Oct. 2-3 (10 a.m.–dark)
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Gilly’s is open for the season on a Castle Rock homestead dating to 1889. Wander the patch for specialty pumpkins with a date or bring the kids and let them play and grab a fall treat beneath the cottonwoods.

Fall Family Fun Day — Highlands Ranch
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 3 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.)
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Head to Backcountry Base Camp for a fall afternoon with pony rides, barnyard animals, fall crafts, cocoa and cider. Bring snacks or a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Registration is required and limited to 45 cars.

Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion — Littleton
🗓️ Friday–Sunday, Oct. 2–4
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Halloween season has officially arrived at Reinke Brothers. Brave the full Haunted Mansion after dark, or bring younger kids for a lights-on, non-scary tour Saturday and Sunday morning. The Littleton Halloween institution has been frightening locals for more than 50 years.

Lone Tree Oktoberfest — Lone Tree
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 3 (2:30–6:30 p.m.)
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Head to historic Schweiger Ranch for an afternoon of craft beer, live music, food trucks and Oktoberfest fun. Try your hand at stein hoisting, cornhole or even mobile axe throwing. Free to attend; beer tasting packages sold separately.

Fall Festival at Schweiger Ranch — Lone Tree
🗓️ Sunday, Oct. 4 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.)
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Spend Sunday at historic Schweiger Ranch picking pumpkins, roasting marshmallows, visiting the petting zoo and exploring the ranch. There will also be live bluegrass, food trucks, games, vendors and wagon rides. Wagon rides require advance registration.

📬 Before You Go
Thanks again to everyone who played along on the Park Challenge. It’s been my favorite part of the Scoop so far. After 26 weeks of parks, I suppose I need to figure out what I'm going to do with my Tuesdays now. 😂

In the meantime, a couple easy fall staples are going strong:

As always, I hope that whatever you get into this weekend that you find it to be wonderful!

Until next week,
—Grace

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🌳🏛️ Highlands Ranch Metro District
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