By Kim D. McHugh
Photography Courtesy of The Village at Castle Pines
MANY FACTORS DETERMINE QUALITY OF LIFE, and they all stack up in the south metro suburbs
IN THE MOVIE “Field of Dreams,” Ray Kinsella imagines hearing a sports announcer say, “If you build it, he will come.” Those words encouraged the farmer, played by Kevin Costner, to create a baseball diamond in his cornfield to honor Shoeless Joe Jackson, his favorite player. In the spirit of that premise, the late Jack A. Vickers perhaps heard a similar phrase, inspiring him to build Castle Pines, the prestigious community just north of Castle Rock.
Captivated by the landscape and breathtaking Front Range views, Vickers bought the land in the late 1970s that now encompassesThe Village at Castle Pines (VACP), a gated, 3000-acre master-planned oasis that debuted in 1981. Anchored by two Jack Nicklaus–designed golf courses—Castle Pines Golf Club and the Country Club at Castle Pines—for generations, the community has attracted residents who embrace an outdoor-centric lifestyle, premier golf and exceptional privacy.
“We have been residents for twenty-two years. Initially, our daughter lived with us, and having a place where she could ride her bike on our cul-de-sac and in the neighborhood without much traffic was a big factor in deciding to live here,” says Jack O’Connor, broker/owner at The Denver 100 real estate agency.
“Secondly, the beauty of the area: It feels like we come home to a resort every time we drive down Happy Canyon Road.”
Located within the Douglas County School District, the covenant-managed community is just eight miles from the Denver Tech Center, eight miles from Castle Rock and 37 miles from DIA. A fully staffed, in-house emergency services department as well as five entry and exit gates, each monitored by security personnel, provide extraordinary peace of mind for residents.
With its tapestry of rolling hills, meadows, rock outcroppings and innumerable stands of mature pines, VACP gives residents the feeling they live in a mountain town like Breckenridge, Vail or Winter Park. However, they are just 24 miles from downtown Denver. Ranging from condominiums, cluster and patio homes to single-family homes on acreages, VACP offers options from its initial 1980s homes as well as new inventory and custom-built homes reflecting today’s contemporary architecture and styling. The family-oriented community boasts a walking/hiking/biking trail system that extends
more than 13 miles with five pocket parks.
Surrounded by open space, Coyote Ridge Park spans nearly thirty acres and features a baseball field, skate park and shaded pavilions. The Village’s largest playground is located at the Canyon Club. The club has five tennis courts, four pickleball courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, plus a kiddie pool and an Olympic-sized pool with a water slide.
A short drive from the community, The Village Shops offers an array of restaurants and retailers, including Tony’s Meats & Market, Miyo Cafe and the Woodhouse Spa, as well as special events like vintage car shows, wine tastings and art shows.
“My husband and I wanted a home suited for our busy, empty-nester lifestyle,” says longtime resident Pam Kelly. “We chose the south side, which is very walkable to Tony’s, restaurants and the spa. The Village is very active and diverse, with people of all ages looking for a quiet lifestyle among the elk, deer and foxes. I have belonged to the Garden Club for eight years and made extraordinary friends.”
Without question, the community’s pair of Nicklaus-designed golf courses enrich the lifestyle of club members. Perched at nearly seven thousand feet, The Country Club at Castle Pines has garnered accolades from Golf, Colorado AvidGolfer and Golf Digest magazines, the latter placing it among the top 20 private courses in Colorado. Host of The International, a PGA Tour favorite for 21 years, the perennially top-ranked Castle Pines Golf Club is hosting the 2024 BMW Championship in late August.
The Village at Castle Pines
688 W. Happy Canyon Road
Castle Rock
303.814.1345
