Images Castle Rock, CO: 2011

2011 | imagescastlerock.com ®

What’s Online Watch a video to join the excitement at the Castle Rock Skate Park.

castle rock, colorado

LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING BACK Local preservation efforts intensify

PIECE OF MIND Students receive plenty of individual instruction

Rock Solid Pro-business sector remains aggressive

sponsored by the castle rock Chamber of Commerce

What’s Online imagescastlerock.com

Photos

2011 edition | volume 6 ®

See more photos in our online photo gallery Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog

Facts & Stats Dig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more

Video Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

castle rock, co

co nte nt s F e atu r e s 6 looking forward to looking back

Real estate

Local preservation efforts intensify.

Learn about the local housing market and get started finding your place

8 rock solid

Digital edition

16 Piece Of Mind

Easily share articles and photos on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail

Pro-business sector remains aggressive.

Students receive plenty of individual instruction .

d e pa r tm e nt s Images Castle Rock is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

2 Almanac 10 Biz Briefs 1 1 Chamber Report

For more information, contact: Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce 420 Jerry Street • Castle Rock, Colorado 80104 Phone: (303) 688-4597 • Fax: (303) 688-2688 www.castlerock.org Visit Images Castle Rock online at imagescastlerock.com ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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15 Health & Wellness 18 Sports & Recreation 19 Arts & Culture 20 Community Profile

The Association of Magazine Media Member

Custom Content Council

Member Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce project manager mitch Kline On the cover The Cherokee Ranch and Castle Photo by Todd Bennett

12 Local Flavor

All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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Almanac

Welcome to Castle Rock An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Participation Recommended Ridgeline Open Space is a 370-acre park that sits at an elevation of 6,607 feet along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park, located in the Meadows neighborhood, consists of several miles of trails, creeks, forest and fields.

The trails are open to the public and are considered moderate, traveling through valleys and ridgelines. Visitors can take in views of the Front Range to the west and Castle Rock below as they traverse open grasslands and dense Gambel oak trees.

Just Walk Right In Step into the recently renovated Castle Rock Visitors Center and you’ll be stepping into one of the oldest homes in the town. The house at 420 Jerry Street was built more than 100 years ago with rhyolite stone, a building material found in this area. The visitors center, which is run by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, offers a wealth of information about nearby attractions, local businesses and town history. There is a chamber staff member on-site to answer any questions.

Gnarly Ollies, Dude Whether you’re looking to catch some major air, do some ollies and 50-50s, or just try to keep your balance, Castle Rock Skatepark is a cool place to play. The park, located on Trail Boss Road, features a large advanced street section, a smaller beginner street section and a gigantic skate bowl. The skatepark is open day and night, and safety equipment must be worn. Castle Rock Skatepark hosts several local skate competitions throughout the year.

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Fast Facts n More than three quarters of the Castle Rock workforce are white-collar. n There are more than 100 stores located at The Outlets at Castle Rock.

A Good Meating Place

n Noted residents of Castle Rock include professional golfer Dale Douglass, Oscar-nominated actress Amy Adams and WBA professional basketball player Ann Strother.

Want to know where your steaks come from? IMI Global can tell you.

Located in Castle Rock, IMI Global provides livestock verification services to meat packers, feed yards, processors and retailers, thereby assuring consumer confidence. The company’s webbased applications are being used by more than 6,000 ranchers, 2,500 feed yards and three of the country’s largest meat packers, along with the U.S. government.

n Livability.com recently named Castle Rock fourth in the list of Golf’s Best Kept Secrets: 10 Great Golf Cities.

Castle Rock At A Glance Population (2009 Estimate) Castle Rock: 48,150 Douglas County: 293,521 Location Castle Rock is in central Colorado, 30 miles south of Denver and 40 miles north of Colorado Springs.

Beginnings In 1874, homesteader Jeremiah Gould donated 120 of his 160 acres to the settlement that became Castle Rock.

Within a year, the Denver & Rio Grande Railway arrived in town, and shipments of quarried rhyolite helped the community grow.

For More Information Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce 420 Jerry Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone: (303) 688-4597 Toll Free: (866) 441-8508 Fax: (303) 688-2688 www.castlerock.org

Castle Rock

D Denver

n Rhyolite has been mined in and around Castle Rock since the town was officially established in 1881, and the mineral is still seen today on the exteriors of many of the town’s historic buildings. n The annual Subaru Elephant Rock Cycling Festival in Castle Rock kicks off the Colorado cycling season in June.

Parker

Highlands Ranch

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Lone Tree

Castle Rock

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Franktown

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Castle Rock, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagescastlerock.com.

D O U G L AS

Larkspur 25

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Come see us at our new location!

500 2nd St. Castle Rock (303) 663-5578

We specialize in what others won’t!

Domestic • Imports • Heavytow • 4x4 • Diesel • Race

www.handmtransmission.com

A temporAry solution for permAnent results.

Administrative Assistants Customer Service General Office Accounting Clerks Bookkeepers Temp or Temp to Hire

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Since 1992 599 Topeka Way Suite 300 Castle Rock, CO 80109 (303) 688-6795 dctemps@aol.com

visit our

advertisers Best Western Inn & Suites of Castle Rock www.bestwesterncastlerock.com

Intermountain Rural Electric Association www.intermountain-rea.com

Castle Rock Development Company www.meadowscastlerock.com

Just Between Friends of Douglas County www.douglascounty.jbfsale.com

Classic New Home Sales – Katie Everett www.classicnewhomesales.com

Perry Street Pediatrics PC

Douglas County Temporary Services Inc.

Primrose School of Castle Rock www.primroseschools/castlerock.com

Folksted Fazekas Barrick & Patoile PC www.ffcolorado.com

Sky Ridge Medical Center www.skyridgemedcenter.com

H&M Transmission & Automotive www.handmtransmission.com

Unique Landscape and Gardens Inc. www.uniquelandscapesandgardensinc.com

This Sign Rocks Welcome to Castle Rock, as depicted by a metal and rhyolite Castle Rock sculpture prominently displayed at the northwest corner of the Founders/Meadows Parkway interchange at I-25. It was built by artist Barbara Grygutis and imitates the town’s unique skyline. The sculpture is 16 feet tall with lights on the inside that illuminate it at night. It has been on display since 2007.

Feats of Prestidigitation Magicians Joe and Carol Givan have delighted audiences and messed with minds at their Theatre of Dreams since 2003. This 72-seat performance space provides familyfriendly entertainment that leaves spectators wondering how they did it. “We specialize in variety arts,” Givan says. “It’s like Vaudeville, only for the 21st century.” Performances include world class jugglers, ventriloquists, circus acts, mind readers and escape artists. The theater offers private parties in addition to stage shows.

Hunger Cravings Bring your appetite to Crave restaurant for a fun atmosphere and a number of interesting menu items. Crave is a Castle Rock urban diner that serves huge burgers, sandwiches, salads and thick shakes seven days a week. Try the Fatty Melt – a bacon cheeseburger, tomato and pickles between a pair of grilled cheese sandwiches. Then wash it down with the Velvet Elvis, a shake that includes bananas and bacon.

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Looking Forward

to

Looking Back Preservation efforts increase in Castle Rock

Story By Kevin Litwin Photography By todd Bennett

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astle Rock officials say that a property in town is historic if it was built before 1946 and has some historical significance.

A good example is the B&B Café on Wilcox Street, where a 17-year-old fugitive murderer stopped to eat in 1946 and was confronted by an unarmed Douglas County marshal. The surprised fugitive panicked and shot the marshal dead.

“Preservation of interesting old buildings all over Castle Rock have been gaining momentum in recent years,” says Dave Hieronymus, vice chairman of the Castle Rock Historic Preservation Board and a local architect with DLH Architecture.

“The Historic Preservation Board is commissioned by the town council specifically to advise town officials about historic properties throughout the community, and to help individual businesses and homeowners with renovations.”

Hammers at the Hammer House Hieronymus says an example of a recent renovation is Hammer House, an old residence that is the only property in Castle Rock listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Our board protects the integrity of downtown and the nearby Craig and Gould area, and we are able to secure grant money from the Colorado Historical Society for worthwhile projects,” he says. “Recent grant money went toward electrical upgrades and foundation repairs at Hammer House.”

Hieronymus points out that preservation efforts have attracted somewhat of a local following. Downtown Castle Rock trolley tours are held every May; all tours in 2010 were booked solid.

“The tour travels to where the Civil Conservation Camp used to be as well as the old frontier town of Douglas,” he says. “Right now, our board is working with the town council on efforts to also preserve the old ATSF train depot located 6

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on the southbound tracks going through Castle Rock. In addition, a tourism brochure of historic sites in Castle Rock is now available to the public at the Chamber’s Visitors Center.”

Plenty of Space Is Open In the neighboring community of Sedalia, a prime example of preservation is Cherokee Ranch & Castle, a Scottish-style castle built in 1924 that is perched above 3,200 acres of ranch land. And in the area of land preservation, the Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources was established in 1994 to oversee the protection of 46,552 acres of open space in the county.

Specific large tracts of open spaces that have been preserved include Columbine, Glendale, Hidden Mesa, Sharptail Ridge and Spruce Mountain. Also on the list is Greenland Open Space, whose 17,000 acres make it one of the largest preserved areas in the western United States.

“We enhance the quality of life for residents by protecting wildlife habitats, natural resources, historic sites, scenic views and Douglas County’s rural heritage,” says Cheryl Matthews, director of the Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources.

Green and Clean Meanwhile, preservation efforts also include environmental initiatives such as recycling. All Bright Sanitation and Haulaway Solid Waste & Storage are green companies that are engaged in local recycling efforts, while Intermountain Rural Electric Association has begun implementing a coal-burning technology that is both futuristic and clean.

“There are many ways to preserve,” Hieronymus says.

“It’s good to see Castle Rock and Douglas County businesses and individuals embracing this cause.”

Preservation in Castle Rock extends to traditions like the Lighting of the Star (top middle), a tradition that began in 1936. Cherokee Ranch & Castle (top left, top right, bottom) is also on the preservation list.

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Action

Figures Pro-business sector remains aggressive

Story By Kevin Litwin

O

pportunity still knocks in Castle Rock, even in this difficult national economy. Local businesses that have expanded in recent times include Copperfalls Aveda Day Spa, Dream Pastries, Outlets at Castle Rock and and Crave, a second eatery established by the owners of the popular Old Stone Church restaurant.

Meanwhile, a new business that arrived in town in 2010 is Aluwind Inc., a Denmark-based manufacturer of aluminum parts used for wind turbines and towers. The company began shipping finished products to customers in July 2010 from its 50,000-square-foot

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plant in Castle Rock, and Aluwind plans to expand its facility to 80,000 square feet during 2011.

Howdy, Partners “A key factor for recent economic success in town has been the creation of the Castle Rock Economic Partnership, which hosts a meeting every Friday with officials from the Chamber, the town, Downtown Development Authority and economic development council,” says Frank Gray, president and CEO of the Castle Rock Economic Development Council. “All of these Partnership members meet weekly to talk about how we can improve our

current business-friendly environment, and plan what specific strategies we want to employ to help attract more business to Castle Rock.”

Whatever the group has been discussing at their Friday meetings seems to be working, as evidenced

by Castle Rock being named the 2010 Large Community of the Year by the Economic Development Council of Colorado.

“The Colorado council recognized our efforts in expanding existing businesses, plus we’ve been lucky enough to attract new companies to Castle Rock on a somewhat frequent basis,” Gray says.

Dream Pastries (top left), Mywedding.com (top right) and Aluwind Inc. (bottom) are just a few Castle Rock businesses that have flourished despite the tough economy.

‘Til Death Do They Part One of those companies to choose Castle Rock is Mywedding.com, which helps couples across the United States find vendors for every aspect of their upcoming weddings.

“Our website has information on wedding vendors in 145 cities – from Maine to Florida to California to Washington,” says Woody Pastorius, president and CEO of Mywedding.com.

“It’s a free wedding website, but couples must sign up with us to gain access. We make our money by putting together information on the various vendors who pay us. Our site provides all of the tools for a couple to fully plan

their wedding by themselves.”

Pastorius says the site has 50 categories for each city, from cakes and flowers to photographers and ministers to tuxedos and wedding gowns. There are also links to themed weddings such as nautical, outdoor, cultural, green, offbeat, fusion, current trends and inspiration on a budget.

“Our company started in Seattle and has tech support in Portland, but we also wanted to establish a location farther east since we offer our service to the entire country,” he says. “Castle Rock is a scenic community with a well-trained, high-tech workforce, so we couldn’t be in a better place.”

Less Money to Get Rolling Gray echoes that sentiment, pointing out that Castle Rock has many positive qualities that help make it easier to sell the community to prospective new businesses.

“We had a groundbreaking in August 2010 for a $23.6 million Centura Adventist Hospital and have several other projects in the works,” he says.

“Yes, there are many positives that can attract future projects, including the town’s recent passage to reduce sureties for development. That means it now costs less money to get a project off the ground in Castle Rock, which will help our economy even further.” i m ag e s c a s t l e r o c k . c o m

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Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define Castle Rock’s economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance douglas county:

$2 billion Annual retail sales

$9,501 Retail sales per capita

$242 million Annual hotel and food sales

23,206 Total number of firms

BUBBLES LIQUOR WORLD Biz: Wine and spirits Buzz: Bubbles bills itself as having the largest and best selection of wine, beer and spirits in Douglas County, plus a huge selection of cigars in its walk-in humidor. The store has a staff of 25 that includes two sommeliers and three wine experts, and wines range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. More than 18,000 items are in the inventory. www.bubblesliquorworld.com

MEDVED AUTOPLEX Biz: Car and truck dealership Buzz: Not many automotive dealerships sell both General Motors and Ford vehicles, but Medved Autoplex does. The auto giant boasts that its customers receive the best ownership experience possible, for the entire life of their vehicles. The dealership sells new models of brands such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Lincoln and more, along with pre-owned cars and trucks. www.medved.com

CoWEST INSURANCE GROUP Biz: Insurance company Buzz: CoWest has been serving Douglas County for more than 75 years. It started as a single agency and today has more than 30 agencies serving the entire state of Colorado. CoWest officials provide insurance service to clients in both metropolitan Colorado markets and rural towns. Some types of insurances offered include personal, business, automotive and much more. www.cowest.com

PATRIOT ENTERPRISES Biz: Plumbing, heating and air Buzz: Javier Hoggard founded Patriot Drains in 1997 and has since changed the name to Patriot Enterprises. The Castle Rock company specializes in plumbing, drain cleaning, and heating and cooling needs. Representatives are available to answer the phone 24/7, and the company schedules a precise two-hour appointment window. www.patriotpros.com

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

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Chamber Report Chamber helps small businesses succeed

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he Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce has 500 members, and about 475 are small-business owners or operators. That is why chamber officials focus much of their attention on working with development programs to help those businesses succeed.

“In 2009, the Castle Rock Economic Partnership was formed, which features the Chamber joining forces with the Castle Rock Economic Development Council and town government,” Pam Ridler, president of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, says. “Each entity has a specific mission regarding local economic development, and the chamber’s involves training and providing counseling services for our small-business members.”

Ridler adds that the chamber has assisted in creating an organization called the Douglas County Business Alliance, with a focus that includes advocating political actions.

“The Alliance is seven area business groups that have hired a lobbyist who keeps us abreast of what’s going on at the State Capitol,” she says. “We make sure that whenever a business issue goes before the legislature, we as a county

know that our voice is being heard.”

Ridler says sometimes smallbusiness owners don’t realize how legislation at the local and state level can actually affect their companies.

“The Alliance has a board of 21 directors who have expertise in many different areas, so when decisions are being made at the State Capitol, we get very involved if it’s an issue that can affect the economy of our community,” she says. “We always give our membership a heads-up if something relevant is about to occur at the State Capitol that could affect them.”

Meanwhile, in other chamber news – in the area of aesthetics – the chamber’s offices at 420 Jerry Street were completely renovated in 2010. Their headquarters is a historic home they began occupying in the early-1990s.

“The old home needed a lot of upgrades and the outdoors is now beautifully landscaped, but my staff and I are especially pleased because each office now has a closet,” Ridler says. “Many historic homes were built with no closets, but now our office has several. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s great news for all of us who work here.”

– Kevin Litwin

Back row (L to R): Melissa Mares, Communications Specialist; Joanne Taylor, Director of Membership; Melissa Moroni, Director of Programs Front row (L to R): Susan O’Malley, New Member Account Executive; Pam Ridler, President/CEO; Tammy Cratty, Office Administrator; and Diane Leduc, Director of Marketing

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Tastes Great Castle Rock food scene offers something for everyone Home to several iconic local restaurants, an annual food festival and a weekly farmers market, Castle Rock provides plenty of delicious cuisine options amid the breathtaking scenery of this foothills town.

Favorite Castle Rock Restaurants Castle Café is located downtown inside the historic Castle Hotel and Bar, and is famous for its pan-fried chicken, buffalo meat loaf and Yuppie-I-O dip.

Union An American Bistro has made a big impression on the local dining scene with dishes such as the signature double-bone 16-oz. roasted pork chop served with famous mashed potatoes, apple chutney and a cider, whole-grain mustard glaze.

Angie’s Restaurant is known as “the homemade spaghetti place.” It has been around more than 40 years – starting in Denver in 1965 and making the move to Castle Rock in 1998.

Pegasus Restaurant offers diners a seemingly endless array of international choices, from Grecian gyros to half-pound Angus burgers. The familyfriendly eatery cooks up some of the best American, Mexican and Greek cuisine around, including a deliciously authentic, south-of-the-border breakfast.

The Rockyard American Grill & Brewing Co. has become a local favorite because of its outstanding food and first-rate micro brews. With daily drink specials and award-winning burgers, sandwiches, steaks and seafood, the Rockyard has something for everyone.

The Augustine Grill is nestled in the heart of the Rock. It’s located inside an early 1900s Victorian home, and serves menu items such as roasted rack

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of lamb, beef tenderloin medallions, seared tuna and homemade soups.

Other notable Castle Rock eateries include Tana Dolce, an Italian Cicchetti wine bar and restaurant (“Cicchetti” is an Italian term for shared plates big enough for two); The Fowl Line, a sports bar featuring pizza, salads, sandwiches and “famous” wings; and Gabriel’s, a Zagat award-winning and locally owned northern Italian fine dining restaurant.

Famous Food Festival Taste of Douglas County is an annual food festival where the area’s best restaurateurs offer bite-sized versions of their culinary creations. More than 40 vendors – big and small, casual and fine dining – take part in the summertime event, held at the Events Center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Attendees drive all the way from Denver and Colorado Springs to sample what local restaurateurs claim is the best food on the Front Range. The event also has live entertainment, cocktails and more.

Castle Rock Farmers Market For fresh vegetables, fruits, breads, flowers, salsas, pastas, pestos, canned goods, handmade gifts and more, make your way to the Castle Rock Farmers Market downtown on Wilcox Square.

Originally named Plum Creek Valley Farmers Market, the market began in 1987 and is held every Saturday from July to October.

– Laura Gallagher

Antony Boshier

Local Flavor

Broccoli Cheese Cornbread Use your farmers market finds to make this great recipe.

Ingredients: 4 eggs, beaten 2 sticks melted butter 1 medium onion, chopped 1 12-ounce carton cottage cheese 1 package chopped broccoli, thawed 2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Mix together eggs, butter, onion, cottage cheese and broccoli. Add Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. Pour into a greased 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour. Cut into wedges to serve.

Jeffrey S. OTTO

Recipe procedure:

Health & Wellness

Healthy Choices area offers many medical care options, with more on the way Quality health care isn’t hard to find in Castle Rock. Sky Ridge Medical Center is easily accessible in nearby Lone Tree, and Castle Rock is currently home to several medical facilities. Soon, with the addition of Centura Health’s Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus, residents will have another great option for medical care.

Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus Construction is underway on the Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus, which will span 50 acres on the northeast corner of Meadows Parkway and Prairie Hawk Drive.

Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health-care network, provides advanced care to more than half a million people each year across 12 hospitals. With the addition of the Castle Rock facility, the community will have easy access to this network.

Phase 1, which is set to be complete in the winter of 2011, will include a 20,000-square-foot emergency room and imaging center that will offer full emergency medical services and will be conveniently located adjacent to The Meadows at Historic Castle Rock. The Meadows, a planned community, borders to the west and includes a town center and various residential units, with convenient access to I-25.

patient-centric treatment facility for kidney patients that offers a unique spa-like atmosphere with Wi-Fi and television.

Plum Creek Medical, which opened in 1987, offers on-site laboratory, X-ray, osteoporosis bone scan, cardiac care and preventive medicine. In addition to treating patients, Plum Creek Medical reaches out to the community by sponsoring charities such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, The American Cancer Society and Compassion International.

– Laura Gallagher

Sky Ridge Medical Center In Lone Tree, Sky Ridge Medical Center offers comprehensive health-care services in an innovative, aesthetically pleasing hospital facility that features fireplaces, gardens, playgrounds and other amenities.

Among its services are a Level III emergency/ trauma department and a sports medicine and rehabilitation center. There is also a 29-bed cardiac care floor, expanded intensive care facilities and a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Sky Ridge Medical Center also has an imaging center in Castle Rock, which offers services such as CT scans, mammograms, MRIs and X-rays.

Other Medical Services in Castle Rock Castle Rock is also home to many other medical facilities. Liberty Dialysis on Trail Boss Drive is a

Herbert J. Josepher, M.D. Regina M. Lurie, M.D. Michael Milobsky, M.D. Sarah Dacey, M.D.

1001 S. Perry St. Suite 101A Castle Rock Located in Medical Park behind Safeway

(303) 688-5226

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Education Castle View High School

Top-Notch Schools Education is a high priority in Castle Rock The Douglas County School District, one of the fastest-growing districts in Colorado, has 14 schools in Castle Rock. With programs designed to engage students and involve parents, Douglas County schools strive to help students acquire skills to become responsible citizens.

Elementary and Middle Schools Castle Rock’s nine elementary schools and two middle schools give students many hands-on learning opportunities. With student-teacher ratios averaging around 17 to one, students receive plenty of individual instruction.

Denver’s 5280 magazine recently named two of Castle Rock’s elementary schools to its

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list of top 10 elementary schools in the Denver area. Timber Trail Elementary is noted for its arts, music and P.E. curriculum, as well as its distinction as a three-time John Irwin award winner.

Flagstone Elementary was listed in part for its library collection of more than 10,000 books, extensive computer facilities and its Tie-Dye Scribes Times online newspaper, to which students from first to sixth grade

contribute on a regular basis.

The two middle schools in Castle Rock, Mesa Middle School and Castle Rock Middle School, both run on conventional schedules and include students in seventh and eighth grades.

Castle Rock Middle School, located on Meadows Boulevard, has approximately 1,400 students and combines both traditional and alternative teaching methods.

In the fall of 2008, Mesa Middle

School opened in Founders Village. The 134,000square-foot, two-story building accommodates up to 1,000 students and has an adjacent baseball field and a football field with gravel track.

High Schools Castle Rock’s two public high schools offer excellent academic programs, as well as a variety of extracurricular activities.

Douglas County High School is the oldest high school in the county and serves approximately 1,700 students. A rigorous academic program and a variety of activities prepare students for a future in college, vocational school, the military or the workforce.

With strong sports and arts departments, students have many choices when it comes to extracurricular activities. Options include field hockey, rock

climbing, photography, sculpture and many others. DCHS also has eight vocational programs designed to prepare students for the workforce. These programs, which include agriculture/food science, technology and health care, cater to today’s fastestgrowing job markets.

Located on North Meadows Drive, Castle View High School features a different approach to the three R’s of education. With five academies of study to choose from – including two that focus on math/science/engineering and biotechnology/health sciences – this high school of more than 1,500 students is focused on preparing students for hightech work in a personalized environment. CVHS also has a full range of sports and activities, and is most known for cheerleading, football and orchestra.

– Laura Gallagher

Higher Ed Arapahoe Community College offers students more than 130 two-year associate degree and certificate programs, as well as guaranteed transfer programs to Colorado’s four-year public institutions. There are two campuses – the Littleton Campus and the Parker Campus, formerly University Center at Chaparral. ACC prides itself on being affordable and for offering individual attention to students through smaller class sizes and a faculty who cares. For more, visit www.arapahoe.edu.

Sports & Recreation

Get Out There Recreation options abound in castle rock Known for its spectacular views of the Front Range, Castle Rock is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. With an extensive network of parks and trails, a variety of sports and recreation programs, golf courses and exciting events, there’s always something fun to do in Castle Rock.

The Great Outdoors Castle Rock features more than 5,000 acres of open space with plenty of parks and 56 miles of trails. More than 250‚000 people visit the Castlewood Canyon State Park each year to hike‚ picnic‚ rock climb‚ take photographs‚ bird watch or just enjoy the views.

Just south of Castle Rock‚ Greenland is the largest ranch between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. A private buyer put a conservation easement on 17‚300 acres. The remaining 3‚700 acres are owned by Douglas County‚ which built an 8.5-mile trail for hiking‚ biking and equestrian use on the public portion called Greenland Open Space.

Glendale farm‚ a 160-acre property east of I-25, offers panoramic views from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak. It also includes a popular 17-acre dog park where pets can romp off-leash.

Cycling is also a great way to enjoy Castle Rock.

The Subaru Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, held every June, is the unofficial start to the Colorado cycling season and is a very popular local event.

Fun for the Whole Family Castle Rock’s 17 parks provide endless recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

Park amenities include bike paths, climbing walls, tennis courts, ball fields, disc golf, picnic facilities and a skate park, among other attractions. Visit the

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Town of Castle Rock for a complete list of parks, open space and trails, and their features.

The 84,000-square-foot Castle Rock Recreation Center provides outdoor, fitness, toddler and senior programs, special-interest classes, athletics and aquatics. A variety of classes ranging from aerobics to pottery are also offered. In addition, the rec center hosts youth and adult sports teams, special events, a flag-football tournament and sports camps.

The Douglas County Fairgrounds accommodate civic, recreational, business and youth activities as well as the annual county fair. Facilities on the property include a 29,000-square-foot events center, an indoor arena ideal for trade shows and equine events, and an outdoor arena.

Tee Time The town and surrounding area boast several outstanding public and private golf courses. Options include The Country Club at Castle Pines, a 7,400yard Jack Nicklaus Signature Championship course; Plum Creek Golf and Country Club, which offers some of the most challenging holes in the state; the town’s own award-winning Red Hawk Ridge, a masterpiece where every inch of the 6,942-yard course tees up beautiful Front Range scenery; and The Club at Pradera, an Irish-modern masterpiece located between Parker and Castle Rock.

– Laura Gallagher

Todd Bennett

Castle Rock Recreation Center

Arts & Culture

Small Town, Big Culture castle rock’s arts and cultural scene thrive If a city’s cultural health can be judged by its artistic endeavors, then Castle Rock is in fine shape. It may be a small-town community of approximately 48,000, but Castle Rock is brimming with all the cultural experiences you would find in much larger cities like Denver or Colorado Springs.

Theater and Music The Front Range Theatre Company offers high-quality community theater productions, a thriving youth theater program, dinner theaters, murder mysteries and theater classes, while the Castle Rock Orchestra presents musical concerts of 20th-century styles such as Impressionism, Americana, pops and film music.

Public Art The town’s Public Art Commission helps keep the town’s visual arts scene vibrant with a master plan that calls for public art at each gateway to Castle Rock, in addition to colorful art displays that dot the town. A stunning $70,000 bronze statue at the Craig & Gould entry to the town at Fifth and Gilbert streets honors the historical nature of that area. Cooling the Dogs, by sculptor Craig Bergsgaard, depicts a horse standing alongside a seated cowboy shaking out his boot. At the north entrance ramp to Castle Rock, a five-piece sculpture and signage create an exciting gateway to the town. The sculpture is 16 feet tall with lights on the inside‚ so it glows at night. It is made of perforated aluminum‚ with

rhyolite stone at the base. The lettering is made of brushed aluminum. Rhyolite is native to the Castle Rock area and is used in many of the community’s buildings‚ as well as in The Keystone to the Castle sculpture near the intersection of Wilcox and Interstate 25‚ which the Public Art Commission was also instrumental in establishing. The Keystone is a series of five arches set at different angles‚ and the top of the tallest arch has a rhyolite stone set in it.

Art Exhibits and Events The Greater Castle Rock Art Guild helps keep the downtown area alive with creativity. Thanks to the efforts of the 200-plus member organization, the town has become known as the “Left Bank of Colorado,” much like the Left Bank near the Louvre in Paris, France. GCRAG promotes a variety of juried art exhibits and art-related events at downtown locations throughout the year.

Festivals And two major Castle Rock festivals draw residents and visitors together in celebration of the important cultural entities,

art and wine. A tradition for more than 20 years, Colorado ArtFest at Castle Rock, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, happens downtown in September and draws more than 25,000 visitors. The festival showcases the artwork of artists from all over the country and includes live entertainment, a Children’s Imagination Zone, food vendors, locally brewed beer and more. In July, Castle Rock hosts its annual WineFest celebration, which brings together Colorado’s top wineries for wine seminars, tastings and demonstrations.

The event also includes vendors, entertainment and cuisine from local restaurants.

Ray Waterman Photographer Ray Waterman has spent more than a decade capturing the natural beauty of Castle Rock and the surrounding area with his cameras. His wildlife photography is vivid and packed with action, while his landscapes are pristine and awe inspiring.

See some of Waterman’s best work at raysoutdoorimages.com.

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Community profile Community Overview With spectacular views of the Front Range and the unique vistas of the buttes, Castle Rock is in a beautiful setting. Residents have quick and easy access to some of the best recreational opportunities available in the country. Students here excel in top-quality schools and play in safe neighborhood parks. Businesses are drawn by a highly skilled, educated and experienced labor force, and by the proximity to the state’s two major markets, Denver and Colorado Springs.

Climate Overview Sunny days are the norm in Castle Rock throughout the year. In the summer, hot daytime temperatures are kept comfortable due to the low humidity level, and the evenings cool off to a perfect temperature for sleeping.

Winter snowfalls melt quickly, and warm Chinook winds bring temperatures up into the 60s on occasion during the winter months.

84 F Summer High Temperature

14 F

household information

48,150 Total Population

36 Median Resident Age

74% Married

26% Single

30% Age 19 and Under

Winter Low Temperature

51%

17”

Age 20-54

Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

19% Age 55 and Over

time zone

86%

Mountain

White

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C a s t l e R o c k

2% Black

7% Hispanic

5% Other

size in square miles

35 cost of living

$111,294 Median Household Income

$299,167 Median Home Price

$1,016 Median Rent for a Two- Bedroom Apartment

Ad Index

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Castle Rock through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagescastlerock.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Castle Rock I was driving around shooting a feature story in a new and trendy neighborhood called The Meadows in Castle Rock when I noticed these horses roaming in an open field. Nearly one quarter of the land at The Meadows is dedicated to parks and open space.

Posted by Brian mccord

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagescastlerock.com.

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