Colorado Gold – Highlands Ranch And The Colorado Gold Rush Sparked By Local Creek
(Video coming soon) This October 2022 presentation is about two discoveries: a recent very minor discovery by Rolf Asphaug of an intriguing little label on a local map, and the earthshaking, world-changing 164-year-old discovery which that label referenced. It is...
New Highlands Ranch Historical Society President
David Johnston was unanimously elected President of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at the September 14, 2022 HR Historical Society board meeting. He replaces David Hill. David Johnston, who is also known as DJ, had previously served as Secretary of the HRHS...
Aurora History Museum, DeLaney Farm Visit by the Wranglers, Sept. 2022
September 2022 The HRHS Wranglers enjoyed a Volunteer Appreciation outing to the Aurora History Museum and DeLaney Farm on a cool and cloudy day in September. Under the capable leadership of Sandy Chamberlin, Volunteer Director, with assistance from her husband Paul,...
Joe Blake Made Highlands Ranch Into Hometown USA
Joe Blake Made Highlands Ranch Into Hometown USA Article Written by Shirley Cavanaugh, Publicity Chair HR Historical Society Video Tribute and Oral History by Mark Stevenson, Special Projects, HR Historical Joseph B. Blake might not be known to most Highlands Ranch...
Fire Fighting in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch South Metro Fire Dept. Puts Out More Than Fires: The History of Fire Fighting in HR Highlands Ranch’s early residents had no fire and rescue services. “Before 1986, Highlands Ranch was not located within a fire district,” said Eric Hurst, Public...
Douglas County Sheriff Substation in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch Douglas County Sheriff Officers Visible in Community Douglas County sheriff deputies are visible in Highlands Ranch—more often as goodwill ambassadors rather than law enforcers. But this is getting ahead of the story. The county’s law enforcement roots...
The First House in Modern Day Highlands Ranch
IN THE BEGINNING: THE FIRST HOUSE When Philip and Kaye Scott closed on the first house in the new community of Highlands Ranch on Sept. 28, 1981, developer Mission Viejo gave them a bonus—a 650-pound steer! “We had to buy a full-size freezer for all the roasts,...
Highlands Ranch-Home is Where the Heart Is
Highlands Ranch: “Home is Where the Heart is” Highlands Ranch has bragging rights for numerous awards. Long-time residents Debbie and Ken Rudolph and Diane and Dennis Pahler attest to its quality of life. In January 1980, Ken started his job as director of engineering...
Pronghorns in Highlands Ranch
Pronghorns have a special place in the history of Highlands Ranch! They are unique and beautiful animals, and once roamed freely on the land that would become Highlands Ranch. Highlands Ranch when Mission Viejo first arrived....no homes, lots of pronghorn! Mission...
Bird Art in Highlands Ranch
Bird art, like animal art, also dots the Highlands Ranch landscape. THE EPIC BIRD The bird “flying” on signs is immediately recognizable to drivers entering Highlands Ranch. In 1981, builder Mission Viejo asked Brock and Associates marketing firm to develop a logo for...
The First Homes and Subdivisions
THE FIRST HOMES AND SUBDIVISIONS IN HIGHLANDS RANCH The first homes were built starting in 1981 and sold by MV in what is today the subdivisions just to the north and south of Northridge Park and Rec Center. They include the Grove, Bayfield, and Stoney Point. The...
The Highlands Ranch Herald, Community Newspaper
In March of 2021 Jerry and Ann Healey, owners and publishers of the free, weekly community newspaper Highlands Ranch Herald, sat down with the HR Historical Society to discuss the history of the newspaper, how the newspaper reflects and reports the local news, and the...
The First Convenience Center (Shopping Center)
The First Convenience Center: Highlands Ranch’s First Shopping Center Opened in 1983 When Highlands Ranch was first built in 1981, residents had to travel outside their new community for shopping. There weren’t shopping centers, let alone stores or markets. At that...
Town Center
New England Inspires Highlands Ranch Town Center Design Ever wonder what inspired the design for the Highlands Ranch Town Center and its clock tower looming above the spread of buildings? John Kilrow, the person behind the design, was inspired from his boyhood days in...
James (Jim) Toepfer and HR
James Toepfer, the "Father of Highlands Ranch" In the early 1980s, several people were hired or were transferred from California. James Toepfer was one of those who moved here to Colorado. Jim served as the first President of the Colorado Division of Mission Viejo...
The Epic Bird of Highlands Ranch
THE EPIC BIRD ..... ....…was a symbol created for Mission Viejo after they purchased the cattle ranch from Lawrence Phipps’ estate and started developing the 22,000-acre property into the New Town of Highlands Ranch. According to Kathi Brock, owner of the public...
The Windmills of Highlands Ranch
The Windmills of Highlands Ranch Windmills served a vital role in rural America. In the days before what is today’s Highlands Ranch, windmills dotted the landscape. The early settlers erected them to harness wind power to pump up underground water—a precious resource...
Mission Viejo: In the Beginning: Planning & How the Early Streets were Named
Mission Viejo In the Beginning How the Early Streets were Named Have you ever wondered: Where the first houses built in Highland Ranch are located? What is the significance of that street name?? Or park name? Why was this park named “Springer Park”? and on and...
Highlands Ranch HISTORY TIDBITS
Click on the links below to access the History Tidbit articles. Mission Viejo In the Beginning, Street Names The Windmills of Highlands Ranch The Epic Bird of Highlands Ranch Art Cook, A Highlands Ranch Cowboy James (Jim)...
Animal Art in Public Places, Highlands Ranch
Busy Highlands Ranch residents might not take the time to notice the various forms of animal art found in their community. When Town Center was being built, a group of gorillas—yes, gorillas—was erected next to the Target parking lot. “Gorillas were put in the...