Perry Park, Larkspur
Perry Park Ranch is a golf course community located in Larkspur, CO in Southwestern Douglas County Colorado. The Pike National Forest and Rampart Mountain Range neighbor Perry Park Ranch to the West. The majority of homes in Perry Park Ranch are situated on one acre treed sites consisting of Ponderosa Pine, Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain Juniper or Douglas-Fir.
Geography
Perry Park Ranch is known for its dramatic array of hogback and “red rock” fountain formations commonly found along the Eastern edge of Colorado’s front range mountains.
History
Originally inhabited by the Ute, Kiowa, Arapaho and Cheyenne Native American tribes, the Perry Park area was primarily empty until the 1858 gold rush in the Pikes Peak area of present day Colorado Springs. After this time ranchers such as Ben Quick and George Ratcliffe began settling in the Perry Park area.
In 1870 John D. Perry, president of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, visited Colorado and purchased the 4000 acre “Pleasant Park” that would eventually be named Perry Park. Mr. Perry’s son, Charles became a permanent resident of Perry Park Ranch and raised short-horn cattle in the area until his death in 1876. Charles Perry died as a result of being kicked by a horse on the Perry Park Ranch.
In 1888 John Perry, along with a number of other investors created the Red Stone Town, Land and Mining Company which would attempt to turn Pleasant Park into a resort destination. A dam was constructed on Bear Creek creating Lake Wauconda and a large hotel was built Southwest of the lake. One of the investors, Charles Roberts built one of the only homes in the new development along the shores of Lake Wauconda (even though the entire area surrounding the lake was platted for home development). The Roberts home (the Manor House) is now the clubhouse for Perry Park Country Club. Attempts to extend the railroad running through Larkspur directly into Perry Park failed and the resort did not prosper as a result. Land deed problems also contributed to the failure of the resort since many parcels of land could not be legally traced to the supposed owners. The ranch changed hands many times in the early to mid 1900’s. The hotel was eventually destroyed by fire.
In 1967, Lee Stubblefield (a retired Air Force Officer) purchased Perry Park Ranch for $2,000,000 and formed the Colorado Western Development Company. Mr. Stubblefield platted the current layout of Perry Park Ranch. The Perry Park Country Club was also developed during this time and opened in 1971.
Present Day Perry Park
The platted area within Perry Park continues to be developed by outside real estate investors and future residents. As platted lots become improved with roads and utilities (initiated and paid for by lot owners), homes are allowed to be built. Currently there are approximately 600 homes located in Perry Park, but additional lots which currently do not qualify for a building permit could bring the future build out of Perry Park to approximately 1,400. The Perry Park Ranch is accessible only by one road (Red Rock Drive) and there are plans to add a second full-time access road to the ranch. The addition of the road is one of the hottest issues facing Perry Park Ranch with many in favor of the idea as well as in opposition.
In late 2000, the board of directors of the Perry Park Metropolitan District undertook the task of addressing Perry Park’s potential wildfire risk, and received a Colorado State Fire Assistance Grant of $45,000 in 2001. This was leveraged into over $161,000 in cash and in-kind contributions by the community toward becoming Firewise. The community received a second grant for 2002 of $100,000. The matching In-kind reported to date will double this amount. In two years, the effort has exceeded over $500,000 with over a three-to-one match with grant funds.
The Perry Park Firewise program has embraced a values-based approach. Early surveys told the board that wildlife and forest were as important as homes. Educational and informational efforts have targeted these values. The message “Saving the Forest=Saving the Wildlife=Protecting Property Values=Being Firewise” has increased participation. A second key component of the program is slash disposal that works for the community.
From the Perry Park Firewise program’s inception, partnerships have been critical to its success. Over 18 partners now participate, including the City of Denver. The Denver City Forester is accepting mulch generated through the slash disposal program, calling the effort “Trees Saving Trees.” The mulch will be used to protect the drought-stressed urban forest.
Perry Park Real Estate Information
Most of the homes in Perry Park are situated on approximately 1 acre lots and homes for sale in Perry Park Ranch generally range in price from $500,000 for townhomes and $700,000 for single family homes built in the 1970’s to well over $1,000,000 for large well appointed newer homes. Perry Park Ranch has numerous vacant lots available. Speculative lots without utilities and not currently qualifying for a building permit start at about $20,000. Lots with utilities and currently qualifying for a building permit start at about $200,000. To learn more about buying land in Perry Park, Larkspur Colorado visit the Buying Larkspur Land area of our website.
The local schools are Larkspur Elementary School, Castle Rock Middle School and Castle View High School. Additional Larkspur School information is available.
Several of these Featured Properties are located in Perry Park, Larkspur.
Are you looking for a Realtor to assist you with all of your Perry Park real estate needs?
Please contact Ben Wolfe. We specialize in Perry Park, Larkspur Colorado real estate.
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