Founders Village

Founders Village, located in Castle Rock, is a well-maintained, walkable suburb with numerous outdoor amenities. You’ll see children heading to the pool in the summer or parents snowy shoveling driveways in the winter in this community-focused neighborhood with easy access to both recreational and practical amenities.

Walk the neighborhood’s well-maintained sidewalks and see wooden picket fences surrounding modest, green lawns. Here, you’ll find contemporary split-level homes with three to five bedrooms. Most properties were built in the late 1990s or early 2000s and have since been renovated; however, there is new constriction in the area. The median price in Founders Village is $548,700, with five-bedroom homes running into the $600,000 range. According to Trinette Miller, a Realtor with Lifetime Properties, “The inventory is really low right now. Prices are dropping, and homes are sitting longer than usual.”

Students here are zoned for the Douglas County School District and can attend Rock Ridge Elementary School, which Niche gives a B rating. Then, they can move to Mesa Middle School before finishing their academic journey at Douglas County High School. Niche gives both schools a B-plus. The high school offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) program in which juniors and seniors can choose to enroll in a curriculum that emphasizes not only academic excellence but also character development and an understanding of world issues. IB students frequently find it easier to gain university admission or earn scholarship opportunities.

At the center of the neighborhood, spanning 25 acres, is Founders Park. Play a pick-up game on one of the basketball courts or ride your bike on one of the paved trails. There’s also a picnic area where you can get together with friends and numerous multi-use fields that you can rent out for a game of soccer or field hockey. Also within the neighborhood is The Ridge House Swimming Pool, which is open year-round (with limited hours in the winter) and includes a clubhouse where neighbors can gather. “During the summer, when the kids are home, you don’t have to drive anywhere. You can walk to the pool,” says Miller, who lives in the area. The neighborhood’s sidewalks and wide streets ensure walks throughout are safe and easy. Also within the neighborhood is Mitchell Creek Canyon Trail, about a 3-mile out-and-back trail. This modestly challenging route is littered with pines and takes you through marshy land and over piled rocks. It’s also a popular spot for birding, hiking and snowshoeing.

Along North Ridge Road, there’s a shopping center where you can locate the essentials. There’s a King Soopers grocery store where you can grab ingredients for dinner and fill your tank at their gas station on your way home. If you don’t feel like cooking at home, stop by 212 Pizza Company, an artisan pizza spot owned and operated by a family of Colorado natives. The restaurant takes pride in its Coloradoan heritage and sources its products from over 20 local companies.

About 6 miles to the northwest, there are The Outlets at Castle Rock, the largest open-air shopping center in Colorado, with over 100 name-brand stores from Coach to Colombia to Lululemon. That’s not the only perk of living in the Castle Rock area, you can also enjoy various community events throughout the year. Get the family together for the Summer Ball, a daddy/daughter and mother/son dance with different themes each year. In October, there’s Spooktacular, a fall festival that encourages locals to dress up and enjoy the activities, including games, prizes, food and, of course, Halloween candy.

Commuting is a breeze in Founders Village. Take Founders Parkway to North Interstate 25 and, in 30 miles, you’ll be in Denver. Take I-25 to the south for 50 miles and find yourself in Colorado Springs. Whatever your needs, Founders Village’s convenient location ensures you can easily get to neighboring areas.

Written By

Adreanna DeMarino

Photography Contributed By

Karl Brewick

Video By

Bill Jennings