The Meadows

Planners designed the Meadows to be the perfect place to live. In this master-planned Castle Rock community, neighbors walk their kids to school in the morning, convene at the community center for a morning coffee and ride their bikes through an endless network of trails. Locals love the walkability, the community and the scenery, which includes sweeping vistas of the distant Rocky Mountains. "You're very close to the highway and the views are spectacular," says Jennifer Nichols, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who has been selling in the Meadows for the last year. "Castle Rock in general is just gorgeous, with front range views of everywhere from Pikes Peak to the Rocky Mountains." Picture-perfect two-story homes and modern condominiums line the neighborhood’s quiet residential streets. Houses sit next to each other behind perfectly manicured lawns and paved sidewalks. Contemporary houses can cost $700,000, traditional-style homes can go for $560,000 and mountain homes can go for $945,000. You’ll see brand-new homes with fresh coats of paint and others with wooden fences and an Old West vibe. "What you'll see is a lot of people who own will eventually upgrade to another home in the Meadows," Nichols says. "They begin with a starter home there, and then as their family grows they buy a new one."

Walkability is one of the central principles of the Meadows. Paved sidewalks outside every front door link up with the outdoors. The Ridgeline Open Space, a 370-acre trail network in the Meadows, includes native surface trails perfect for mountain biking. Kids will love the playgrounds and sporting fields at Butterfield Crossing Park, which also has a swimming pool. People shoot hoops on the basketball court and practice their serves on the tennis court. Grab your lawn chair and head to Butterfield Crossing for an outdoor concert. Canine companions will love walking with you on trails in the Meadows, but they’ll especially love playing with each other at Wiggly Field Dog Park. If you’re not a fan of the outdoors, check out the Grange, the cultural center of the Meadows, where you can join a writers’ group or attend a cooking class. There’s always something going on.

Aspiring sommeliers convene at the Meadows every year for the Castle Rock WineFest. Held at Bison Park every July, the WineFest features artisan vendors, live musical performances, food trucks and — of course — wine. More than two dozen Colorado wineries participate in the annual festival. Neighbors in the Meadows can walk over from their homes. Fashionistas will love the Outlets at Castle Rock, an outdoor mall with factory stores for big-name brands like Nike, Coach and Under Armour. Satisfy your fast-food cravings at the In-N-Out Burger near the mall and pick up groceries for the week down the street at King Soopers. Big-box stores like Target and Walmart are also nearby, and to purchase organic groceries, check out Sprouts Farmers Market or Whole Foods. The biggest names in retail are outside of the Meadows. Movie buffs will appreciate AMC Castle Rock 12, where you can catch the latest releases without leaving the neighborhood. Broncos fans can check out I.C. Brewhouse on game days for burgers, beers and big-screen TVs. At happy hour, meet your friends at the Library Co. Bar & Kitchen for a boulevardier and a dozen oysters after a long day.

The Douglas County School District serves children in the Meadows. Seven schools sit within the Meadows and two more are in the planning process. Kids and their parents can walk to Meadow View Elementary School, Castle Rock Middle School and Castle View High School. All three schools have a B-plus rating from Niche. Castle View has an engaged community that holds fundraisers for sports teams and the school itself. The high school was also the first in Colorado to perform the musical version of Disney’s “Frozen.”

Located minutes from Interstate 25 and U.S. Route 85, the Meadows is great for commuters. Denver is 28 miles north of the neighborhood and Colorado Springs is 47 miles south. With its magnificent vistas, engaged community and highly rated schools, the Meadows has all the essentials, plus more.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

David Sanden

Video By

Alex Finneran