Rural Penrose - with the city, the mountains and the country
Founded during the gold rush, Penrose has a semi-arid landscape in the red-dirt country of southern Colorado. With juniper woodlands, hot springs and the Arkansas River, outdoor activities are never far from residents. This rural community between Pueblo and Colorado Springs has a convenient location outside the bustle of nearby cities. "You have access to the city without all the traffic, and you're close to the mountains," says Linda Mattson, a broker at Homesmart Preferred Realty with 35 years of experience selling homes in Colorado. "The beauty of the area is wonderful. It's quiet, and the views are amazing."
Spacious acreage for farmland and agriculture
Penrose has spacious, flat lots populated by tall grass, shrubs and ponderosa pine trees. These private parcels of land feature traditional farmhouses and ranch-style homes. Much of the housing stock developed between the 1980s and 2010. Many properties sit on 3-acre lots, and some houses are on 40 acres, which allows residents to have farms. "It's rural. Some parcels are 5 or 10 acres with irrigation so people can grow hay. You can have horses, goats or cows," Mattson says. Home prices range from $140,000 to $820,000. Prices increase depending on acreage and home size. Homes less than 2,000 square feet can go for $140,000 to $450,000, while those over 2,000 square feet cost between $500,000 and $820,000. Manufactured homes are available and cost between $100,000 to $450,000.
The area is prone to wildfires, which have a moderate chance of affecting 100% of properties over the next 30 years. Penrose has a moderate heat risk, with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid 90s during July and August.
Hot springs, parks and rivers nearby
Penrose's most popular outdoor attraction is the Dakota Hot Springs, a 160-acre camping area with a naturally warm pool surrounded by mountains. Brush Hollow Reservoir is a rocky lake with rainbow trout and a wakeless current for paddleboats. About 3 miles south, the Florence River Park is a scenic fishing area with swimming holes on the Arkansas River. "You have to travel some, but you're not far from paddleboarding and kayaking at Brush Hollow Reservoir and the Arkansas River," Mattson says. The community's main green space is the Penrose Park & Recreation District, which features a playground, basketball and pickleball courts near the town center. It is a venue for events like the Apple Day Festival, a fall celebration with games, apple ciders and pies in October.
B-minus rated schools in Fremont County
Penrose Elementary School serves kindergarten to sixth grade and earns a B-minus grade from Niche. Its project-based learning curriculum encourages problem-solving and modern solutions. Florence Junior/Senior High School also receives a B-minus and serves seventh to 12th-grade students. It has newer facilities and career-oriented courses in agriculture, welding and engineering.
Limited commercial areas but local establishments on Broadway
Broadway is not a typical Main Street. While it has several antique stores, shops and restaurants, Penrose is highly residential, with a rural atmosphere and limited commercial areas. It features local eateries like Coyote's Coffee Den, a southwestern-style café serving breakfast burritos and pastries on a shady outdoor patio. Penrose Pizzeria & Pub is a family owned restaurant that serves Neapolitan-style pizzas and craft beer. The local grocery store is Neighborhood Market on Broadway, which has fresh meat and produce. Florence is about 6 miles southwest on state Route 115, with additional supermarkets like Big D Superfoods. "Florence has tons of antique stores and some of the area's best restaurants," Mattson says.
Getting to Pueblo, Colorado Springs and the airports
The Fremont County Transit system provides an on-demand service with reservable rides scheduled in advance. Pueblo is roughly 30 miles east on US-50, and Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB) has flights to and from Denver International Airport. Colorado Springs is about 35 miles north on state Route 115, and the Colorado Springs Airport (COS) reaches cities such as Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago. It offers international flights beginning in June of 2025.
