First Edition: Fall in the Ranch

Sample edition, October 2026

Highlands Ranch from above, with the Front Range on the horizon.

Welcome to the very first Highlands Ranch Report. Every week we will round up what is happening around the Ranch: the events worth your evening, the construction worth knowing about, and the local government decisions that actually affect your street. Let us get into it.

This week around the Ranch

HRCA Delegate and Board Meeting, Tuesday, October 20. The district delegates meet monthly and make recommendations to the board on recreation policy and spending. If you have ever wondered who decides what happens at the rec centers, this is the room where it happens.

Architectural Review Committee, Wednesday, October 21. The ARC meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month to review home exterior changes. Worth knowing about before you paint the shutters.

Dueling Pianos, Wednesday, October 21, Southridge Recreation Center. Two pianists, one stage, and a room full of requests. A fun midweek night out close to home.

Two grand pianos on a stage with musicians performing for a crowd

Two pianists face off on stage while the crowd shouts requests.

Haunted Hayrides and Haunted Forest, October 23 to 25. The hayrides are a 30 minute family adventure for ages 2 and up. The Haunted Forest is the full three quarter mile trail walk for the brave, with a toned down Fright Lite version for anyone who prefers their scares mild. Fall Fest joins the fun on the 24th.

A glowing jack-o-lantern in the dark surrounded by autumn leaves

Spooky season is on: Haunted Forest, hayrides, and Fall Fest run October 23 to 25.

Oaked and Smoked, Saturday, October 24, Eastridge Recreation Center. A whiskey and BBQ tasting. Note that the Eastridge basketball courts will be closed for the event.

Low and slow: expect plenty of smoked BBQ at Oaked and Smoked on October 24.

Highlands Ranch Farmers Market, Sundays through October 26. The season is winding down, so this is your window for fresh produce and locally made goods.

A farmers market stall piled with fresh fruits and vegetables

The Farmers Market runs Sundays through October 26, so the season is almost done.

Coffee with a Cop, Wednesday, October 28. A relaxed chance to chat with local officers and ask questions while the kids get creative.

Development watch

BackCountry expansion. New custom home builds continue in the gated luxury community, with its trails and open space views still the big draw.

Central Park and Shea Homes. New neighborhoods bringing modern single family homes and townhomes, designed around walkability and park access.

Town Center expansion. New retail, dining, and office space is being added to make the area more walkable, with upscale restaurants and outdoor gathering spots in the mix.

Solana Lucent Station. ReyLenn Properties is opening a 285 unit, $60 million apartment community in Highlands Ranch, timed with growth along the southwest corridor.

UCHealth Highlands Ranch Pavilion 2. The hospital campus just completed a 194,000 square foot, five story expansion tower housing a new cancer center, additional emergency department beds, and expanded stroke and cardiac programs.

Government corner

A quick civics note, since this confuses newcomers: Highlands Ranch is unincorporated, so there is no city council. County level decisions come from the Douglas County commissioners, and community governance runs through the HRCA Delegate and Board. This month, keep an eye on the Delegate and Board meeting on October 20, where recreation policy and spending recommendations are on the table.

That is the first edition. Next week we will be back with more events, more development news, and a plain language recap of what the boards decided. If you have a tip about something happening in your neighborhood, reply to the newsletter and tell us.