History- Highlands Ranch has a diverse history. Before being claimed as Spanish territory in the mid-1500's, Highlands Ranch was a prime hunting area for the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians. The territory passed back and forth between Spain and France until Napoleon sold it to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. In the late 1860's, David Gregory became the first person to actually live on land now recognized as Highlands Ranch.

The first phase of Highlands Ranch Mansion (originally called "Castle Isabel") was built from 1891 to 1904. Around that same time, property owner and manager John Springer was acquiring additional land, bringing his total holdings to 23,000 acres.

The acreage changed hands several more times until 1937, when Lawrence C. Phipps, Jr., son of a U.S. senator from Colorado, bought it for cattle ranching.

After Phipps' death, the property was owned briefly by Highland Ventures, a group of investors that included Marvin Davis. Then, in 1978, Mission Viejo Company acquired an option on the property, and subsequently purchased it the following year.

As time went on, districts were created and construction began. Then, in 1981, the Phil and Kaye Scott family led a group of "pioneer" homeowners to the Highlands Ranch we know today. August 1997, heralded a new era of ownership as Shea Homes purchased the property... and today, the reality of our strong, vital community continues to be enjoyed and enhanced!

Recreation- Highlands Ranch boasts several state-of-the-art recreation centers that include swimming pools, indoor running tracks, and climbing walls. Walkers, hikers, and bikers can use the community trails. The Rocky Mountains are 10 miles to the west, which offers endless outdoor recreational activities.