Cherokee Ranch and Castle Committed to Preserve Open Space
Covering 3,124 acres of land, Cherokee Ranch is one of Castle Pines North unique neighbors. CPN is fortunate to have this wealth of Colorado history so accessible to the community.
Cherokee Ranch stretches from Daniels Park Road west to Highway 85, and is home to two 1800s homesteads. A replica of a 1500s Scottish Castle perches on the ridge with views from Pikes Peak to Longs Mountain. A herd of Santa Gertrudis cattle have won multiple awards and are visible from Highway 85. The Ranch also provides a sanctuary for much of Colorado’s wildlife. Elk can be heard bugling in the crisp fall evenings. Bears have been spotted on the property, and bobcats and mountain lions roam the area along with countless numbers of owls, hawks and bluebirds.
In 1894 Frederick Gerald Flower filed for homestead. The original house still sits on the ridge and can be seen from the Deer Trail Road as visitors drive-up to the Castle. The Blunt House is located off Highway 85, south of Sedalia. It was built in 1873 and is recognized as one of the earliest and best preserved Douglas County ranches. In 1994 the Blunt House was listed with the National Register of Historic Places. Today, school field trips visit the Homestead. In the future the Blunt house may be renovated and used for educational purposes.
Denver real estate tycoon, Alfred Johnson built a romanticized replica of a Scottish Castle in the 1920s. Tweet Kimball purchased the Ranch from Johnson and lived there for 45 years from 1954 until her death in 1999. Kimball was known as a collector and the foremost cattlewoman in Colorado. Evidence of both of these traits is still alive on the Ranch. The Castle is home to many of her collected treasures and 25 head of Santa Gertrudis cattle still graze the pastures of Cherokee Ranch.
Cherokee Ranch and Castle is a unique neighbor to the Castle Pines North community. The 3,000+ acre ranch will always remain as open space and a haven for wildlife. Photo by Tim Gamble.
Kimball’s legacy to Douglas County is Cherokee Ranch. In 1996, she sold development rights. Currently the Ranch is operated by the Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is “committed to preserving the natural environment, enhancing cultural life in Colorado, and providing educational opportunities devoted to western heritage, wildlife, and the arts.” Of the 3,124 acres, only 170 acres can be developed for cultural or educational uses. The rest will remain as perpetual open space and haven for wildlife.
Visitors can tour the Castle or schedule a lunch or tea. The Castle is also available for weddings and corporate events.
For more information visit the Cherokee Ranch website at www.cherokeeranch.org.
