By Frank Gray, president & CEO, Castle Rock Economic Development Council
Castle Rock has long been a choice location for businesses looking to locate in a community where amazing landscapes are equal to the development opportunities. Set in a prime location midway between Denver and Colorado Springs, this historic standalone Colorado town offers companies a variety of commercial real estate options for businesses looking to expand and succeed. In fact, the town is in the midst of solidifying around $1 billion in new development, including over $250 million in the Historic Downtown which has benefited from companies like OAK Construction, Hollis and Miller Architects, IBEX, IBS Corp., SRP Companies, and a variety of small and start up business in the Craft Co-Working space. Castle Rock is bursting with a variety of thoughtful development opportunities that are in alignment with its long-term goals.
Mayor Jason Gray stated: “Our success has its roots in making sure our community has all its needs met for our long-term future, economically, financially, while at the same time knowing that services like the cancer treatment center at Adventist Health Campus and health car are only viable with a certain level of population. We need people to support all our great downtown businesses and restaurants and so we have to stay diligent to the balance of it all.”
Key projects include:
The Brickyard Project
As reported by Olivia Young of CBS News, The Brickyard Project is a proposed development that includes a 150,000-square-foot recreation center, boutique hotel, a variety of dining options, and multiple luxury for sale and rent residential options on a 31-acre site just west of Interstate 25 and minutes away from downtown Castle Rock. Confluence Companies is the developer behind the project and has completed other highly successful projects in Castle Rock, including Riverwalk, Riverwalk Luxe and Encore in downtown Castle Rock.
The project is named Brickyard because of its location at the former Acme Brick Manufacturing site. Confluence Companies is taking some of the cues from the old brick factory and repurposing the facility into a community gathering space for residents and guests to enjoy.
The first phase of development includes the new 145,000-square-foot town recreation center, which focuses on court sports including basketball, volleyball and pickleball. It will also have one of the best competitive natatoriums in the state, fitness facilities, and an indoor track. The development will also create a new road connecting the site to Plum Creek Parkway and expand a trail directly connecting the Brickyard to Downtown Castle Rock through the site and extending to the Miller Activity Complex.
Confluence hopes to break ground on “The Brickyard” this summer and open the rec center in 2027.
Dawson Trails
As highlighted by David Hicks Lampert, and the Dawson Trails website, Dawson Trails is a new residential and commercial development on over 2,000 acres located at Interstate 25 and Crystal Valley Parkway, a new interchange currently under construction. A total of 5,850 new homes have been approved along with 3,200,000 square feet of available commercial space.
The District at Dawson Trails is adjacent to the new interchange and will provide a balanced variety of commercial uses focused on regional retail, light industrial and office space. It will also provide a mixed-use town center as well as condominium, apartment and other higher-density residential development. Costco is under construction and is projected to open in 2027, simultaneously with the completion of the Crystal Valley Ranch interchange.
The Village will be located in the heart of Dawson Trails with easy access to the amenities of the community. It will feature a diverse collection of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, stacked flats and apartments. The Village will also provide neighborhood retail and commercial uses.
City Hotel Renovation
As reported by Olivia Young of CBS News, the City Hotel in Castle Rock was built in 1872 and served many of the town’s earliest settlers. The building was once advertised as the main place to stay in town at .75 cents per night, according to old newspaper ads. It has remained standing for over 150 years and now with former Mayor Tim White and his firm White Development they are working to restore the property and bring it back to its former glory!
White purchased the building in 2012, operating it as affordable housing before closing it down in 2018. He now plans to turn it into a boutique hotel, restaurant and retail space, capitalizing on the location and views of the town’s beloved rock, with the hope of reigniting it as a focal point of Downtown.
The firm plans to break ground in the next few months and reopen the building in 2027.
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space
As shared by the Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation, development isn’t the only focal point for Castle Rock. Jeremy Pittman, the chair of the Castle Rock EDC stated, “We are looking to build a balanced, incredible community that blends thoughtful development with amazing Parks and Open Space”. Jeff Brauer (Director of Parks and Recreation noted, maintaining our parks, trails and open spaces is a high priority to our residents and to the Town Council. In fact, in 2024, the Town of Castle Rock contracted with the land planning firm Wenk and Associates to begin the master planning process for Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. The process seeks to define the vision, goals and strategies for the use and management of the property and ensure alignment with the conservation values of the conservation easement.
The goals of the Lost Canyon Open Space master plan include:
- Protecting and preserving the site’s natural habitat and cultural resources.
- Providing public access to the site for passive outdoor recreation and education.
- Integrating the site into the town’s existing open space and trails network.
- Providing a buffer from expanding development pressures.
- Finding a balance between conservation and recreational access.
Castle Rock has skillfully navigated and made key investments in the right infrastructure and tools to ensure the community is successful for the long haul. Much of the credit goes to Castle Rock Town Council and their respect for personal property rights, understanding of the competitive landscape of the Metro Denver area, and balancing the needs of a true standalone community. Because of the thoughtful strategic planning and forward-thinking leadership, Castle Rock has drawn a great deal of attention to becoming a place where businesses and residents are both proud to be a part of a thriving and vibrant Colorado community.
