When Jack Reutzel was a high school senior, he had no idea where life would take him. But he knew exactly where he wanted to live: a place he lovingly calls “Pleasantville.”
It’s Bow Mar, an idyllic shorefront community that covers less than 1 square mile southwest of Denver.
The Arvada High graduate used to visit a friend who lived there, and he “fell in love with the place then,” he said. “I always knew I’d move there.”
It took Reutzel 22 years to fulfill that dream, but he’s thankful for the early insight.
The attorney is raising his family in the community he describes as “a very hard place to duplicate.”
Hard indeed. Bow Mar is “Pleasantville” in technicolor, a community with a country club-type setting. It has a private lake for sailing, fishing and swimming; a well-maintained beach; tennis courts; 1-acre lots with ranch homes that don’t block the amazing view of the mountains; and neighbors who know your name.
It is what people dream about when they think Small Town.
“I love it because it’s a very cozy, close-knit community,” said Reutzel. And it’s just 12 miles southwest of downtown Denver, hidden between housing developments in Denver and Jefferson counties.
Bow Mar got its name from the two bodies of water that lay claim to the area – Bow for Bowles Lake, after John Bowles, and Mar for Marston Reservoir, after John Marston. Both men were farmers who pioneered the area, but it was the vision of Lloyd King, founder of King Soopers, that really put the town on the map.
Shortly after World War II he bought 95 acres for $9,500. By 1946 he had acquired Bowles Lake and the rest of what is now the town. His plan was to develop the area into single-family homes on large lots.
By the end of the 1950s, the plan was in place and the neighborhood was born. The town was incorporated in 1958.
If you drive through Bow Mar today, you will see updated ranch-style homes with landscaping that could break anyone’s budget. The wide, winding streets have hand-painted signs but no sidewalks or street lights.
“I think of Bow Mar as the best-kept secret,” says Ted Baer, a Realtor and longtime Bow Mar resident. And the centerpiece of the secret is Bowles Lake.
The beach gets very busy in the summer, especially on Sundays, when the Bow Marsians, as they call themselves, turn out to watch their neighbors race small sailboats on their 100-acre lake. Yes, the lake is privately owned by the Bow Mar Owners Association. Joining the association is voluntary, but those who are members – at about $850 a year – can use the lake and partake in all related activities.
Additionally, the community has garden clubs, summer beach concerts, an annual black-tie dance in the winter and various other events throughout the year. “It’s a great way to keep in touch and catch up with your neighbors,” said Reutzel.
And it’s not just a wave or a handshake. These residents know their nearly 950 neighbors.
“The community is made up of successful people from all walks of life, leaders in what they do,” said Reutzel.
There’s a mix of young families and longtime residents, and they have staked their claim to a great quality of life. That’s why Bow Marsians are fiercely territorial about their space.
When developers of a project called Grant Ranch proposed building new homes close to the Bow Mar border, the town quickly raised $200,000 in private donations to buy the 47 acres that would have been used for the development. The rest of the $1 million price tag was picked up by a town property-tax increase.
The town, run by a mayor and six trustees, contracts with Columbine Valley police department and is covered by both Jefferson and Arapahoe County sheriff’s departments.
Reutzel says the crime rate is very low, something he attributes to the people who live there. “This community is always out, always has eyes on the street. We watch each other’s backs.”
Invested in this town, Bow Mar residents, in turn, have watched their personal investments grow. As in communities such as Cherry Creek North, lots have become more valuable than most of the homes on them. According to Baer, the sale price of an average 1.02-acre lot has grown from $550,000 to $700,000 over the past two years. Property values continue to rise, with new homes and remodeled ranches on the market for between $1 million and $3 million.
Reutzel is cashing in on the $429,000 investment he made 8 1/2 years ago to move just a block up the street. “We moved because the next house is better suited for teenagers,” he said.
Reutzel would never consider moving out of Bow Mar, he said. As far as he’s concerned, “this is it.”
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About Bow Mar
Where it is: 12 miles southwest of downtown Denver and intersected by South Sheridan Boulevard and between West Quincy and West Bowles avenues.
Who lives there: About 950 residents, a combination of young families and longtimers. Nearly 30 homeowners are second-generation Bow Marsians, and one homeowner is third generation.
Price per square foot: $279 in 2004, $344 in 2005 and $326 in 2006. Price per square foot is not totally indicative of the property-value increase. In most cases, the land is more valuable than the home on it. Average land sale prices have gone from $550,000 in 2005 to $700,00 in 2007 for a 1-acre parcel.
Main attractions: Bowles Lake is the community centerpiece with fishing, swimming and boating; Sunday regattas and concerts in the summer; and ice skating and an annual dance in the winter. Close-knit community with a strong homeowners association, amazing views of the mountains and beautifully landscaped lawns.
Common complaints: Some through-traffic.
Public schools: Littleton Public Schools, including Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary School, Goddard Middle School, and Columbine, Littleton and Heritage high schools.
Private school: Colorado Academy.
Shopping: Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center on South Santa Fe Drive and Olde Town Littleton are nearby.
Sources: Denver Post research, Realtor Ted Baer
