Two miles south of Castle Rock’s Old West-styled downtown, where a throng of parents and kids were amassing Thursday afternoon for a Halloween “Trick-or-Treat Street,” Ryland Homes’ Janet Romano was walking five family-sized homes that Ryland has set for your tour today, all ready for pre-holiday move-in at Kings Ridge – a decidedly different kind of Castle Rock neighborhood.
Different … starting with its access to shopping and dining in Old Town. “People love being close to it,” Romano says. The access to Wilcox Street goes together with a very convenient Plum Creek onramp to I-25 that avoids the congestion residents find in some north Castle Rock areas around the outlet stores. “It’s not only easier to get around, but quieter, too,” she adds. And scenic: Kings Ridge is on an east-rising hillside that shows off views of Devil’s Head and the Rampart Range to the west, and has loads of open space adjacent.
That draws buyers who love the trail system offered by Rhyolite Park and miles of single-track bike trail that wind up Quarry Mesa, just north of the neighborhood. Romano finds that Kings Ridge buyers are predisposed toward the outdoors – some coming from denser suburbs around Denver, others from out of state (particularly California) where they’re not accustomed to the amenities that Castle Rock and Douglas County Schools provide. (Kings Ridge residents opened their own neighborhood pool club this summer.)
You’ll tour models that show Ryland’s distinctive approach to the way people live today – less formal, more places for family interaction, drop-zones off the garage and niches for work-from-home or task management. One of those that could be done in time for Christmas is King’s Ridge’s fastest seller: a four-bedroom Scene plan with one bedroom with full bath on the main level, on a cul-de-sac site that has a garden level and deck that backs to a greenbelt. It shows eco-friendly quartz counters, stainless steel appliances and a fireplace; and after a Ryland “Ready-Set-Move” discount is applied, it’s priced at $387,500.
Like the other four pre-holiday homes it’s Energy-Star-Qualified and HERS-rated to save 30 to 40 percent over energy costs of a typical non-Energy Star home (savings can be as high as $100-$200 every month). Romano notes that another five homes sold in October, so you can do the math on how long these will last. Take I-25 south to Plum Creek (south Castle Rock Exit); turn east under the freeway to the first right on Wilcox Street and south 2 miles to Crystal Valley Parkway.
Mark Samuelson writes on real estate and business; you can email him at mark@samuelsonassoc.com.You can see all of Mark Samuelson’s columns at DenverPost.com/RealEstate. Follow Mark Samuelson on Twitter: @marksamuelson
if you go …
WHERE: Ryland at Kings Ridge, Castle Rock, three furnished models, sustainable features; homes ready for pre-holiday move in, some back to open space, some three-car garages, “Ready-Set-Move” discounts up to $20,000. 4218 Dunsinane Way, Castle Rock; take I-25 south to Plum Creek Parkway (south Castle Rock exit); east to first right on Wilcox Street (frontage road), south 2 miles to Crystal Valley Parkway, east 1 mile to Old Lanterns
PRICE: From the mid-$200s
WHEN: Today, noon until 6 p.m.; Monday, 1 to 6 p.m.; daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PHONE: 303-660-6902
WEB:
