Awindowto past
Highlands Ranch Mansion, built in 1891, alive with visitor activity
highlands ranch » The Highlands Ranch Mansion has been buzzing with activity since the renovation of the historic house in 2012, trumping the expectations of district officials.
In May 2010, Shea Homes conveyed the mansion and surrounding property to the Highlands Ranch Metro District. Shortly after, the district began a $6million renovation on the building, which was initially built in 1891 by Samuel Allen Long.
The mansion, as it stands now, is about 27,000 square feet on about 250 acres, including the ranch, barns and farmlike housing that is slated to be conveyed to the metro district around 2022.
The mansion reopened to the public in June 2012, and the metro district began holding tours and open hours. The district also began offering the property for private events, which have in turn paid for themany community events at the mansion, said mansion manager Maggie Glass. Sherry Eppers, community relations manager for the metro district, said the activities at the mansion have definitely exceeded expectations.
“Iwould say the metro district as awhole is very happy with how we’re doing,” Glass said. “Iwas positivewewould do thatwell— Iwasn’t surprised. I knewwe could do it.”
Glass said therewere 41 private events and 77 public events and open days in 2012. In 2013, there were 111 private events and 129 public events and open days. So far this year there are an estimated 100 to 115 private events planned and 130 to 140 public events.
Private events have included weddings, silent auction fundraisers, business meetings, birthday parties and other celebrations. Public events have included holiday events, Highlands Ranch Days, the Mansion Dancin’ series— which included a salsa night March 27 — as well as regularly scheduled hours from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays when people can come in and look around or accompany a docent on a tour.
Phyllis Gaskill, who has volunteered as a docent with the mansion since it reopened, said people are most interested in finding out about the second wife of John W. Springer, the second owner of the mansion, who allegedly inspired the murder of one of her lovers at the Brown Palace in Denver. There are rumors there’s a ghost at the mansion, and about four years ago paranormal investigators found the mansion to be haunted.
Glass said weddings are the most common private event held at the mansion. As part of the renovations, the metro district added a 5,000-square-foot event hall called the Carriage House Pavilion.
Harlan Stritchko, event facilities coordinator for the mansion, said most private events are fromMay until the end of October. He said the mansion never does more than one event a day, mainly because at least one staff member has to be present and it’s usually him.
Roger Cross and his wife, Jan Cross, live near the mansion but not close enough to see it, though they can see the ranch and all the activity there. They bring friends fromout of town to the mansion. Last week they were showing the mansion to one of their daughters and her husband during the open hours.
“The upstairs is fantastic, and the newactivity center is awesome,” RogerCross said. “They’ve done an incredible job blending the new with the past.”