Historic Schweiger Ranch at RidgeGate now open to public
The historic Schweiger Ranch, located south of Lincoln Avenue on the east side of I-25 at RidgeGate Parkway (frontage road), is now open to the public.
By Elizabeth Wood West with photos provided by Darryl Jones, Coventry Development Corporation
After several years of extensive restoration efforts, the historic Schweiger Ranch at RidgeGate is open to the public. The ranch is located within the RidgeGate development, just south of Lincoln Avenue, on the east side of I-25 at RidgeGate Parkway.
RidgeGate Investments Inc. acquired the ranch property in 1972. The ranch was later dedicated as a historic property by the Douglas County Historic Preservation Board in 2004.
Brothers John, Joseph and Jacob Schweiger, Austrian immigrants, owned and operated the ranch from 1874 to 1970. Schweiger Ranch, originally referred to as the Happy Canyon Ranch, was approximately 4,000 acres and included a charming ranch house, barn, brick silo, several outbuildings, an apple orchard, and had a portion of the Arapahoe Canal located on the property.
Today, the Schweiger Ranch Foundation, established in 2006, owns the 38-acre ranch property and buildings, which was donated to the Foundation by RidgeGate Investments. The apple orchard still exists and the property is host to a local beekeeper with active hives.
According to Darryl Jones, vice president/development manager for Coventry Development Corporation for RidgeGate, the Schweiger Foundation and the City of Lone Tree are planning to host a “Harvest Day” at Schweiger Ranch in October and other future special events (details to be determined).
Schweiger Ranch is open to the public, free of charge, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and Noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday starting in July (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). For further information, email Darryl Jones djones@coventrydevelopment.com or call 303-790-0557.
The Schweiger Ranch house, barn, silo, and outbuildings, all constructed in the 1870’s, have recently been restored.
