On March 16, Forrest Dykstra, former Highlands Ranch Metro District Manager, gave an engaging presentation on the history of the Fly’n B Ranch, today called the Fly’n B Park.

The 10.3-acre park is in Highlands Ranch, off Plaza Drive, just south of C-470 and Broadway. The original ranch house, though long of tooth, still stands today. It is on the periphery of an inviting park that includes a small fishing pond and picnic shelter, making for a fine place for younger children to enjoy.

The first among many colorful owners was English homesteader Mathew Plews. The white home standing there today was his, built in 1906. A talented horticulturist and caretaker for the Littleton Cemetery, Mathew grew vegetable and fruits on the property. He grew seedlings in greenhouses on the treed High Line Canal to the west.

When the Plews moved on, the ranch was acquired by the family of a rogue, “Smiling Charlie” Stephens, specializing in servicing criminal operations at all levels. Complicit with the notorious Smaldone family of Denver, Charlie branched out into car bombing and murder. For his efforts, he would do five years in the slammer. Additional land he acquired to the west allowed Charlie to build his own home, currently in use today as Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Littleton.

Fortunately, the next owner, Fred Eberhardt, returned a full measure of decency to ranch ownership. A self-taught mechanical engineer, Fred went from the East Coast to California at age 16 and to Colorado in 1944 where he met his wife Marguerite. Buying the parcel then for $140,000, the Eberhardts made it their summer home until moving on in 1967. Fred’s firm, Eberhardt-Denver, patented and manufactured mechanical gears for a broad spectrum of products, including anti-aircraft guns and parts for the inner workings of the Hoover Dam.

Yet the Fly’n B Ranch’s most colorful days were still ahead. Charlie Gates, who ran Gates Rubber Company, was the next owner, but only via a simultaneous swap. It was traded by Charlie to Jonny and Katie Bowen who themselves owned desirable industrial property in the Southpark area in Littleton. The Bowens were eclectic, unique and bold in their thinking. Katie was educated in soils conservation. So, it was not surprising that they purchased a farmstead in Strasburg, Colorado, as well.

To service both operations adequately, Jonny needed rapid transportation and would fly his yellow Cessna back and forth from Strasburg. This was only possible by carving out a runway on his ranch, two of them in fact, replete with runway lights. According to Dykstra, when dusk led to night and others turned on porch lights, to Katie Bowen, “Turn on the lights!” meant “Light ‘em up so I can land!” Because Jonny was occasionally seen winging low over C-470 in its early days, the ranch came to be called the “Fly’n B Ranch,” a play on Jonny’s yellow Cessna (like a bee) and his last name initial.

Jonny and Katie were savvy, active in their community, including service on the planning commission as the Highlands Ranch development unfolded. In 2004, when offered $23 million from developer Erickson Senior Living (to build the Wind Crest Senior Living facility), the Bowens decision was a slam dunk.

The Fly’n B Ranch became Fly’n B Park in 2010, following its conveyance to the Highlands Ranch Metro District in 2006.

Treat yourself some afternoon. Fly’n B Park is surrounded by history, especially that certain tranquility available only along the High Line Canal. For more information visit highlandsranch.org or thehrhs.org and search “fly’n b.”

 

 

 

Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Douglas County Libraries History Research Center