Highlands Ranch Mansion

Samuel Allen Long homesteaded the property, building a small stone house on the far east side of today's mansion, which he called Rotherwood after a favorite childhood farm.

In 1926, Frank E. Kistler purchased the Mansion renamed it the Diamond K Ranch, and began breeding operations that specialized in dairy and Angus cattle, sheep, chickens, and hogs.

They transformed the exterior style from a gothic stone castle to a classic English Tudor, included a sprawling front patio, and added to the western wing.

The renovations occurred simultaneously with a troubling period in US history, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and Frank was among the many that lost millions during this crippling era.

A keen business sense served Lawrence well in all of his varied pursuits, but his true love in life was ranching, with a special fondness for horses.

In 1929, he resurrected the Arapahoe Hunt Club, a group of horse backed hunters who, aided by a band of foxhounds, pursued coyote as opposed to the English tradition of foxes.

In 1978, the Mission Viejo Corporation agreed to a two-year option agreement to finally become the official owners of the Highlands Ranch lands in 1979.

The Metro District used interest earnings on developer fees, collected for the purpose of building Highlands Ranch infrastructure, to fund the renovations.

The Metro District proceeded with the design of the building renovation and managed the site planning process and subsequent Douglas County approvals.