To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Resolution Approving the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Master Plan and Management Plan
Body
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Executive Summary
Approval is requested for a Resolution Approving the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Master Plan and Management Plan. The Town of Castle Rock has prepared a master plan and management plan to guide the long-term stewardship and phased development of the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space, a 681-acre property acquired in 2024. This acquisition was the largest open space purchase in Town history and reflects the high community priority of preserving natural lands, as identified in the 2023 Community Survey.
The plans set the framework for protecting the site’s ecological and cultural resources while allowing for future passive recreation. Douglas Land Conservancy, the conservation easement holder, reviewed the plans in summer 2025 and formally approved the Management Plan in August 2025, consistent with the purchase agreement.
Following Town Council’s approval of the management and master plans, Parks and Recreation staff will begin implementing phased improvements to open the property for public use in 2026. An initial $2 million investment will help fund first-phase improvements which are planned to include: traffic calming on Lost Canyon Ranch Road, Creekside Road upgrades and partial road connection to Cattleman’s, Creekside trailhead construction, partial development of the Cattleman’s parking lot, select trail construction and installation of initial signage. This evening’s Town Council agenda will feature a trail construction contract for trail development with Timberline TrailCraft. Future contracts for road improvements, parking lot enhancements, and other site infrastructure will be brought forward for Town Council consideration as bids are issued and proposals are finalized, consistent with Council’s contract authority. This phased approach balances expanded community access with conservation of the property’s unique natural and cultural resources.
Discussion
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space, located on Castle Rock’s southeastern boundary, is a property of exceptional ecological, scenic, and cultural value. It features diverse habitats—riparian corridors, ponderosa pine forests, grasslands, and sandstone cliffs—and provides habitat for mountain lion, elk, raptors, and other wildlife. The property also contains the Franktown Cave, a prehistoric archaeological site of national significance.
In 2024, the Town partnered with The Conservation Fund, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and Douglas County to acquire the property for permanent protection as open space. This effort addressed strong community demand for open space preservation and trail development and created critical regional connectivity by linking to Castlewood Canyon State Park and Prairie Canyon Ranch. Combined, these protected lands now form over 4,300 acres of contiguous habitat and open space.
The Town, with consultant Wenk Associates, led a planning and community engagement process to shape the Master Plan. The plan identifies access points, trail alignments, signage, and recommendations for low-impact programming while emphasizing the protection of sensitive areas. Trails are designed primarily for hiking, and restrictions on bikes and dogs have been recommended to protect habitat.
The Management Plan complements the Master Plan by outlining long-term stewardship, visitor management, and operations consistent with the Conservation Easement.
The overarching goals are to:
- Protect and preserve natural habitats and cultural resources
- Provide safe, passive public access for recreation and education
- Integrate the site into the Town’s broader open space and trails system
- Buffer Castlewood Canyon State Park from development pressures
- Balance conservation with community access
The Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Master Plan and Management Plan will serve as living documents to guide future amenity planning, phased improvements, and long-term stewardship of the property. Recommendations within the plans ensure that new amenities—such as trail connections, parking, interpretive signage, and educational programming—will be developed in a way that enhances the community’s recreational opportunities while remaining consistent with the property’s conservation values.
Importantly, both plans have been reviewed and formally approved as needed by Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC), the conservation easement holder. DLC’s approval is a critical milestone that confirms the plans are consistent with the permanent protection of the site’s ecological, scenic, and cultural resources. This endorsement ensures that future improvements will be implemented within the framework of the Conservation Easement, balancing community access with the preservation of one of Castle Rock’s most valuable open space assets.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Public engagement has been a central component of the planning process for Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. The Town of Castle Rock and its consultant team conducted a series of outreach efforts designed to ensure that both nearby residents and the broader community had meaningful opportunities to provide input. Early in the process, neighborhood meetings were held with approximately 40 attendees, where residents were able to share initial thoughts on access, conservation, and potential uses of the property.
In addition to neighborhood outreach, the Town hosted two well-attended, public open houses, drawing roughly 80 participants at each event. These meetings provided a forum for residents to learn more about the property’s unique ecological and cultural resources, to view preliminary planning concepts, and to offer feedback on proposed trail alignments, access points, and preservation strategies.
To broaden participation beyond in-person events, the Town developed two online surveys. The first survey, released after the initial open house, drew 932 responses, reflecting strong community interest in the future of the property. A second follow-up survey was conducted after the second open house and received 92 responses. These surveys provided valuable data on community priorities. Nearly 90 percent of respondents reported that they live within Douglas County, with 63 percent of that group residing in Castle Rock itself. When asked about the primary reason they would visit Lost Canyon Ranch, nearly half—49 percent—ranked hiking trail access as their top interest. Additionally, survey participants were asked to indicate their preferences for balancing recreation with conservation. A majority expressed the view that recreational opportunities should be provided but with necessary restrictions to ensure that wildlife habitat and cultural resources are preserved.
In summary, the outreach process demonstrated a high level of community engagement and consistent alignment around the goals of the project. Residents expressed strong enthusiasm for the preservation of Lost Canyon Ranch as permanent open space and a desire for thoughtful, low-impact recreational access that protects the property’s ecological and cultural significance. This feedback was directly incorporated into the Master Plan and Management Plan, ensuring that the community’s values are reflected in both the vision and implementation strategies for this unique open space.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
Town Council and partner agencies have considered the Lost Canyon Ranch project at several key milestones over the past two years. In September 2023, Town Council approved a resolution supporting the submission of a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Centennial Grant application, which ultimately resulted in a $3 million award—the largest GOCO grant received in Castle Rock’s history. On April 9, 2024, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to contribute $5.5 million toward the property’s acquisition. Shortly thereafter, on April 16, 2024, Town Council approved both the IGA with Douglas County and the Sale and Purchase Agreement with The Conservation Fund, formally securing the agreements and funding necessary to complete the acquisition. More recently, in the summer of 2025, Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC), the conservation easement holder, reviewed both the Master Plan and the Management Plan to ensure consistency with conservation values and easement requirements. In August 2025, DLC provided formal approval of the Management Plan, as required by the purchase agreement, marking a significant milestone in ensuring the property’s long-term stewardship and protection.
Budget Impact
There is no direct budget impact associated with approval of the Master Plan and Management Plan. Implementation of first-phase improvements is programmed in an initial investment of $2 million identified for trail construction, trailheads, road upgrades, parking, signage and safety improvements.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommend approving the Resolution as introduced by title.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title.”
Alternate Motions
“I move to approve the resolution, with the following conditions:” (list conditions)
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on [date], at [time].”
Attachments
Resolution
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Master Plan
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Management Plan