Welcome to Franktown
Rural, spacious, and historic, this community is “off the beaten path”.
One of Douglas County’s only designated “rural communities,” Franktown is tucked off the beaten path, located south of Denver and east of Castle Rock. It’s spacious here—home sites are featured on at least five acres—and there’s an emphasis on preserving Colorado history through a rich focus on ranching, farming, and wildlife preservation.
A historical museum is located just outside town in an old one-room schoolhouse. Exhibits contain archeological remains, farm tools, mining remnants, and more.
A favorite stop for bikers, the area is home to
Castlewood Canyon State Park, which is carved out of the Black Forest and features sheer canyon walls, rolling trails, and the remains of the century-old Castlewood Canyon Dam. Around the ruins lie miles of scenic hiking trails, numerous technical rock-climbing routes, and several bird-watching areas.
What to Love
- A rural community with plenty of history
- Homes here are built on at least five acres of land
- An expansive state park features miles of scenic hiking trails and rock-climbing routes
People & Lifestyle
This is a small town—less than 500 people live here—and the lifestyle here reflects a strong focus on community. Residents are very neighborly.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
There are only a few restaurants in Franktown:
Adriana’s, which was voted best Mexican food in Colorado,
Stagecoach Saloon, a biker-friendly haunt offering bar eats, live bands, line dancing, and outside seating in rustic digs, and
El Cerrito, which serves burritos, tortas, fajitas and more. There is also a
Subway franchise located here too.
Locals grab their morning cup of joe at
The Owl’s Nest, a one-stop location for Dazbog coffee, Tazo Tea, Oregon Chai, and homemade pastries. The shop also hosts a wide variety of local consignment vendors and artists and offers seasonally inspired craft classes.
Things to Do
Franktown is small, but there is plenty to do.
Visitors and locals alike stop at
Castlewood Canyon State Park, which retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. Guests can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst in 1933.
At
Fox Hill, a new neighborhood that maintains a working farm, residents can purchase fruits and veggies, fresh chicken eggs, and tilapia farmed on-site. This eco-friendly community, which was featured in House Beautiful magazine in 2020, hosts classes, tastings, and events.
Franktown residents also enjoy Christmas lights shows at various properties throughout the town and proudly support the
Franktown School Museum and the
Franktown Cave, a huge rock shelter where evidence of prehistoric people was found.
Many weekends are spent at
Cherry Creek, a state park in Arapahoe County, which consists of a natural prairie and wetland environment with an 880-acre reservoir at its center.
Schools
Franktown is home to many excellent schools. Top educational opportunities include:
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Ponderosa High School, part of the Douglas County School District RE-1, the school earned an "Excellent" rating by the Colorado Student Assessment Program in 2004, and a "High" score in 2005
