Retiring in Castle Rock / South Denver Suburbs (Aurora, Parker: house, neighborhoods)

[SC_Girl]

My husband and I are planning to relocate to the Castle Rock / south Denver suburban area when we retire. We have done some research online and some neighborhoods that look appealing are The Canyons in Castle Pines and Inspiration in Aurora. We enjoy biking and walking and neighborhood trails are something for which we are looking.

The Castle Rock Senior Center, under normal circumstances, has numerous activities and the Parker Senior Center looks appealing as well.

Could anyone compare the neighborhoods, senior centers, shopping, traffic, etc. in these two areas and would one be significantly better than the other?

Thanks.

[bluescreen73]

We live not far from Inspiration near E-470 and Smoky Hill Road. Traffic in Inspiration isn't terrible, but the road infrastructure is still being developed. The main way in and out is Gartrell Road. It's the biggest road, and it has the closest access to the other main roads in Southeast Aurora (Aurora Parkway/Gun Club Road, E-470, Arapahoe Road, and Smoky Hill Road). Inspiration Drive/Pine Lane will get you to Parker, but it's primarily a hilly two-lane road with very little shoulder.

The trails out here are good for walking and biking, but they're not really all that scenic. I rode my bike from my house all the way to Cherry Creek State Park and back a couple years ago and I didn't have to share a lane with cars once I got out of our neighborhood.

There aren't a ton of trees in this area. Neighborhoods like Tallyn's Reach and Whispering Pines are the exception rather than the rule.

There's a small strip mall at Gartrell and Aurora Parkway. It has a restaurant and bar, liquor store, Domino's pizza, a bike shop, a crossfit gym, dance studio, chiropractor, nail salon, Grease Monkey, and, I believe, a tire store. There used to be a Safeway there, but it closed up several years ago and nothing has taken its place.

For groceries, Target is about another half mile up Gartrell from the strip mall, there's a WalMart 3ish miles away, and a King Soopers also 3ish miles away (Arapahoe and Smoky Hill). The WalMart is at Southlands Mall. Southlands is an outdoor mall with a faux downtown feel.

[Gorges]

I used to take dance classes at the Parker senior center. It's neither large nor new, but it seems to be active. When I was there, the large room used for game playing always seemed to be full. I've glanced at the posted activity sheet and sign-up sheets, and there seemed to be a lot of interest. The Inspiration area does currently have traffic issues because the through-road in the over-55 section, Inspiration Ln, is a through road. It's used as a short-cut to Inspiration Dr and Pine Dr which provide a short-cut for the SE Aurora folks to get to Parker and places west, and vice versa. There is also a lot of construction traffic on this road and it appears that construction will continue for a while. There are plans to extend Gartrell to Inspiration Dr. which will help if they block off Inspiration Ln. Don't know if that is in plan though. Have you considered the Heritage community next door? It's gated and doesn't have any through traffic. If it matters, Inspiration is located in Douglas County but is in the city of Aurora. Anyway, I think it's a beautiful area and will be more so if the construction ever finishes. There are a lot of retirees. Don't know anything about that Castle Rock community.

[Gaylord_Focker]

Castle Rock has some striking views. You'll like it. Affordable too.