Highlands Ranch, CO

This weekend, crews will work under the Union Pacific Railroad bridge, pictured here, over US 85, as part of Douglas County’s US 85 Widening project.

Driving near US 85 and Highlands Ranch Parkway this weekend? Please plan around two construction-related road impacts.

US 85 Lane Closures Watch for delays and single lane closures between Norwood and Blakeland drives starting at 10 p.m. Friday, May 19.

These lane closures will allow crews to safely perform roadway and bridge work under the Union Pacific Railroad over US 85. This extended closure will eliminate the need for more than 30 overnight closures as part of the corridor improvements being made by Douglas County and its partners during the US 85 widening and reconstruction project from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of C-470.

Please give yourself extra time or use alternate routes and pay attention to posted speed limits and signage.

Highlands Ranch Parkway Closure Highlands Ranch Parkway will be fully closed between Bucknell Drive and US 85 from 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 22. (Construction crews will maintain access for first responders.)

The closure will allow crews to safely remove and replace the existing underground utilities beneath Highlands Ranch Parkway along US 85. US 85 will not be impacted during this closure.

If weather conditions do not allow this work to take place as originally scheduled, crews will conduct this work at a later date.

Please watch for crews, heed the speed limit, and avoid distracted driving in the work zone.

Get Updates on the US 85 widening project

In partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Federal Highway Administration, Highlands Ranch Metro District, and Chatfield Basin developers, Douglas County is improving safety and mobility along US 85 from Highlands Ranch Parkway to just north of C-470.

Stay updated by signing up for emails – select “US 85 Construction.”

For more information about the upcoming work and to stay updated on construction impacts, please visit our website, douglas.co.us/us-85-construction.

Other Roadwork

Interested in knowing what’s happening on roads throughout Douglas County? Sign up for Douglas County’s Cone Zone email notifications. For statewide road conditions, visit cotrip.org.

Your County. Your News. Get it first.

Be among the first to receive news as it happens. Subscribe to our online news push, and select your specific news focus and delivery preferences. Visit the Live Town Hall page and register for Town Hall notifications to ensure you are contacted to participate in future community conversations about topics important to you. Both services are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. And don’t forget to follow Douglas County on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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The Most Innovative Indoor Active Entertainment Experience To Open a Sixth Colorado Park

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sky Zone, the leader in the indoor active entertainment industry, announced today it is set to open a new location in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Upon opening, this will be the sixth Sky Zone park in the state and will be opened by husband-and-wife franchisee team, Nick and Lisa Nettleton.

"As long-time fans of Sky Zone, we jumped at the opportunity to open a franchise as it perfectly aligns our values as a place for families to come and have fun together," said franchisees Nick and Lisa Nettleton. "It was important for us to find an organization with a clear path to profitability as well as a strong infrastructure of franchisee support. We are excited to introduce Highlands Ranch families to Sky Zone and show them why we're the best option for parties, play dates, and so much more."

As the leader in the indoor active entertainment industry and innovator of bounce-off-the-walls fun, Sky Zone gives children freedom to run, jump and play on a unique mix of attractions, including Ninja Courses that spark friendly competition; the Toddler Zone, a perfect place for the youngest jumpers to play; springy Air Courts that give guests of all abilities an extra boost while shooting baskets or scoring soccer goals; Drop Zones that provide a soft landing for our most fearless fliers; interactive iWalls that immerse players in a full-body play experience; and incredible Zip Lines that send riders soaring across the park.

Sky Zone is the ultimate location for birthday, team and school parties – with set up, clean up and hosting included. Sky Zone also offers parents many other options to keep their kids in on the action, including memberships that provide daily access, exclusive savings and access to members-only events.

"As we close the first quarter of 2023, we're pleased to see steady interest from potential franchisees looking to invest in active entertainment," said Mike Revak, SVP of Franchise and Business Development. "We're thrilled to have the Nettletons join our network as Sky Zone experiences one of the company's most exciting growth periods."

With aggressive expansion plans, is searching for engaged community and business leaders to add to its ever-growing roster of new franchisees. To learn more about visit .

is the active play destination for kids and kids at heart. The leader in indoor active entertainment, owns, operates and franchises parks across the US and Canada. The company helps its over 350,000 members and millions of yearly visitors make memorable moments with more than 60 smile-inducing attractions. elevates celebrations to the extraordinary, hosting millions of children at unforgettable birthday, team, and school parties every year. For more information about and to find your local park, visit.

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AURORA | A capsule preview of the 2023 Class 6A girls basketball state tournament Great 8 contest between Grandview and Highlands Ranch scheduled for March 4, 2023:

Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com.Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports

2023 CLASS 6A GREAT 8 GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFF GAME

NO. 11 GRANDVIEW (16-9) vs. NO. 3 HIGHLANDS RANCH (22-3)

March 4, 11:45 a.m. at Denver Coliseum

BREAKDOWN: Grandview and Highlands Ranch renew a tradition of meeting deep in the postseason as they clash for the fifth time in the playoffs and the third time in the past six seasons. The Falcons won a 2nd round matchup in 2007, a Great 8 contest in 2012, but the Wolves won a quarterfinal meeting in 2018 (on its way to the Class 5A state championship) and again last season in the Final Four (after which it won another title). The teams square off for a second time this season as Highlands Ranch claimed a 54-26 non-league victory Jan. 7 in a game that saw four Falcons — Kniyah Dumas with 11 points and Tori Baker, Maddie Groth and Bailey Williams with 10 apiece — while team-high honors were seven points apiece for senior Isa Dillehay and junior Emma Tebben for the Wolves, who played without star sophomore Sienna Betts. …Grandview, the defending large school champion, is in the Great 8 for the eighth consecutive season and has made it to at least the Final Four in all of the previous seven trips and earned a spot in the state championship game in five of those seasons. Highlands Ranch has made the Great 8 in every season during the same stretch as Grandview and made it to the Final Four four times, but has not made it to the state championship game since the 2012-13 season. Highlands Ranch is tied for the second-most state titles all-time with seven, while Grandview is one of 11 programs with three state crowns. …The game is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. as the third of an eight-game slate of alternating girls and boys 6A Great 8 contests.

GRANDVIEW: Coach Josh Ulitzky’s team has just two players back who were on the floor for last season’s 5A state championship victory in senior Isa Dillehay and sophomore Sienna Betts and has steadily improved with five victories in its last six games. Grandview opening the postseason with a 57-27 home win over No. 22 Douglas County and followed that with a 52-50 road win at No. 6 Fountain-Fort Carson in a game that was decided on a basket by Betts in the final seconds. In two postseason games, the 6-foot-3 Betts has averaged 19.5 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots, while the only other player to score in double figures for the Wolves is senior Sydnie McClain, who had 10 points in the opening round. Sophomore Deija Roberson averages 8.5 points and McClain and senior Benedicte Kalala have averaged 7.5 per contest. …For the season, Betts is the leading rebounder in Colorado (regardless of classification) at 16.2 boards per game, paces 6A in blocked shots at 3.9 per contest and ranks second (by 0.1 of a point) in her classification in scoring average at 21.6 points per contest. McClain has tallied 6.5 points per contest, with Roberson and Kalala at 5.1 per contest. Dillehay averages 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game to lead Grandview in both categories.

HIGHLANDS RANCH: Coach Caryn Jarocki — by far the winningest coach in Colorado girls basketball history who surpassed the 700-victory milestone earlier this season — guided her team to the Continental League championship and has the Falcons on a 14-game winning streak. In the playoffs, Highlands Ranch has posted a 52-39 win over No. 30 Westminster in the first round, followed by a 54-34 victory over No. 19 Eaglecrest in the Sweet 16. Sophomore Tori Baker has averaged 18.5 points per game and dished out five assists per contest, while sophomore Ezra Simonich has averaged 15 points and freshman Isabella Shumpert also has a double-digit scoring effort in the playoffs with 10 against Eaglecrest. …For the season, Baker has knocked down 57 3-pointers (seventh-most in 6A) and that has helped her average 15.3 points per game, while Simonich is next at 10.1 points per game with senior Maddie Groth checking in at 9.0 points per game in addition to a team-high 7.5 rebounds per contest. Baker averages 3.9 assists per game to lead her team and rank in the top five in the classification.

WINNER GETS: The Grandview-Highlands Ranch winner takes the championship of the Jenny Coalson Region and advances to the March 10 Final Four, where it will face the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 2 Cherry Creek and No. 7 Doherty.

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Highlands Ranch is undergoing a food-fueled renaissance of sorts, with new outposts of Postino Wine Bar, Prost Brewing, and Lazy Dog cropping up in the suburb in the past year alone. And it’s a good thing, too. The metro district (which isn’t technically a city, but a 22,000-acre “master-planned community” founded in 1981) has more than 100,000 residents, and has been named one of the fastest-growing areas in the country—all culminating in a hunger for better fare. Here, check out 11 of the best spots to grab a bite in the ’burb directly south of I-470.

Postino Highlands Ranch

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The three-week-old Postino Highlands Ranch, with its retro-chic decor (see: brown-and-orange striped wallpaper, yellow velvet couch, and board-game-adorned feature wall), offers a funky reprieve from the area’s sea of cookie-cutter chains. Here, suburbanites gather ’round the thoughtfully curated wine list and shareables like smoked salmon served with whipped feta cheese and assorted mushrooms with lemony labneh. Grab a seat on the shady patio lined with bright-orange banquettes, and make sure you visit for the daily happy hour, when glasses of grapes are just $6 until 5 p.m. 1497 Park Central Dr., Highlands Ranch

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Zell’s Mountain Creperie

DTC-based entrepreneur Jim Beatty opened Zell’s this past July to bring European-inspired crêpes to the suburbs. Breakfast varieties come with your choice of bacon, ham, or bruschetta mixed with eggs, and for lunch, we like the thin pancakes filled with ham, brie, and fig preserves. Of course, there’s a sweet crêpe for any preference, from seasonal peaches and cream to the classics: Nutella, banana, and strawberry. Order ahead or watch the team make your selection to order on the traditional round griddles. 2229 Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Ste. A4, Highlands Ranch

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

Lazy Dog is a chain, yes, but with four of its 45 locations located in Colorado, this California-based bar and eatery feels like it’s part of the family—and a sprawling Highlands Ranch site is the newest member. The multi-page menu can be daunting until you realize that it’s all about comfort food, with soul-pleasing plates like chicken pot pie, pot roast with mashed potatoes, and a burger menu eight dishes deep. There’s even a new orange Tang-infused margarita and take-home, frozen TV dinners that deliver an extra hit of nostalgia. 43 Centennial Blvd., Highlands Ranch

Prost Brewing

This 11,000-square-foot, lager-lovers paradise has, hands-down, the busiest patio in town, with dozens of community picnic tables, lawn games, a stage, and ample heaters for cool-weather dining. While half-liters and liters of Prost’s notable German brews are the draw, there’s also a hearty menu of wursts and schnitzels to make a meal out of your visit. Try the Biergarten burger, topped with butterkäse cheese, beer-braised onions, German mustard, and cranberry sauce. 53 Centennial Blvd., Highlands Ranch

Highland’s Indian Cuisine

Highlands Ranch got its first Indian restaurant in early 2021 with the addition of Highland’s Indian Cuisine, a destination for masalas, biryani, and tandoor-fired offerings from around the subcontinent. Start with an order of juicy, steamed chicken momos before moving on to a bevy of traditional curries from the chef’s specialties menu. We like the tangy, onion- and tomato-sauce-based sweet potato masala and the fish korma, which is cooked in a light, cashew-based sauce. 9344 Dorchester St., Ste. 101, Highlands Ranch

Grist Brewing Company

The original brewery outpost of the Grist family of pubs (which now includes two themed cocktail bars in Lone Tree and Baker) is tucked into a quiet office park where imbibing seems like a fireable offense. But the comforts of a perfect neighborhood watering hole—a massive central bar, garage-door-accessible patio, ample TVs looping sports, and a wellspring of craft brews—make you forget where you are. Pick your dram and pair it with a snack from the in-house kitchen, which prepares pub grub like fried cheese curds, barbecue pulled-pork sandos, and burgers. 9150 Commerce Center Circle, Ste. 300, Highlands Ranch

Abo’s Pizza

The southernmost location of Abo’s Pizza delivers eats for any appetite—especially a hearty one—with a fount of dough-based pleasures going well beyond the famous New York–style slices (which are available à la carte if you dine in). Go for giant calzones made for sharing, butter-drenched garlic knots, and honey-garlic-glazed meatballs. The pizza list runs deep, and you can (and should) order a half-and-half pie to try two varieties at once. Heat seekers: Go for the Inferno, which, with its spicy Italian sausage, chorizo, and seed-in jalapeños, lives up to its name. 2229 Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Ste. A1, Highlands Ranch

Los Dos Potrillos

Of the four locations of Los Dos Potrillos along the I-470 corridor, the Highlands Ranch outpost may be the most beloved, with its breezy rooftop patio, labyrinthine dining room, and generous weekday happy hour (4–6 p.m.), when 16-ounce margaritas are just $5. Mexican comforts abound, but we like a hearty bowl of tableside-prepared guac and the communal Taquiza platter, where up to four guests can top their own street tacos from a field of carne asada and adobada, chicken, nopales, and onions. 35 Springer Dr., Highlands Ranch

Little Holly’s Asian Cafe

Located on the southwest side of town, Little Holly’s Asian Cafe serves pan-Asian delights from Thai curries to bento boxes to Peking duck. While the generous portion sizes make any of the $14 to $26 entrées a bargain, we recommend dining in for lunch, when most everything is under $11, including the Yushan chicken with carrots, broccoli, and peas wok-fried in a dark and tangy soy-based sauce. The price even includes egg drop or hot and sour soup and a crispy egg roll. 2223 W. Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Highlands Ranch

Lansdowne Arms

This 17-year-old Irish pub in Highlands Ranch Town Center is a lively place to grab a pint and a plate (best enjoyed on the rooftop patio, if it’s open). Fish and chips and bangers and mash—made with Tommyknocker beer sausages—are evergreen on the menu, and slow-roasted prime rib is served Friday to Sunday while it lasts. But the real draw is what’s behind the black-painted, Irish-style bar: an impressive lineup of Irish, Scotch, and single-malt whiskeys alongside imported suds like Guinness, Smithwicks, and Stella on tap. 9352 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch

Honey B’s Macarons

No culinary tour of Highlands Ranch would be complete without stopping at Honey B’s Macarons, a specialty boutique that crafts more than 80 flavors of the meringue-based confections using classic French techniques. The current lineup includes temptations like pink peppercorn and violet-cassis flavors alongside tried-and-true parfums such as rose, red velvet, and orange dream. You can also indulge in alcohol-infused macarons, like the coffee ganache variety speared with a pipette of Bailey’s Irish Cream. 40 Springer Dr., Highlands Ranch

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A Local’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in Littleton Where to Eat and Drink in Longmont Right Now

If you are one of the thousands of daily drivers on US 85 (South Santa Fe Drive) in Highlands Ranch, please give yourself extra time to navigate upcoming construction.

On Monday, Oct. 3, Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation will begin the highly anticipated work to widen and reconstruct 2.5 miles of US 85 from Highlands Ranch Parkway to just north of C-470.

Construction activities will require reduced speeds, lane closures, turn-lane closures, and various full closures.

Drivers should expect to see workers and heavy equipment during the day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. with daytime lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays. Overnight lane closures on US 85 and C-470 are expected from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. weeknights.

Please watch for crews, slow down, and avoid distracted driving in the work zone.

Get Updates

Stay updated by signing up for emails – select “US 85 Construction.” For updated travel information, visit cotrip.org.

Multimodal Improvements

In addition to widening US 85 from four to six lanes, the project includes the replacement and widening of the existing bridge that carries US 85 over C-470. Major US 85 intersection improvements will occur at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive, Blakeland Drive, the C-470 interchange ramps, and at County Line Road.

Multimodal improvements include bus stop enhancements, a new shared-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians on the east side of US 85, a below-grade crossing for the C-470 Trail at US 85, a below-grade crossing for the High Line Canal Trail at US 85, and a new pedestrian link from the Wolhurst community to the C-470 Trail.

The project also includes the addition of continuous auxiliary lanes, new asphalt paving, relocation of utilities, raised medians, new curb and gutter, and a new closed storm sewer system with water quality ponds.

Business Access Changes

To increase safety along the vital US 85 Corridor, access to businesses and some streets along US 85 will change to right-in, right-out only. No left turns will be permitted, and traffic will use signalized intersections at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive and Blakeland Drive for all business access.

About the Project

This project is Douglas County’s largest transportation project to date. Project partners include CDOT, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the Federal Highway Administration, Highlands Ranch Metro District, and Chatfield Basin Developers. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

For more information about the upcoming work and to stay up to date on construction impacts, please visit our website, douglas.co.us/us-85-construction.

A safe and accessible multimodal transportation network is one of the Board of County Commissioner’s six core priorities. Read more about the County’s transportation initiatives online.

Your County. Your News. Get it first.

Be among the first to receive news as it happens. Subscribe to our online news push, and select your specific news focus and delivery preferences. Visit the Live Town Hall page and register for Town Hall notifications to ensure you are contacted to participate in future community conversations about topics important to you. Both services are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. And don’t forget to follow Douglas County on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Sign Up Now!