Castle Rock

A castle-shaped butte marks the spot for this aptly-named town,
standing as a perfect halfway marker between Denver and
Colorado Springs. Nearly 30% of the town is open space for
hiking and outdoor activities, with a plethora of parks and trails. In
2014 Castle Rock landed at the No. 4 spot on Money magazine’s
list of “50 Best Places to Live in America.”

Originally home to the Arapaho and Cheyenne people, promises
of gold attracted white settlers. The discovery of rhyolite, rather
than gold, led to the establishment of Castle Rock. The town
became official in 1874 and remained a steady rhyolite quarry
through the early 1900s. The town has grown significantly since
and is now the 17th most populous municipality in Colorado.

Every winter since 1935 residents have participated in a “Lighting of
the Star” ceremony. This fun tradition is not to be missed! 

City of Castle Rock website