Arapahoe County

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Bow Mar's gate fight draws national attention

A New York Times report highlights tensions over traffic, safety and public access.

Politics

Building barriers may make communities safer, but it can also deepen divisions between neighbors.At least that&#x27;s the takeaway from this week&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times story" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/bow-mar-colorado-suburb-gated-town.html" data-vars-content-id="1b0c8f8f-b225-4574-b5de-5981b4086aea" data-vars-headline="Bow Mar&#x27;s gate fight draws national attention" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/bow-mar-colorado-suburb-gated-town.html" target="_blank">New York Times story</a> about Bow Mar&#x27;s controversial plan to gate its Sheridan Boulevard entrance — and the battle over public access.

Grow a monster pumpkin with these tips

A Colorado pumpkin-growing expert shares his secrets to producing huge gourds.

News

Next Halloween&#x27;s hulking pumpkins start with a patch of dirt this fall.The big picture: That is, if you want a gourd that&#x27;ll make your neighbors jealous and your exes on Facebook rethink their decisions.

Stanley's new owner promises continuity

More than 20 leases are coming due as Magnetic Capital takes over Stanley.

Business

Stanley Marketplace&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new owner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/arapahoe/2026/05/26/stanley-marketplace-redevelopment-plans-aurora" data-vars-content-id="f360e1bd-48ad-427a-b1e0-f1f1af15b696" data-vars-headline="Stanley&#x27;s new owner promises continuity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/arapahoe/2026/05/26/stanley-marketplace-redevelopment-plans-aurora" target="_self">new owner</a> doesn&#x27;t want its $40.9 million takeover to be noticeable.Why it matters: Stanley has become one of metro Denver&#x27;s defining mixed-use success stories, drawing 1.3 million visits annually to a former aviation factory now packed with local businesses.

Pancakes and a side of friendship

A late-night IHOP meetup turned strangers into friends.

Culture

The customers scattered across the IHOP on East Colfax Avenue don&#x27;t know why Jonathan Cummings is here eating strawberry pancakes.<ul><li>A lot had led him to this booth.</li></ul>

Littleton tree to lose its top

Ips beetles infested the roughly 50-year-old tree near Main Street's west end, leaving one of Littleton's beloved landmarks fighting to survive.

Climate

Littleton&#x27;s most sentimental spruce is likely to look a lot different this time next month.The big picture: Ips beetles — aka engraver beetles — infested the roughly 50-year-old tree near Main Street&#x27;s west end, leaving one of Littleton&#x27;s most beloved landmarks fighting to survive.

Big Boy's Colorado adventure

The world's largest operating steam locomotive will stop in Strasburg for the final leg of its coast-to-coast America 250 tour.

America at 250

The train that &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="makes grown men cry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" target="_blank">makes grown men cry</a>&quot; rolls into Arapahoe County on Monday afternoon.Driving the news: Union Pacific&#x27;s Big Boy No. 4014 stops at Strasburg&#x27;s Main Street crossing from 3:45-4:15pm for the final leg of its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coast-to-coast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" target="_blank">coast-to-coast</a> America 250 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tour" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" target="_blank">tour</a>.

Colorado's golden beginnings

I found Colorado gold, but the story's worth far more.

Colorado&#x27;s 150th birthday is next month, but I don&#x27;t need a beard or a pickaxe to connect with stories that helped put our Centennial State on the map.Flashback: An 1858 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gold discovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" data-vars-content-id="9c95c7d2-1ee0-4ba1-b69d-67baa69d3041" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s golden beginnings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" target="_blank">gold discovery</a> near Arapahoe County&#x27;s South Platte River and Little Dry Creek confluence was a major moment in the rush that drew fortune-seekers West.

Bennett's big small-town boom

Cheaper homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora's edge.

A small town straddling the Arapahoe-Adams county border is becoming Colorado&#x27;s latest growth test, as less expensive homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora&#x27;s edge.Why it matters: Bennett is increasingly part of metro Denver&#x27;s housing market as builders look east and buyers search for something they can afford.

Bookstores fill gap left by disappearing third places

Book clubs, coffee and quiet spaces are drawing people back to local bookstores.

Bookstores are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="finding new life" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" data-vars-content-id="9e6b2849-e95e-4312-b782-5a98d5156bb7" data-vars-headline="Bookstores fill gap left by disappearing third places" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" target="_self">finding new life</a> as Americans lose many of their casual gathering places.The big picture: The comeback isn&#x27;t just about selling books. It&#x27;s about turning browsing into belonging.

Bow Mar's starter homes cost $1M+

It's one of three Colorado cities with seven-figure starter homes.

Bow Mar has become a place where &quot;starter home&quot; means spending seven figures.Why it matters: The tiny town straddles Arapahoe and Jefferson counties and shows how the definition of entry level has shifted in wealthy, supply-constrained neighborhoods, where even the bottom rung of the market is mostly out of reach.

The international priests filling local pews

Catholic churches increasingly rely on clergy from abroad.

Nearly 40% of the priests serving Catholic parishes in Arapahoe County were born outside the U.S. — a sign of how heavily local churches depend on international clergy as priest shortages persist.Why it matters: A growing Catholic population and a shrinking pool of priests have made international clergy increasingly essential across metro Denver.

Fiddler's Green bass vibrations face scrutiny

Greenwood Village isn't about all that bass.

The low rumble of tasty bass isn&#x27;t so appetizing for some Greenwood Village residents.The big picture: Electronic dance music at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fiddler&#x27;s Green Amphitheatre" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fiddlersgreenamp.com/" data-vars-content-id="3aeaab99-2175-4bf9-9b69-7da0b47cab35" data-vars-headline="Fiddler&#x27;s Green bass vibrations face scrutiny" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fiddlersgreenamp.com/" target="_blank">Fiddler&#x27;s Green Amphitheatre</a> is the likely culprit.

Culture

Stanley's new owner promises continuity

Pancakes and a side of friendship

A quick guide to the Colorado State Fair

Coloradans reveal the state's most annoying stereotypes

Olivia Rodrigo just changed this Colorado business overnight