It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic The Castle Rock gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Castle Rock, CO is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I had used another service for my Mom and changed to Always Best Care and”
“Many positive things have taken place since beginning of CO-VD19 in March. ABC took my concerns”
“The Denver South office of Always Best Care provided senior care services to our mother”
“Very nice and caring staff. Helped me out in a bind and was even able”
“Great company to work for. If you are looking for care for your loved one”
“After working with two other agencies, Always Best Care provided the highest level of exceptional”
“We are so happy we chose Always Best Care as our care agency. My mother”
“Thank you for the staff of Always Best Care Denver South for being such a”
“Very professional, and helpful. Cindy K. did a great job of helping my Mom move”
“I am a current client of this provider Very professional, and helpful. Cindy K. did a”
“Great company! They know their business and seniors. They were willing to make arrangements on”
“I have worked for Always Best Care Senior Services for several years both as a”
“Working for ABC as a manager has been a joy I haven't experienced in previous”
“Always responsive, always caring, goes above and beyond, experienced and always thoughtful, best choice I”
“I am a past client of this provider An experienced caregiver came weekly, never cancelled or”
“Just a quick note to say thank you for all your care that you gave”
“The care and compassion provided to my mother and to our family has made the”
“Everyone is a team player!! No one in the company feels like a stranger. The”
“My family needed to find a new home for my grandma. She had been residing”
“Simpy IDEAL. We couldn't have asked for better care. Each individual, from my very first”
“I am a past client of this provider Incomparable! ABC's care of our Father was above”
“Dear Tom and Staff, Our family is so appreciative of each of you! Your dedicating, caring”
“This company is amazing. When I met Cindy, my mom was in acute care and”
“I am a current client of this provider Everybody in this company is amazing. From the”
“Always Best Care Denver South provides outstanding care and placement services. They truly care for”
“I had used another service for my Mom and changed to Always Best Care and was amazed. I know it’s tough to find good staff and the people we had were so caring and attentive. Strongly recommend.”
“Many positive things have taken place since beginning of CO-VD19 in March. ABC took my concerns seriously about care for and to ensure my elderly parents stay safe. They made necessary changes immediately. Jen is great to work with and Pearla is incredible.”
“The Denver South office of Always Best Care provided senior care services to our mother for almost two years up until Mom passed away. The care providers they provided did a superb job of caring for Mom while running errands, taking her to her doctor appointments, making sure she took her medications and occasionally taking her to the hospital for medical emergencies. The office staff did a great job of maintaining the care providers schedule so that Mom would always have the same two CPs every week. Neither my brother or I lived in the same town as our mother so she needed in home care providers if she was going to be able to stay in her home. Without ABC's services, Mom would not have been able to remained in her home up until the time of her passing. Because of ABC and the tremendous service and care of their care providers and office based staff, Mom was able to fulfill her goal of living in her beautiful home until the end. Thank you ABC of Denver South!”
“Very nice and caring staff. Helped me out in a bind and was even able to add an extra day on super short notice. My uncle was very happy with the caregivers as well. Will be using when long term care is needed :)”
“Great company to work for. If you are looking for care for your loved one this is the right company. I've been working for this company as a caregiver for a little over a month and they are on top of keeping you busy with plenty of work.”
“After working with two other agencies, Always Best Care provided the highest level of exceptional care for my mother while she was with hospice care. It is hard to find the high quality care that parents deserve and ABC definitely hit it. The care coordinator Kathryn made sure our needs were met and it happened instantaneously. Also, the care givers were exceptional and made sure my mother was always comfortable”
“We are so happy we chose Always Best Care as our care agency. My mother and father both were very fragile and we brought Always Best Care into the home and they created a safe and loving environment for our parents. Once my father passed Cindy was very instrumental in helping navigate our family to find a community where our mom could have quality of life and be comfortable. We will always be grateful for the compassion and love that Always Best Care Denver South provided.”
“Thank you for the staff of Always Best Care Denver South for being such a huge help and being part of our family for so many years. We can't thank you enough for the care and love that you showed to our dad. You brought quality of life to him in is last years. We will always be grateful.”
“Very professional, and helpful. Cindy K. did a great job of helping my Mom move from a very poor assisted living situation to one where she can be happy. Cindy took the time to assess my Mom's situation, and then made placement recommendations based on what my Mom and her family needed. Based on assessment data, Cindy found four AL vendors for Mom to visit. Cindy setup the appts, and attended the tours with Mom and family. She made sure that what she exposed Mom to was within her ability to pay, and were places with good reputations for care/services. Once Mom chose a vendor, Cindy kept tabs on the process and even followed up after Mom was moved into her new home.”
“I am a current client of this provider Very professional, and helpful. Cindy K. did a great job of helping my Mom move from a very poor assisted living situation to one where she can be happy. Cindy took the time to assess my Mom's situation, and then made placement recommendations based on what my Mom and her family needed. Based on assessment data, Cindy found four AL vendors for Mom to visit. Cindy setup the appts, and attended the tours with Mom and family. She made sure that what she exposed Mom to was within her ability to pay, and were places with good reputations for care/services. Once Mom chose a vendor, Cindy kept tabs on the process and even followed up after Mom was moved into her new home.”
“Great company! They know their business and seniors. They were willing to make arrangements on short notice and did their best to make my mom comfortable and safe. I would definitely recommend always best care.”
“I have worked for Always Best Care Senior Services for several years both as a caregiver and now as a scheduler. They have a great support staff and a team approach that supports not only the clients but also the caregivers. You can’t go wrong with Always Best Care as a caregiver or client. Call today!”
“Working for ABC as a manager has been a joy I haven't experienced in previous employment. I enjoy exceeding client expectations and creating a positive employment experience for our caregivers. In turn we have amazing personalized customer service and flexibility to meet everyone's ever changing needs.”
“Always responsive, always caring, goes above and beyond, experienced and always thoughtful, best choice I could have made.”
“I am a past client of this provider An experienced caregiver came weekly, never cancelled or changed. They were incredible in helping find a care home when that became necessary. Always caring, always responsive, experienced caregivers, thoughtful, understanding, will always work with your needs or changes, on time, easy to contact, went above and beyond in services. Worked very hard to find a caregiver when I needed one, including changing a caregiver's schedule to meet my ongoing or additional needs.”
“Just a quick note to say thank you for all your care that you gave to my Mom in her last years of her life. All the caregivers were amazing and the management staff was always available when ever we needed them. We will always be grateful for your care and your loving hearts.”
“The care and compassion provided to my mother and to our family has made the transition from independent living to residence in a retirement village is so appreciated!! I don't know how we would have managed to navigate the decisions that had to be made! I highly recommend their services!”
“Everyone is a team player!! No one in the company feels like a stranger. The company takes the time to know caregivers individually and feel valued as employees”
“My family needed to find a new home for my grandma. She had been residing in a 55 and older community and her care requirements increased significantly. Honestly, we had no idea where to look, what to look for, what questions to ask, and even more so, what to do when her money ran out. Jerry was a HUGE help in this. He took something that was extremely emotional and stressful and made it very simple. He really did care where my grandma ended up. Not only is she in a great place now, but because she loves her home her assisted needs have decreased because she is happier and healthier. This could not have been possible without Jerry. Our family thanks you for giving us our Grandma/Mom the life that she deserves. You have brought Senior Care to a whole new level”
“Simpy IDEAL. We couldn't have asked for better care. Each individual, from my very first call to those who came to check on us all in Hospice, was genuinely caring and devoted. God Sends, every one!!”
“I am a past client of this provider Incomparable! ABC's care of our Father was above and beyond anything we could have imagined - Each Home Care provider brought such gentle, sensitive, capable talent to our entire family. We were thoroughly exhausted and feared bringing an 'outsider' in to care for Jack. But OH! What a GIFT it was to have ABC join our efforts. Don't wait- We wish we'd called sooner!”
“Dear Tom and Staff, Our family is so appreciative of each of you! Your dedicating, caring Care Givers will be forever in our memories. You all added quality to Maurice's life. Thank you - plus your cards and phone calls of sympathy”
“This company is amazing. When I met Cindy, my mom was in acute care and we needed a lot of help. She sat down with me to figure out what services we need and since that time, we have had nothing but wonderful people coming out to care for my parents. in addition, the schedulers are amazing and will make sure we have help even if we call last minute. You will be very happy with this company if you need help caring for a loved one.”
“I am a current client of this provider Everybody in this company is amazing. From the moment I met Cindy, I have had nothing but relief with my parents as they ensure my parents are well taken care of. From making meals to light house keeping and errands, my parents are getting everything they need. When we need someone in a pinch, we can trust that someone will be there and everyone is so nice and caring!!! Thank you Always Best!!!”
“Always Best Care Denver South provides outstanding care and placement services. They truly care for both their clients and staff! Best care in town.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Rock Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Trestles Coastal Cuisine or visit Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Castle Rock, CO, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Castle Rock, CO understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Castle Rock, CO 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Historic Greenland Ranch Land Target of Buc-ee’s Development Proposal The I-25 corridor traverses an area known as Greenland between Castle Rock and Larkspur heading south to Colorado Springs and north toward Denver. A new development proposes what is called a “flagpole annexation” of a section of land along I-25 to build a massive Buc-ees roadside convenience center smack in the middle of one of the West’s iconic vistas.Greenland is the last undeveloped and open stretch of natural ranch...
Historic Greenland Ranch Land Target of Buc-ee’s Development Proposal
The I-25 corridor traverses an area known as Greenland between Castle Rock and Larkspur heading south to Colorado Springs and north toward Denver. A new development proposes what is called a “flagpole annexation” of a section of land along I-25 to build a massive Buc-ees roadside convenience center smack in the middle of one of the West’s iconic vistas.
Greenland is the last undeveloped and open stretch of natural ranch landscape between metro Denver and Colorado Springs. If this is approved, a massive Buc-ees would sit directly across I-25 from the Greenland Ranch conservation area.
Those fighting the annexation, including residents of nearby Monument (located at the County Line Road between Douglas and El Paso counties), say it would flood a treasured Western rural landscape with Buc-ees signature lights, commercial noise, and traffic.
While such ruckus might be fine for say, a remote freeway stretch of Kansas, they say it amounts to a scar on the pristine landscape that ranching families have fought for decades to protect against development.
According to The Land Report,
“Greenland Ranch may be the most consequential conservation easement in the United States. You probably haven’t heard of it. But if you love the Rocky Mountains, then you probably have seen it. Each year, 29 million vehicles parade through Greenland Ranch. It’s the last line of defense against Colorado’s Front Range Urban Corridor, an asphalt jungle that sprawls 150 miles from Fort Collins to Boulder, south to Denver, and on to Colorado Springs and Fort Carson … for the eight glorious miles that I-25 bisects Greenland Ranch, commuters see Colorado the way it once was: prairie-to-peaks vistas that extend from Greenland Ranch’s rolling pastures to its iconic buttes, to the top of Pikes Peak”.
This is not the first time that development proposals in Douglas County have met with conservation resistance. Among those fighting to preserve open landscapes in Douglas County from development was the indomitable Tweet Kimball, whose Cherokee Ranch north of Sedalia is permanently protected.
In July of 202o, the more than 17,000 acre conservation easement that first protected Greenland Ranch from development and subdivision twenty years ago was transferred from Great Outdoors Colorado, to the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) “to hold and steward into the future”.
Just this past spring The Colorado Sun wrote an article questioning how strong enforcement of Colorado’s conservation easements really are. Already houses being built in the conservation areas on the south edge Larkspur are violating the hidden roof lines requirements. If Buc-ees is allowed what many are calling “an obscene annexation” — how soon will the rest of Greenland be surrounded and this legacy landscape destroyed?
Protection of this parcel has been a state priority for decades
As explained by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO):
“Original conservation of Greenland Ranch was facilitated by The Conservation Fund, Douglas County, and landowner John Malone in 2000, but the project was anticipated long before then. Former Colorado Governor Roy Romer advocated for the state to support conservation of Greenland Ranch as early as 1977, emphasizing that if the state didn’t act to conserve the property, Denver and Colorado Springs would grow together and the landscape between them would be lost to office towers, shopping malls, and housing developments forever. By the early 1990s, Douglas County was the fastest-growing county in the country.”
Chaffee County residents know something about preserving “legacy landscapes”. The county, and the Common Ground fund established by the will of the voters, is working to preserve working ranch landscapes and the agricultural livelihoods that the land makes possible. While U.S 285 runs the length of the county north to south, it is also part of the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway, and the county is dotted with legacy locations and buildings.
Some have likened putting a Buc-ees in Greenland, in the midst of one of the more iconic vistas of Colorado, as “like putting carnival barkers on the rim of the Grand Canyon”.
This week, Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on the Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s proposal:
“For more than a century, Greenland Ranch has stood as one of Colorado’s oldest continually operating cattle ranches — a living link to our history, our open spaces, and our way of life. For those who study the history of the West, or are fans of the Lonesome Dove series, Charles Goodnight often grazed his herds on the grass here.
Since then, generations of Coloradans, from farmers and ranchers to conservationists and sportsmen, have worked together to protect this land. They understood that the lands and waters that define Colorado are not just property lines on a map — they are part of our heritage and our future.
That’s why I cannot support the proposal to annex land across from Greenland Ranch for a massive Buc-ee’s development and why I applaud the local citizens there who have organized to oppose it. I have heard from numerous of them in the past six weeks. This so-called ‘flagpole annexation’ goes beyond a local land-use issue. It would scar land that Colorado families have fought to protect for decades, drain our precious water resources, and flood a treasured landscape with noise, traffic, and light. It will affect millions of Coloradans who rely on this corridor, value our wildlife, and cherish the open spaces that define our state.
Bennet says that his objection to the site proposed for the Buc-ees roadside stop is not one against development, but against development in the wrong place. “This is not about whether a company does business in Colorado. It is about where this project should be built and whether we honor the legacy that Coloradans worked so hard to protect.”
“To put this development across from one of our state’s greatest conservation landmarks would undermine everything Coloradans have sacrificed to preserve. It goes against our Colorado values.”
He ended his letter of objection by reminding Coloradans of “our values here in the West:
“Colorado has always been defined by our values — our care for the land and water that sustain us, and our respect for one another as neighbors. Those values remind us that community voices matter, that some places are too important to sacrifice for short-term gain, and that being a good neighbor sometimes means saying no.
“We owe it to our children to defend Colorado’s values and the open spaces that define Colorado and to pass on, unspoiled, the inheritance we were given. We don’t get a second chance with places like Greenland Ranch. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. And our children will not forgive us if we squander it.”
303-268-2156
