Governors Ranch - Littleton, CO Area Guide

The city of Littleton, the home of the Governor’s Ranch neighborhood, began in 1859, when the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush brought many outsiders to Colorado. Many gold seekers flocked to the area now known as Litteton, with merchants and farmers following the crowds.

Richard Sullivan Little, the town’s founder, was an engineer who came to work out west on irrigation systems. He fell in love with the beautiful landscape of the area and, along with his neighbors, built the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, which crated the economic base of the community. The mill helped the town grow to almost 250 residents by 1890, and they voted together to name the town Littleton after the Little family.

Many notable personalities have grown up in Littleton, including South Park co-writer and creator Matt Stone, actresses Molly Burnett and Melissa Benoist, and actors Hayden Byerly and Cody Longo. San Francisco Giant Dave Dravecky and bodybuilder Heather Armbrust both currently reside in Littleton.

The city houses the Town Hall Arts Center, home to many different types of plays and musicals, and Hudson Gardens, a beautiful garden venue offering concerts and special holiday celebrations including the annual Christmas lights show. Those interested in the history of the area should visit the Littleton Museum, which has many great exhibits showcasing the art, history, and culture of the city.

Residents of Governors Ranch don't need to venture far from home to find a quick bite to eat or a classier restaurant experience. Romano’s Italian Restaurant, which serves fine Italian cuisine, has been family owned and operated since its opening in 1967. Famous for its authentic Italian family recipes, Romano’s offers soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, seafood, chicken, and veal entrees, as well as a wide selection of specialty pizzas.

For a great meal and a friendly home-cooking vibe, check out the authentic southern menu at Nono’s Cafe. Favorites such as the blackened catfish salad, the kickin' chicken sandwich and Cajun meatloaf have all made Nono's a very popular destination in the area for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For some nighttime entertainment, the Toad Tavern features music from Denver's top bands, an open mic night, stand-up comedy, dancing, karaoke, poker, blackjack, trivia, pool, and a full food menu.

Music fans who want a world class concert experience head to the nationally acclaimed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Only 20 minutes into the mountains from Governors Ranch, Red Rocks presents live music performances multiple times weekly. The open-air theatre seats over 9,000 people, and is situated right in the center of a dramatic, large, red rock formation. This striking location not only gives the theatre its name, but also provides an unforgettable venue for catching your favorite band when they come to town.

Many travel options are available within the immediate Governors Ranch neighborhood as well as Littleton, and also make it easy to venture as far as downtown Denver. Biking within the neighborhood can be a great way to get to the pool and tennis courts, but is not advised on the highways or during the cold winter months.

For travel outside of the neighborhood, call a cab, or use Uber and Lyft to get wherever you need to go. A light rail system is available for cheap and effective travel as well, with stations located less than 3 miles from Governors Ranch. Highway I-70 is fewer than 10 miles away, making travel to just about any major city simple and convenient.

The Governors Ranch area houses several beautiful recreational parks, as well as many places to ski or snowboard. Governor’s Ranch is less than an hour from several different ski resorts, including Keystone, Vail and Loveland, all great places for any level of skiers and snowboarders.

Governor’s Grant Park sits within the neighborhood. This kid-friendly and exercise-friendly park includes a multi-purpose field, playground, covered picnic area and.62 miles of walking trails.

Residents also enjoy Cody Street Park, less than 500 feet outside the neighborhood. This exercise-centric park has an open field and several different trails, including trails for walking and running, as well as trails designed specifically for bikers.

Renters looking to move into the neighborhood can find one-bedroom apartments ranging from $960 to $1,180 per month, which is just below the Littleton average of $1,750 and right in the range of the Colorado state average of $1,300 per month.

Many great shopping destinations, such as the Southwest Plaza Mall and the Park Meadows Shopping Center, are within easy driving distance of Governors Ranch. The Southwest Plaza Mall in Littleton has over 50 stores, with favorites such as Express and Frenzy as well as department stores such as Macy's, Dillard’s, JC Penney and Sears. The Park Meadows Mall, just outside of Littleton, offers over 130 shops, including popular stores like the Gap, Guess, and Victoria's Secret.

Boutique and specialty stores can be found within the neighborhood area as well, including Inspyre Boutique, Details Boutique, and Stitch Boutique of Denver. These popular retailers offer exciting boutique shopping in Littleton with a large variety of beautiful ways to express yourself through clothing and accessories.

For grocery shopping, many options sit less than a mile from the neighborhood, including Whole Foods and Tony's Market, a high-end gourmet grocery and deli shop. Walmart and Sam's Club are nearby for those looking to buy groceries in bulk. Fans of fresh produce head to the famous Sprout's Farmers Market, less than a mile from Governors Ranch, for local produce.