Schweiger Ranch, one of Lone Tree’s most notable historic landmarks, celebrates its 150-year anniversary this year. Nestled on 38 acres in RidgeGate, this historic treasure takes us back generations to another era– when the pioneers settled the area in the late 1800s. Schweiger Ranch was homesteaded in 1874 by three brothers from Austria. The Schweiger family grew over generations and thrived on the ranch for nearly a century. Today, Schweiger Ranch stands as a designated Douglas County historic landmark, meticulously preserved and restored as a living history open-air museum complete with a treasure trove of fascinating historic elements.
During the early years, the three Schweiger brothers along with their father and mother homesteaded the land together. Around December 1879 their mother passed away and the sons decided they needed a woman’s help around the ranch. According to lore, the boys drew straws to determine who would get married. John Schweiger drew the short straw and began looking for a wife. He soon married Anna Scheider, a German immigrant in 1885 and together they had seven children. It is believed the current house, barn, stable and loafing shed were built around 1890 to accommodate the growing Schweiger family. Slowly over time, John and his family cultivated their land with oats, corn, wheat and rye, and ranched their land with cattle, hogs and chickens. They grew their ranch from the original 38 acres to nearly 4,000 acres.
Fast forward many decades, after the ranch had changed hands and the ranch buildings fell into disrepair. RidgeGate’s master planned developer, Coventry Development, saw a unique opportunity in Schweiger Ranch to create a cultural and educational facility for the benefit of Lone Tree and Douglas County residents, as well as the region. In 2003, Coventry began the master planning and visioning process to preserve Schweiger Ranch in an environment where the public could learn about early ranching life and bridge the past to the present.
Coventry approached Douglas County to designate Schweiger Ranch as a historic landmark. In 2004, historic landmark status was granted by Douglas County. In 2007, Coventry formed the Schweiger Ranch Foundation and the original 38 acres of land was donated to the foundation by the landowner, RidgeGate Investments. This allowed Schweiger Ranch Foundation to seek grants from the Colorado State Historical Fund, and with grant cash matches from the City of Lone Tree and Rampart Range Metropolitan District, to begin restoring and preserving the ranch buildings to their historic condition.
In 2008, Schweiger Ranch Foundation received its first State Historical Fund grant to save the barn which was near collapse. In 2010, another State Historical Fund grant was received to restore the house, to its condition in 1920, the Silo and the Stable. In 2014 and 2015, the State granted funds for the complete restoration of the Chicken Coop, Loafing Shed (which had collapsed), Tractor Shed and corral. Restoration work under the State Historical Fund was completed in early 2016 after $1,000,000 in total was invested into the restoration work; returning the five-acre homestead to its former glory and earning Schweiger Ranch Foundation the 2017 Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation from History Colorado for its care of the ranch.
Today, the Schweiger Ranch is Lone Tree’s only protected historic landmark. Schweiger Ranch provides diverse, recreational and educational opportunities to foster an understanding and enjoyment of the area’s cultural and natural heritage through displays, demonstrations, interpretive programs and special events for the greater community.
The ranch is open seasonally to the public for guided and self-guided tours, as well as many other educational programs including nature hikes, storytelling performances around the campfire, its signature Austrian Christmas event, Lone Tree’s CraftoberFest and Fall Festival.
Check schweigerranch.org for the latest hours and events.