THE FARM

The name isn’t marketing. The land under The Farm was bought in 1947 by John Allison, who raised thoroughbred racehorses and cattle here for decades. His family sold it for development in 2013, and you can still see the history in the street signs. Many of them are named after famous racehorses, like Count Fleet and Spectacular Bid.

The lay of the land

The Farm sits on the north side, a few minutes from I-25 and the Interquest corridor. Trail Ridge South at Northgate borders it to the east and northeast, the Interquest commercial area is to the south, and Compassion International’s campus is to the north. I-25 is to the west, but it doesn’t run right up against the neighborhood: a band of retention ponds and the Foothills Farm campus sit in between.

The developer, La Plata Communities, kept the ranch’s creek corridor and ponds as the backbone of the neighborhood. Homes are arranged around open space, with Front Range views from a lot of the higher lots.

Those views come with a bonus. The Farm looks straight across I-25 at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium, so on fall Saturdays you can see the football crowds from here. Each spring at graduation, the Thunderbirds’ flyover is about as close to a front-row seat as you’ll get without a ticket.

Living here

The Farm was planned around getting people outside, and it works. More than 10 miles of trails link every part of the neighborhood to its parks, including a linear park system and a string of pocket parks, each with something different: play equipment, a giant double slide, benches with a view. The La Foret Trail runs through here too. To the west it connects to the New Santa Fe Regional Trail, which heads north past the Academy toward Monument and south through Colorado Springs. To the northeast it crosses Voyager and continues all the way to Lizard Leap Park in Flying Horse.

The centerpiece is The Gathering Place, the community clubhouse. It has a pool that’s busy all summer, a fitness center with classes, and indoor and outdoor space for entertaining, including the Jockey Club Patio and Winners Circle Courtyard, which face the sunset. Walking paths circle the ponds right outside.

It’s a 10-minute drive to most north-side errands, and getting on I-25 is quick in either direction.

The homes

Homes at The Farm are newer, built from the mid-2010s onward by several regional builders. The architecture leans modern farmhouse, mountain rustic and craftsman, so the streets don’t have the cookie-cutter look of some newer neighborhoods. Options range from low-maintenance homes in smaller enclaves to larger single-family homes and custom homesites in later phases.

The Farm is mostly built out at this point. The few vacant lots that remain are mostly held by builders or private owners, so a new home could still go up nearby, and landscaping in the newer sections is still filling in.

Worth knowing before you buy

Metro district and HOA. Like most master-planned neighborhoods built in the last decade, The Farm has a metropolitan district on the property tax bill along with HOA dues. Get both numbers for the specific home and add them to your monthly cost comparison.

Builder matters. With several builders over the years, construction quality, floor plans and warranties vary by phase. A resale from a builder you know may be worth more to you than one you don’t.

Schools. The Farm is in Academy School District 20. About 15 acres near the entrance were set aside for a future school at the district’s discretion. Check current assigned schools by address.

Nearby neighborhoods

For homes that are 20 years older with walkouts and views, look at Trail Ridge next door. Flying Horse has newer homes with a club and golf course. Northgate Highlands & Estates has more choices at a range of prices close by.

For the bigger picture, see the Northgate hub.

Current market and listings

For the latest 80921 numbers, check my monthly Market Update. Active listings in 80921 are below. If you’re comparing new construction here with a resale, I’m happy to talk through what you’re actually paying for in each.