Entry No. 98 — the Denver file — filed under: history
Castlewood Canyon Lucas Homestead Ruins
Most people drive out to Castlewood Canyon for the collapsed-dam ruins, never realizing a second, weirder ruin sits a five-minute walk from a different parking lot. Patrick and Margaret Lucas — Irish immigrants who met in Arizona and married in 1889 — homesteaded here and in 1898 built a two-story house out of poured concrete, a bizarre choice for a residence at the time, to shelter their eight kids. The family kept it up until a fire gutted it in the early 1960s; now the bare concrete shell rises straight out of the canyon floor. The 0.35-mile spur to it is short, flat, and almost always empty.
The move: Pair the easy 0.35-mile walk to the homestead shell with the dam-ruins loop, bring a picnic, and split off to the concrete shell when the dam crowd thins out — quiet, photogenic, and over in an afternoon.
📍 Before you go The homestead shell sits on the park's quieter west side, not the main developed entrance where most dam-ruins traffic goes. Approach via Castlewood Canyon Road south of Highway 86 near Franktown; it's a less-built, gravel side of the park with rough lots and vault toilets. Park at the Homestead lot just inside that west entrance and follow the short, flat spur to the concrete ruin. You'll need a Colorado state-parks vehicle pass (a self-serve dispenser sits near the lot). It's daytime-only and best in fair weather — the gravel road and gate times shift seasonally, so check ahead. Bring water and a picnic, and pair it with the collapsed-dam loop on the main side.
- 📍 Franktown (Douglas County)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Castlewood Canyon State Park, near Franktown / Castle Rock; the Lucas Homestead sits on the west side of the park (Wildcat Canyon area), reached by a ~0.35-mile trail from a nearby parking area.
Hours: Inside Castlewood Canyon State Park — requires a Colorado state-parks vehicle pass / day fee. Park is open daytime hours; check Colorado Parks & Wildlife for seasonal gate times.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · coloradooutdoorsmag.com · trails.colorado.gov
last checked: 2026-06-07