Castle Rock Crew #029

Lost Canyon Ranch Sneak-peek, Castle View Cafe, and DougCo Fair & Rodeo

Well, I had the pleasure of getting a sneak-peek of Lost Canyon Ranch over the weekend — which, as a reminder, is the 681 acres the Town purchased in May of ‘24 for conservation and recreation purposes. Not only was it great to get outdoors and hike (mostly under cloud cover), but it was great to meet some of the awesome individuals behind CR Parks & Trails. I’ll be posting some videos/photos on Instagram later this week. Lost Canyon is currently closed to the public, and the Master Plan is still waiting for approval, but if you want to read more about the Open Space, take a look at the Town’s website here. CR Parks & Trails has more events, which all benefit the Ranch, later this month, in August, and in September. Click “Get Tickets” on their website to see if there’s a date that works for you to do a Full-Moon Hike, Stargazing, Sunrise Yoga, or a Guided Hike (like I did)!

Not to be confused with Castle Cafe, but I stopped by Castle View Cafe this past weekend to try it out. It opened in the past month in the old Vista Vino location in The Silo. I couldn’t find much online initially since I don’t think they have a website, but I found that they are the owners of Stonegate Cafe, a cafe in Parker where they’ve been operating for 12 years. We went during the Sunday brunch rush but were able to sit at the hightop. I had the breakfast tacos which had some kick and were very good. The Reuben received good marks as well. They didn’t do much to the actual space or furnishings besides paint and rebranding, so if you’re trying to imagine it, just think of what Vista Vino looked like inside. They are open from 7:00am-2:00pm daily for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. I’m not sure if they plan to open for dinner, but I doubt it since their other location is also just breakfast, brunch, and lunch. I’ll place some photos of the menu at the bottom of this newsletter so you can see what options they have for food and drinks. I’d say it’s definitely worth trying, but if you’re sensitive to noise or looking for a quieter setting either try to grab a spot on the patio or avoid busier times like Sunday brunch.

This week in Castle Rock….

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo - July 25 to August 3
Douglas County Fairgrounds + Downtown Castle Rock
Buy Tickets & Full Event Schedule

It’s everybody’s favorite week of the year — and yes, this will be the only time I bust out my cowboy boots (do I dare wear the hat, too?)

The 2025 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is shaping up to be bigger than ever. With a record-setting $167,125 rodeo purse approved by County Commissioners, the total payout could hit $300,000+. Whether you're into funnel cakes or bronc riding, there’s something for every age and adrenaline level. Me? I’m feeling the need to be inspired, so I’m going to make sure I don’t miss the fearless kids holding on for dear life during the Mutton Bustin’!

What to Expect
Carnival rides, petting zoos, 4-H exhibits, mutton bustin’, farm-to-table tastings, classic car shows, music, shopping vendors, food trucks, rodeo action — you name it, it’s happening.

Can’t-Miss Events:

Cattle Drive  Friday, July 25 – 6:00pm | Downtown Castle Rock
The official kickoff. In a nod to Douglas County’s ranching roots, watch as cowhands from Silverado Ranch drive a herd of Texas Longhorn through Downtown. Starting at Rock Park, the herd will continue along Perry Street before completing the journey in front of the Castle Rock Police Department.

Dustin Lynch Concert w/ Lakeview  Friday, July 25 – 7:30pm | Outdoor Arena
Catch country chart-topper Dustin Lynch who’s joined by special guests Lakeview. GA tix ~$60. Purchase here.

Parade  Saturday, July 26 – 9:30am | Downtown Castle Rock
A classic community tradition through downtown Castle Rock. Starts at the south end of Town, flows down Wilcox to 4th, to Perry, and ends on 2nd.

Boots & Brews – Saturday, July 26 – After the Parade | Festival Park
Once the floats pass by, mosey on over to Festival Park for Boots & Brews — a post-parade party with mechanical bull rides, live country music, cold pours from local breweries, and food truck favorites. Bring your boots, your crew, and your best balance.

Vintage Car Show  Sunday, July 27 – 10:00am–1:00pm | Outside of Barns
A polished lineup of classics from the Vintage Car Club of Castle Rock.

ProRodeo Main Events | Outdoor Arena
– Thurs, July 31 at 7:00pm – Roughstock ONLY: Bares, Broncs & Bulls
– Fri–Sun, Aug 1–3 at 7:00pm (Sun at 1:00pm) – Full rodeo action with Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Racing, Bull Riding and more.

First Responders and Military | Outdoor Arena
– Patriot Night (Military): Friday, Aug 1 at 7:00pm
– Cowboys for Cops (First Responders): Sunday, Aug 3 at 1:00pm
Reserve your complimentary rodeo tickets through GovX if you’ve served.

View All Events (Filter by Date or Category) here
View Food Vendors here

⚠️ Heads up: Local business hours may shift during the week, so double check before stopping by.

Castle Rock Wellness

I wanted to take a moment to share why I chose acupuncture and why I believe it matters. On the surface, acupuncture appears simple, but its ability to help the body heal is incredibly complex.

Too often in today’s world, people find themselves caught in a never-ending medical cycle. A problem arises, medication is prescribed, side effects develop, and more medication is added to treat those side effects—yet the original issue is never truly resolved.

Our bodies are designed to heal themselves, and acupuncture works by guiding the body to where that healing needs to take place. It helps the body stay in tune with itself, and unlike many medications and traditional treatments, it comes with virtually no side effects.

Time and time again, I’ve seen people come to us as a last resort, after trying everything else. And time and time again, they’re pleasantly surprised to start feeling better after just a few sessions.

I believe deeply in acupuncture and the healing power it holds.
— Kelly Nichols, Owner & Acupuncturist

Come see us to experience the difference
Mention "Healing" to receive 20% off your first acupuncture visit
Book your session today!

Our partners over at Humane Colorado are holding a 2026 Calendar Pet Photo Contest. See details below, along with photos of the leaders. We’ve got Cole leading for dogs and Ravioli and Rigatoni leading for cats. Voting runs through August 7th at 5:00pm.

If you’ve always wanted to see your pet’s name and adorable face in lights, this is the contest for you!

The top 12 vote-getters in their respective categories (five cats, five dogs, one horse, and one small pet) will be featured as a Pet of the Month model in the first-ever Humane Colorado Calendar. The owner of the overall top vote-getter will also have the distinct honor of picking which month their pet appears.

The $30 contest entry fee guarantees every submitted photo a spot in our calendar! For example, if you are not a top vote-getter, your pet’s image will still appear in a photo collage with other animal friends. Plus, each entrant will receive a complimentary copy of the 2026 calendar – a $20 value. (Shipping is included with your entry fee.)

Reach out if you’re interested in sponsoring the newsletter. [email protected]

The Bulletin

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire you’re looking to make, or just want to say hi to 5,300 friends?

Castle Rock Wellness: Castle Rock Wellness offers holistic services like acupuncture, cupping, auriculotherapy, and electro-acupuncture, all tailored to support whole-body healing. They specialize in treating everything from sports injuries and hormonal imbalances to anxiety, insomnia, and pre- and postnatal care. Whether you're looking to heal, rebalance, or simply feel better in your body, they bring thoughtful care to every session. Book a session!

Mod Mountain Boutique: your effortless fall style starts here! From cozy staples to layered looks, our boutique has everything you need to look and feel your best as the season changes—stop by and see what’s new!

WISEfit: WISEfit is a boutique personal training studio focused on working with women dedicated to making their next 40 years even better than the first 40. We train small groups and one-on-one clients, emphasizing resistance training and hormone-friendly nutrition as a science-backed means to maintaining bone, muscle, heart, and cognitive functionand to facilitate fat loss. Click here to get started today!

3D Performance: Castle Rock’s premier sports performance gym, founded and run by two former Division I athletes who know exactly what it takes to compete at the highest level. We specialize in helping aspiring athletes unlock their full potential—especially when it comes to explosive power and increasing vertical jump. Whether your goals are vertical, speed, strength, or overall athleticism, our training is built to deliver real results. Come in for a free performance assessment to see where you stand—and how far you can go. Your peak starts here!

Reach out for a spot on the bulletin!

Events:

Tuesday, 7/22:

Douglas County Libraries - Castle Rock or Pines - Coffee Chat Tuesday - 8:00am-11:00am

The Office Co. | Bar & Kitchen (every day) - Happy Hour - 2:00pm-7:00pm

Courtyard Social (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 2:30pm-5:00pm

The Whiskey Lodge - 50¢ Wings - 3:00pm-10:00pm

Bucketlist Tavern (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 3:00pm-6:00pm

I.C. Brewhouse - Trivia - 6:30pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill (every day) - Happy Hour - 3:00pm-6:00pm

105 West Brewing - Dart League - 6:00pm-10:00pm

Wild Blue Yonder - Jeopardy! Bar League Trivia - 7:00pm-9:00pm

Wednesday, 7/23:

Douglas County Libraries - Castle Pines - Daytime Book Club - 1:00pm-2:30pm

Centennial Park - Courtside Kickoff Celebration - 5:00pm-6:30pm - deets

105 West Brewing - Trails N’ Ales (Mountain Bike) - 6:00pm-7:00pm

Alidade Brewing - Musical Bingo - 6:00pm-8:00pm

Festival Park - Jazz in the Park - 6:30pm-8:00pm - deets

Thursday, 7/24:

Wide Open Saloon - Country Dance Night with Dance Instructor Marla Gifford - 6:00pm-10:00pm

RNK Running - CHOG - 6:00pm - deets

Crowfoot Valley Coffee - Trivia - 6:00pm

Hideaway Bar and Grill - Karaoke with Big E Entertainment - 8:00pm-12:00am

Friday, 7/25:

Amphitheater at Miller Park - Free Fitness Fridays | Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates - 8:00am-9:00am - deets & registration

Downtown - Western Heritage Welcome Cattle Drive - 6:00pm-8:00pm - deets

Outlets at Castle Rock - Family Fun Fridays - 12:00pm-2:00pm - deets

Sinners & Saints - Live Music at the Altar: Tyler Stanfield - 8:00pm-10:00pm 

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Barrel Aged Rum Tasting at the Castle - 6:00pm-9:15pm - deets & tickets

Wide Open Saloon - Live Music: On This Day - 7:00pm-10:30pm

Saturday, 7/26:

Downtown - Douglas County Fair Parade - 9:30am-11:30am - deets

Festival Park - Boots & Brews - 11:00am-4:00pm - deets

Outlets at Castle Rock - Rock the Mountain | Jordan Yewey - 3:00pm-6:00pm - deets

105 West Brewing - Live Music: Steve and the Cruisers - 6:30pm-9:30pm

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Peter Kater Live with special guest Richard Hardy - 6:30pm-10:00pm - deets & tickets

Sunday, 7/27:

Rueter-Hess Reservoir - Castle Rock Day at Rueter-Hess Reservoir - 8:00am-6:00pm - deets & registration

Amphitheater at Miller Park - Yoga in the Park - 8:30am-9:30am - deets 

Festival Park - Festival Park Farmers Market - 9:00am-2:00pm - deets 

Outside of Barns – Vintage Car Show - 10:00am-1:00pm

Outlets at Castle Rock - Rock the Mountain | Lauren King - 3:00pm-6:00pm - deets

105 West Brewing - Live Music: Giant Zero Solo - 2:30pm-5:30pm

Douglas County Libraries-Castle Rock - Brew Tour - 4:30pm-6:30pm

Wide Open Saloon - Live Music: Christopher Thomas - 2:00pm-5:00pm

Monday, 7/28:

Festival Park - Yoga in Festival Park - 6:30pm-7:30pm - deets

105 West Brewing - Trails N’ Ales (Run Club) - 6:00pm-7:00pm

Heads up on events that are further out:

Get your tix for the Summer Concert Series if you haven’t already. Next up is Chris Lane on August 9th!

Check out the Summer Fitness Events

Outlets - Rock the Mountain - Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day - 3:00pm-6:00pm

Outlets - Family Fun Fridays - Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day - 12:00pm-2:00pm

Outlets - Smart Bucks Back to School Sales Promotion - July 18th-August 31st

Festival Park - Jazz in the Park - Wednesdays in June from 6:30pm-8:00pm

Colorado Renaissance Festival - June 14th-August 3rd - details

Pet Stuff Place - Summer Health Expo - August 2nd - 9:00am-3:00pm

Larkspur Community Park - Hot Rods in the Park - August 9th - 10:00am-2:00pm

⚠️ Please verify event details and availability with the respective venues or organizers, as schedules may change.

Let us know of any events, locations, establishments, or businesses that you would like us to highlight in coming editions. [email protected]

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Castle View Cafe Breakfast Menu

Castle View Cafe Lunch Menu

Castle View Cafe Brunch Cocktail Menu

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