Willow Trace

When you move to Willow Trace, “you better get on your hiking shoes, your bike, or grab your golf clubs or kayak,” says Realtor Sean Closset with Coldwell Banker Realty. Closset lives in the neighborhood, was born and raised in the area, and has been selling real estate locally for more than 20 years. He also leads his own team at Coldwell. “People come here for the weather, the recreation and the trails,” he says. “There are golf courses everywhere, and the Aurora Reservoir is only 6 miles away.”

The homes, too, are an important part of the neighborhood’s appeal. Large, single-family contemporary homes, mostly two-story, with prominent two and three-car garages, wood and brick siding, and front-facing gables that give them a storybook appearance, sell for between $450,000 and $700,000. “These are prices appropriate for starter homes,” Closset says. “Plus, they’re right down the street from the elementary, middle and high schools, all within a quarter mile — a selling point for many families.” Town houses are also available, priced in the $400,000s, that offer two and three bedrooms, many with two-car garages, an unusual feature.

The streets of this relatively new subdivision, developed in the early 2000s, feature fresh and well-tended lawns. The landscaping incorporates stone and gravel, giving yards a clean, minimalist look. With organic bends and curves, multi-car garages on every block and few cars on the street, the neighborhood has a quiet, neat appearance that suggests everything is in its place.

The schools that serve Willow Trace all received higher-than-average marks from Niche. Aspen Crossing Elementary, an A-minus school, creates a nurturing, child-centered, 21st-century learning environment by encouraging students to Achieve, Care and Explore — characteristics that, if demonstrated, earn them ACE awards. At Sky Vista Middle, which scored a B-plus, students participate in coed track, consistently outperforming other schools in the area. At Eaglecrest High, which got an A-minus from Niche, students are inducted into world language honor societies by applying for these programs and completing all the requirements before graduation.

Willow Trace Park, the closest park within walking distance, sits near Aspen Crossing Elementary and Sky Vista Middle, with swing sets, a play structure and a half basketball court all wrapped in blue sky. A walkway that borders the park connects to several other trails that lead bikers and hikers to areas like Copperleaf Bark Park, a safe place for dogs to play, with grass and pebble surfacing, water fountains and separate sections for large and small dogs. Also nearby is Spring Creek Park. Veined with trails and featuring three baseball fields, a soccer field, a basketball court and a children’s playground, this long park borders South Himalaya Street and is a great destination for young athletes. The Aurora Reservoir, an 800-acre body of water east of the neighborhood, is a hotspot for fishing, swimming, kayaking and scuba diving. Murphy Creek, Meadow Hills, Valley and Saddle Rock golf courses are less than 8 miles away.

For everyday needs, residents head to East Quincy Avenue and South Picadilly Road, where they can shop at the Walmart Neighborhood Market and several other stores. K+ Hotpot is one. While this restaurant gets mixed reviews on its boba tea, this create-your-own-soup Asian restaurant with a conveyor belt that carries ingredients to your table gets at least four stars for the experience. There's also a microbrewery nearby, Two22 Brew, that gives $2.22 of every $10 spent to Colorado non-profits. Mr. Taco, a Mexican Restaurant that also caters, is next door, as is Spice 8 Asian Kitchen, which serves Chinese and Thai food. Otherwise, East Smokey Hill Road features the area’s largest shopping center, with a King Soopers, a Walgreens, a Sprouts Farmers Market and several restaurants, such as Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery, the place to go for baked treats, ice cream, cheesecakes and more.

Colorado E-470, the toll road, runs nearby, giving residents fast access to Denver International Airport, a 20-mile drive. In addition, “most homes in Willow Trace have new roofs,” Closset says. “A major hailstorm hit the neighborhood over the summer prompting the improvements.” Whether it’s the homes, the schools or recreational opportunities, Willow Trace has them all.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

Evan Melgren

Video By

Tyler Hall