Welcome to the Highland Park 3 Association, Inc., the premier acreage community nestled on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, and part of the Black Forest Community. Enjoy the perfect balance of expansive, private lots and exceptional city convenience.
Today, Highland Park is a gorgeous, peaceful community—but if these streets could talk, they’d tell a wild story involving international real estate tycoons, a massive 1980s bankruptcy, and literal high-flying history.
Here is how our neighborhood came to be, piece by fascinating piece.....
The International Drama (Filing 1)
The land that makes up Filing 1 was once part of the legendary Banning Lewis Ranch. In the 1980s, a mega-developer named Frank Aries went bankrupt, landing the ranch straight into the hands of the federal government's Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). In fact, it was the single largest asset the government had to handle at the time!
From there, the land took a brief international detour when it was bought by Saudi Arabian investors, before finally being acquired by Little London, LLC to become the neighborhood you see today.
Look Up! The Aviation Days (Filings 2 & 3)
If you live east of Cottonwood Creek, your home sits on a piece of aviation history. Long before it was Highland Park, this land was owned by Mark Wild and served as the Black Forest Gliderport—a hub for motorless planes catching the Colorado wind currents.
Like Filing 1, this land was also bought by Frank Aries, but when his empire collapsed, Mark Wild swooped back in, reclaimed his land, and eventually sold it to the founders of Little London.
Neighborhood Easter Eggs: Can You Find Them?
The gliderport may be gone, but its ghosts are still around if you know where to look:
- The Runway: Look closely at Filings 2 and 3—portions of the old north-south runway are still visible!
- Hidden Artifacts: Keep an eye out during your neighborhood walks. Scattered here and there are old concrete slabs and rusty tie-downs where gliders used to park.
- The Flight Center: The buildings originally located in Highland Park 3 weren't houses at all; they were the bustling flight operations center, complete with a pilot clubhouse and bunk beds for overnight aviators.
So, whether you're relaxing in your backyard or walking the dog by the creek, you're walking the same paths where international deals were struck and glider pilots chased the clouds.
Not bad for a place to call home!