Contact: Michelle Tripp • 303.319.9669 • michelle@livewindler.com
A Family Farmed This Land in 1881. Now It’s a Park…and Colorado Is Turning 150!
Windler opens 1881 Park in Aurora, honoring one of Colorado’s last remaining homestead farms as the state marks its sesquicentennial
AURORA, Colo. (JULY 1, 2026) — When Henry Windler purchased 800 acres of Colorado high plains in 1881, he loaded a horse-drawn wagon with butter, milk and eggs each week and made the long trip to Denver, traveling from daybreak to late at night to supply families in a city that was still finding its footing.
Windler, a master-planned community in northeast Aurora, will celebrate the grand opening of 1881 Park on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. Prior to the public portion of the event, organizers have planned a dedication ceremony beginning at 3:30 p.m., featuring remarks from community leaders and a ribbon cutting, marking the debut of the first signature gathering space in what will become one of the Denver metro area’s largest new residential communities. The opening coincides with Colorado’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th.
“This land tells a Colorado story,” said Don Provost, developer of Windler. “Henry Windler broke ground here the same decade Colorado became a state. That history doesn’t disappear when a community grows up around it — it becomes the foundation.”
A Homestead Recognized by History Colorado
The Windler homestead was founded in 1881 and formally recognized as a Colorado Centennial Farm and Ranch by History Colorado in 1986, a designation that acknowledges more than 100 years of continuous agricultural use. At its peak, the property stretched 800 acres and functioned as a dairy farm and cattle ranch, one of the few remaining examples of dryland farming on Colorado’s eastern plains.
When site preparation began for 1881 Park, crews salvaged barn wood, fencing and farm equipment from the original structures. Bricks recovered from the farmhouse — largely destroyed by fire but partially intact, were carefully preserved. Those materials are now incorporated into Anna’s Place and The Coop, two gathering spaces within the park, keeping the physical history of the homestead visible and present.
Honoring the Windler Family
Members of the Windler family will be recognized at the grand opening ceremony. Their stewardship of this land across multiple generations — from Henry Windler’s original homestead through Karl Windler, who continued to raise cattle on the property into recent decades, represents an unbroken connection to Colorado’s agricultural heritage.
“We are honored to have the Windler family with us,” Provost said. “Everything we have built here starts with what they built first.”
About 1881 Park
Located east of E-470 in northeast Aurora, 1881 Park serves as the central gathering space for the Windler community. The park features open lawn and flexible event areas, pedestrian connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, dedicated parking and public access. On-site concepts Anna’s Place and The Coop anchor the park’s daily activity.
The surrounding neighborhood includes newly completed homes, with additional residential construction continuing throughout the 850-acre community.
Beyond opening day, 1881 Park is designed for year-round programming, neighborhood events and community gatherings. The park is intended to serve not only Windler residents but the broader Aurora community.
Event Details What: 1881 Park Grand Opening — Ribbon Cutting and Public Celebration
When: Thursday, July 9, 2026, | 3 to 7 p.m. MDT
Where: 1881 Park at Windler, northeast Aurora, Colorado (east of E-470)
Admission: Free and open to the public
Media check-in: Welcome Wagon (green Windler-branded RV) at 3:00 pm
Parking: Available on site
More information: livewindler.com/event/1881-park-grand-opening
About Windler
Windler is a master-planned community in Aurora, Colorado, located along the E-470 corridor near Denver International Airport. The community is built on the historic Windler family homestead, established in 1881, and recognized by History Colorado as a Colorado Centennial Farm and Ranch. At full buildout, Windler will include approximately 5,000 residences, more than 170 acres of parks and open space, and walkable community destinations designed for connection, recreation and everyday convenience. Current amenities include Discovery Park — featuring dog parks, open lawn and playgrounds, and 1881 Park, home to The Coop gathering space, Anna’s Place and a dog park, with year-round community programming. Windler’s location near DIA, E-470 and I-70 connects residents to the broader Denver metro area while offering a distinct sense of place rooted in Colorado’s agricultural heritage.
For more information, visit livewindler.com.
