It’s no secret The Canyons is kid-friendly. And not just for the littlest ones. As Ben and Kassi Cunningham have discovered over the past four years, older kids like theirs — Kailey, age 15, and Carter, age 12 — thrive with The Canyons’ special sauce of good schools and friends.
What brought you to The Canyons?
Outgrowing our house in Highlands Ranch. We looked at The Canyons because we knew it was a Shea development. After owning two Shea homes, and seeing how they hold their value, Shea is the only new construction we’d consider. Moving here also meant the kids wouldn’t have to change schools. And Kassi’s mom lives in Castle Pines, so we already knew we liked the area.
What sealed the deal for you?
We were so excited to find a place with more nature. There’s just so much open space here. We’ll see deer in the morning. There’s a giant reservoir nearby, which brings in wild turkey, elk and pronghorn. The Canyons just feels less suburban. But it’s also just down the hill from the city.
What are your favorite things to do here?
We’re big runners, so we love having the trails and usually do a 4-5 mile loop. The Rueter-Hess Incline is also nearby. We use the pool and fitness center. We love the summer concerts. And being able to walk to dinner at Canyon House, which is reasonably priced and has good happy hours.
What’s The Canyons like for older kids?
The middle and high schools are great. Rock Canyon is the best high school in Douglas County. A bus picks the kids up just a minute’s walk down the street, so there’s no need to drive them. After school, you’ll see teenagers meeting up for coffee at The Exchange and doing their homework. Or hanging out and playing soccer at Ramble Park. Everyone is very friendly here.
What was your experience building a home from scratch?
We loved working with Shea. This was during Covid, so raw materials were an issue. Shea was always upfront about any snags, and had great ideas on how to keep things moving. Their customer service was incredible. We were picky, but there were no questions asked. If they needed to fix anything, it happened within 24 hours.