Mariana Wagner

Colorado Springs Military: United States Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs is home to the USAFA: United States Air Force Academy. Located in the northern part of Colorado Springs, the USAFA can be accessed by the Northern gates just west of Gleneagle and Northgate or from the Southern gates at the end of North Academy Blvd. (It is important to note that Academy Blvd. has access to TWO military gates in Colorado Springs: South Academy Blvd offers accesst the the North gates of Fort Carson Army Base and North Academy Blvd. offers access to the South gates of the USAFA. Try not to get confused!)

(The following picture was taken from the North side of the Cadets Chapel – looking straight up…)

The USAFA is a landmark in northern Colorado Springs with the Rocky Mountains as a stunning backdrop.

Taken from the USAFA site:

“The U.S. Air Force Academy is recognized as one of the nation’s finest four-year institutions of higher learning.  Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society, the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the academic curriculum provides cadets with a solid foundation appropriate to an Air Force career and the activities of a responsible American citizen.”

If you enter as a visitor, you should check out the Visitors Center and take a short hike to the Cadets Chapel. The Cadets Chapel has such a unique architectural style and is noticable from many parts of Northern Colorado Springs.

Some facts about the Cadets Chapel:

• The Cadets Chapel is an All-Faith house of worship with separate chapels for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, and is designed where all chapels can hold services at once without disturbing each other.
• The All-Faith Rooms are designed to accommodate the needs of smaller religious groups.
• The chapel is 150 feet tall and features aluminum, glass and steel with 17 spires and cost $3.5 million to build. “Furnishings, pipe organs, liturgical fittings and adornments of the chapel were presented as gifts from individuals and various organizations.”
• The architect was Walter A. Netsch Jr. and construction was by Robert E. McKee, Inc.

Some Facts about the school:

• There are about 75% military faculty and 25% civilian faculty and over 560 professors at the USAFA.
• There are 32 academic majors (and even more minors) offered – from aeronautical engineering to systems engineering management.
• There are more than 500 courses offered each year.
• ” Throughout the academic year, cadets may also attend presentations by distinguished political, academic, business, media, cultural, and military leaders.”
• The Cadet Summer Research Program allows about 190 cadets to spend 5 weeks “at various Air Force, Department of Defense, and other research facilities around the world.”

Some History about the USAFA:

• The USAFA was established in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• The location was chosen above 45 other sites and once chosen, Colorado contributed $1 Million Dollars toward the purchase.
• The first class to attend the USAFA at its current location was in 1958 and consisted of 1,145 cadets.
• The USAFA received accreditation in less than one year of opening.
• Women were allowed to enter the USAFA in 1976 and the first class that included women was in 1980.

Read More Facts About the USAFA

A very popular time to visit the USAFA is during the Football Season: Go Falcons!

Falcon Football Stadium is accessible from either the South Gate or the North Gate, but is closer to the South gate, off of Academy Blvd. Remember that you are on the USAFA grounds when you got to a Fighting Falcons game and drive carefully!

It is good to also note that: “Items prohibited at Falcon Stadium for the 2007 football season include: alcoholic beverages, food, umbrellas, backpacks of any sort, artificial noisemakers, banners or large signs, laser pointers, weapons, firearms, fireworks, glass containers, cans, bags larger than 8×11 inches, and any items that cannot be readily inspected.”

Visitors to the US Air Force Academy are welcome to drive down many of their many scenic roads or walk along many of the hiking trails – like the one between the Visitors Center and the Cadet’s Chapel, where you will feel engulfed in the beauty of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

For more information on the United States Air Force Academy, please visit: USAFA.AF.MIL

Surrounding Colorado Springs neighborhoods close to the USAFA include:

• Trail Ridge Neighborhoods
• Middle Creek Manor
• Deer Creek Crossings at Northgate
• Black Forest
• Flying Horse
• Gleneagle
• Peregrine
• Rockrimmon
• Oak Valley and Oak Valley Ranch

February 27th, 2008 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Colorado Springs Neighborhoods: Scenes from Flying Horse

The new Colorado Springs neighborhood of Flying Horse is beautiful and is located in Northgate and is home to the Flying Horse golf course and the K-12 Discovery Canyon Campus. We drive through Flying Horse on our way to our office (in Gleneagle) and are in constant awe of how beautiful this neighborhood is becoming.

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February 2nd, 2008 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Colorado Springs Neighborhood Report ~ Middle Creek Manor and Mary Kyer Park

Middle Creek Manor is located in Northgate- Northern Colorado Springs, about 5 minutes southeast from the north gate of the United States Air Force Academy. Northgate is one of the northernmost parts of Colorado Springs.

Across Middle Creek Parkway from Middle Creek Manor is Mary Kyer Park. This park is adjacent to the da Vinci Academy and offers a spectacular lake with waterfall, a basket ball court, tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, full play structure, walking trails and stunning Rocky Mountain views! The southern border of Mary Kyer Park is shared with the Northgate neighborhood of Trail Ridge.

Middle Creek Manor Schools:

• Elementary School: da Vinci Academy School of Arts and Ideas. This school is right on the Southern border of Middle Creek Manor.
• Middle School: Discovery Canyon Campus (6-8) Located just north of Middle Creek Manor, in Flying Horse.
• High School: Discovery Canyon Campus (9-12) Less than 5 minutes to 2 campuses of the The Classical Academy. The main campus is walking distance to the northwest.

Middle Creek Manor is conveniently located …

• Close to major places of employment: USAA – Progressive – FedEx – Compassion International – Focus on the Family – United States Air Force Academy.
• Less than 5 minutes from the Promenade Shops at Briargate.
• About 5-10 minutes from Chapel Hills Mall and North Academy Blvd. shopping and entertainment.
• About 5 minutes from the United State Air Force Academy.
• Close to I-25 with less than 45 minutes from Southern Denver and the Denver Tech Center.
• Less than 5 Minutes from the Flying Horse 18-Hole Luxury Golf Course, and less than 10 minutes from the Gleneagle Championship Golf Course.

Middle Creek Manor Real Estate:

The eastern parts of Middle Creek Manor are blended with the new development of Stone Crossing a neighborhood of near-luxury homes priced close to ¾ of a million dollars.

October 29th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | 1 Comment »

Colorado Springs Neighborhood Report ~ Deer Creek at Northgate

Deer Creek at Northgate is one of a handful of newer neighborhoods in Northgate – the northernmost part of Colorado Springs- just North of Interquest Parkway and east of Voyager Parkway. The southern border of Deer Creek is dotted with a few small office buildings and is not far from New life Church and the World Prayer Center.

To the North is Liberty Heights – a Senior Lifestyle Community, and the Southern edge of Trailridge. Deer Creek offers excellent views of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains – as it is situated on a series of foothills. It is hard to find a home in this neighborhood without wonderful views. The eastern border is still open space – but is currently slated to be a residential neighborhood of the Flying Horse golf course community.

There are strict HOA’s keeping the neighborhood in pristine condition. Furthermore, the back yards are outlined with landscaping efforts – like trees and shrubbery, or with split rail fences, as privacy fences are not allowed.

The homes in Deer Creek were built between 2002 and 2006 by reputable local builders Classic Homes and Keller Homes. (Between the Deer Creek Neighborhood and Voyager Parkway, there are more new homes being built by Richmond American Homes. Although they are adjacent to Deer Creek – they are not the same neighborhood. That neighborhood is called Wildwood Ridge.)

Deer Creek at Northgate Real Estate:

Two stories and ranchers are the types of homes that you will find in Deer Creek. Homes have 4 – 6 bedrooms, 3-4 bathrooms and almost all homes come with a 3 car garage. In Deer Creek, home sizes range from a little over 3,000 total square feet to almost 4,200 s.f..

There are only about 6 streets of homes that make up Deer Creek – so, it is not a large neighborhood. Homes in Deer Creek sell for anywhere between the mid $300k’s -lower $400k’s, as of Fall 2008.

Children who live in Deer Creek attend Academy School District 20 schools.

• Elementary School: da Vinci Academy School of Arts and Ideas
• Middle School: Discovery Canyon Campus (6-8)
• High School: Discovery Canyon Campus (9-12)
• Less than 5 minutes to 2 campuses of the The Classical Academy

Deer Creek at Northgate is conveniently located …

• Close to major places of employment: USAA – Progressive – FedEx – Compassion International – Focus on the Family – United States Air Force Academy
• About 5 minutes from the United State Air Force Academy
• Close to I-25 with less than 45 minutes from Southern Denver and the Denver Tech Center
• About 5-10 minutes from Chapel Hills Mall and North Academy Blvd. shopping and entertainment
• Just down the street from Mary Kyer Park – playground and ball fields.

Search Homes for Sale in Deer Creek Crossing at Northgate

For more information on Deer Creek Crossing, or any other Colorado Springs Neighborhood, please contact the Wagner iTeam at Keller Williams Hope Realty: 719.434.7525

October 29th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Colorado Springs Neighborhood Report ~ Trail Ridge and Trail Ridge South

Trail Ridge neighborhoods are in the northernmost part of Colorado Springs known as Northgate. It is called Northgate because it is home to the “North gate” entrance of the United States Air Force Academy. Trail Ridge consists of two neighborhoods: Trail Ridge and Trail Ridge South.

Both of these Colorado Springs neighborhoods are located east of I-25 between Interquest Parkway and Gleneagle. Voyager Parkway is the divider between Trail Ridge and Trail Ridge South.

Trail Ridge Schools

The Trail Ridge Neighborhoods are located in Academy School District 20.
- Elementary School: da Vinci Academy School of Arts and Ideas
- Middle School: Discovery Canyon Campus (6-8)
- High School: Discovery Canyon Campus (9-12)
- Near- walking distance to 2 campuses of the The Classical Academy.

The Trail Ridge Neighborhoods are conveniently located …

- Barely 5 minutes from the United State Air Force Academy
- Close to I-25 with less than 45 minutes from Southern Denver and the Denver Tech Center
- Close to major places of employment: USAA – Progressive – FedEx – Compassion International – Focus on the Family – United States Air Force Academy
- Just minutes from Chapel Hills Mall and North Academy Blvd. shopping and entertainment.

Trail Ridge ~

This neighborhood is located east of Voyager Parkway and sits on a series of foothills – offering spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and the Air Force Academy from almost every home.

The northern border of this neighborhood is Mary Kyer Park and the da Vinci Academy Elementary School of Arts and Ideas. Mary Kyer Park offers a huge playground, basketball court, tennis court, grassy fields and a large pond with a waterfall. To the south is the beautifully maintained grounds of Liberty Heights Senior Lifestyle Community. The eastern border of Trail Ridge is shared with the western boundary of Flying Horse- a new luxury golf course community in Northgate.

Trail Ridge South ~

Trail Ridge South is west of Voyager Parkway and slightly south of Trail Ridge. The homes in this neighborhood sit on flatter lots than the homes in Trail Ridge. The mountain views are not as panoramic, but the yards are larger and more functional. Open Space to the west of Trailridge South helps make for unobstructed views of the Air Force Academy and the Rocky Mountains.

To the north is Compassion International and to the south is the new upscale apartment community of Talon Hill.

Trail Ridge Real Estate:

Homes in the Trail Ridge Neighborhoods were built between 1999 and 2006, and are either 2-story or ranch designs. Most homes are 4-5 bedrooms, 3-4 bathrooms and almost all homes offer a 3-car garage. Homes range from 2,600 total square feet to over 5,000 total square feet – averaging at about 3,600 s.f.. More than half the homes built are either stucco finished or a combination of stucco and concrete siding.

Home prices in Trail Ridge average in the mid $300k’s, as of Fall 2008.

Strict covenants in the Trail Ridge neighborhoods keep the homes and yards looking beautiful – which is very important as privacy fences are prohibited. Lot lines are loosely defined with small trees, shrubbery or split rail fences. Residents also love the trails that link the different streets – especially the ones in Trail Ridge South that links the homes directly to the western Open Space.

The Trail Ridge neighborhoods offer a lot to anyone looking for a perfect blend of Colorado Springs neighborhood-feel and unmatched Colorado beauty.

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October 28th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | 2 Comments »