Sandstone Ranch Park is situated on 313 acres of land abundant in natural, cultural and historic resources. It is both a community park and a district park/nature preserve. The western side of the park features a four-plex ball field complex. The eastern side of the park features sports fields, a skate park, an adventure playground, a group picnic shelter and the Visitor’s Center.
The Adventure Playground at Sandstone Ranch Community Park is a one-of-a-kind play experience for kids along the Front Range in Colorado. Climbing, digging, splashing, spinning, hopping and exploring are all encouraged and inspired by the custom play equipment and themed play areas. The historic ranch and adjacent stream guided the agricultural and aquatic theme of the playground. Spring Gulch Play Corral is designed for toddlers with farm animals, a teepee, a cabin and musical panels for imagination and role-playing. The Tree House Play Area includes an extra tall tree house play structure, a web climber, a climbing wall, a boulder labyrinth and a tire swing to challenge older kids with new play events.
The playground’s main attraction is water and sand play, which are found in the center of the playground. Kids will also find giant aquatic animals for climbing, fossils for discovering, lily pads for hopping and water spray jets for keeping cool. Shade and seating are found throughout the play area for parents and caregivers. Spray Water Feature.
The Visitors & Learning Center is a historic property that was first homesteaded in 1860 by the Coffin family. The house (now the Visitors & Learning Center) and property are on State and National Historic Registers. Longmont also designated the house as a local landmark in September 2000. It includes hands-on displays on environmental features of the area, as well as history of the Coffin family and other early Longmont history.
Exhibits provide information on the unique geology and wildlife found at the site. They also help portray life as it was more than a century ago. A trip to the 1880's era homestead includes historical and environmental hands-on displays, as well as educational exhibits in the ice house, tool shed and barn.
A nature trail from the Visitors & Learning Center takes you past several historical buildings, near the sandstone bluffs, and includes a scenic overlook. Numerous species of wildlife and birds are seen frequently on the property including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks.
Walking trails with interpretive signs, an overlook atop the sandstone bluffs and restored historic buildings are found along the southern portion of the property straddling the St. Vrain Creek. Currently, areas south of the river are not open to the public. The park also connects to the St. Vrain Greenway trail. The distance from Golden Ponds to Sandstone Ranch is slightly over 8 miles. Due to wildlife concerns, no dogs are allowed on the trail east of County Line Road (Weld County Road 1).
