Open Houses

Open House events and educational programs have started and run from April-October! Events are free but require registration due to capacity limits.

• April 15: Meet the Beekeepers!
• May 13: Wool Spinning
• June 10: Water-wise Gardening: Learn more and register
• Aug 12: Dairy History
• Sept 9: Fitting the Farm
• Oct 14: Quilts of Valor

Group Tours & School Visits

Visitors are welcome to walk around the farm area and enjoy the property from dawn to dusk. The house and barn interiors are open for group tours and school visits by appointment only. For more information, please contact ksear@arapahoegov.com or 720-874-6726.

About the 17 Mile House Farm Park

Visitors can step back in time at the 17 Mile House, a 160-year old farm which served as an important resting stop for pioneers traveling on the Cherokee/Smoky Hill wagon trails in the 1860s.

This County-designated heritage area includes a historic house, red barn, silo, milk house and loafing shed, which were restored to their known condition in the early 1900s, as well as two windmills and 32 acres of open space. The Farm Park also features a trailhead connecting to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail, picnic tables, a parking lot and a Port-a-let. 

Open Spaces staff member Karen Sear is interviewed in a January 2022 segment of Connected Colorado, about the historic 17 Mile House Farm Park in Centennial and her own personal connection to its local history.

Photography

Photography is allowed at the 17 Mile House Farm Park.

 General Rules

• Stay on the paths to protect the landscape.
• Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash.
• Dispose of trash properly.
• Photographers should not block or limit access of the site to the public.
• Refrain from hanging items on the buildings.
• No large props are allowed.

Note: Access to 17 Mile can be closed off due to maintenance or tours without advanced notice.

Weddings and Events

The site and buildings are not currently available for rental use by the public.

History and Timeline

The 17 Mile House has a long and significant history. When the 1859-1860 gold rush resulted in large-scale settlement of the state, a series of inns emerged along Cherry Creek to accommodate travelers and freighters. 

These "mile houses" were located every 3-4 miles along the Cherokee/Smoky Hill wagon trails from Kansas, all named based on their distance to the intersection of Colfax and Broadway. 

Upon arrival, travelers could get a meal, spend the night, rest their animals and have minor repairs made to their coaches or wagons. Out of the original six mile houses, only 17 Mile House and 4 Mile House remain. 

With arrival of the railroad in 1882, pioneer traffic along the wagon trails ended, and so did the need for mile houses. For the next 100 years, hard-working families owned and farmed the land. The 17 Mile House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and the County acquired the property in 2001. 

Download a timeline of 17 Mile House history

Arapahoe County developed a 17 Mile House Farm Park Master Plan in 2007 to serve as a guide for future management and development of the open space park.

Partnerships

• History Colorado, State Historical Fund: Provided grant funding to support historic structure assessments for the 17 Mile House and Barn. Grant funding also supported rehabilitation and stabilization efforts.
• Colorado Historical Foundation: Supports ongoing management of the façade easement on the property’s historic buildings.
• Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society: Supports public education and historical programming.
• Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners: Offers outdoor education experiences along the Cherry Creek.
• Town of Parker: Supports ongoing monitoring of the property’s conservation easements

Continue the Homestead Experience

Each year at the Arapahoe County Fair, 17 Mile House staff and volunteers offer Western heritage experiences and hands-on educational activities in the homestead area. Take a look at these great homestead resources, covering everything from animals and arts and crafts to historical farm programs, gardening and more.

Volunteer at 17 Mile House

The property provides a family-friendly connection to an 1860s farm. Volunteers lead tours, interpret historical and natural history, and provide hands-on experiences. Volunteers also create interpretive displays, maintain the gardens, and care for the historic collection of artifacts. 

SIGN UP to volunteer.