Everyone in Colorado Springs knows the Old North End has the massive, jaw-dropping mansions. But if you actually live here—or if you’ve spent enough time grabbing coffee at Good Neighbors—you know the real soul of central Colorado Springs is tucked just a few blocks east. People talk about Patty Jewett Colorado Springs like it's a secret club, even though it’s one of the oldest residential pockets in the city.
It isn't just about the golf. Honestly, most of the people moving into the 1920s bungalows along Espanola Street couldn't tell a sand wedge from a putter. They’re here for the "mature urban forest" (which is just a fancy way of saying trees so big they eat the sidewalk) and the fact that you can actually walk to a brewery without fearing for your life on a six-lane highway.
The Golf Course that Renamed a City
You can't talk about this place without mentioning the 27-hole beast that anchors it. Established in 1898, the Patty Jewett Golf Course is officially one of the oldest public courses west of the Mississippi. But the name? That’s where the story gets kinda heavy.
William Jewett was a gold mining mogul who basically ran the Town and Gown Golf Club back in the day. After his wife, Patty Stuart Jewett, passed away in 1915, he bought the whole thing and deeded it to the city. He had one big condition: it had to stay open to the public forever and it had to bear her name. That was 1919. Since then, the neighborhood that grew up around the greens just adopted the name as its own identity.
Most people assume the big, white Peel House over on North Cascade was their main home, and it was—for a while. But the couple eventually moved to Pasadena because of Patty's failing health. The legacy they left behind isn't just a scorecard; it's a 300-acre green lung in the middle of a city that's otherwise exploding with new, beige stucco subdivisions.
✨ Don't miss: Why Mothers Day Memes Funny Content Actually Saves Our Sanity Every May
Architecture for People Who Hate Cookie-Cutters
If you’re looking for a three-car garage and a "great room" with 20-foot ceilings, you’re in the wrong zip code. Homes in Patty Jewett are quirky. Sometimes they're frustrating.
You’ll find:
- Craftsman Bungalows: These are the bread and butter of the area. Think low-slung roofs, massive front porches, and built-in bookshelves that have been painted over seventeen times.
- Sears Kit Homes: Back in the early 1900s, you could literally order a house from a catalog. A bunch of these popped up around here to house the workers and service providers who supported the wealthy families over in the Old North End.
- Mid-Century Ranches: Especially as you move toward the 1940s and 50s developments, the houses get flatter and wider.
- The "Mystery" Additions: Since the lots are decent-sized but the houses are often small (averaging around 1,400 square feet), you’ll see some wild second-story additions that look like they were dropped in by a helicopter.
A huge thing to watch out for if you’re buying: the garages. Or lack thereof. Most "garages" here were built for a Model T. They are tiny, detached, and usually tucked behind the house in an alley. Nowadays, people are turning the tops of these garages into Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which is why the density here feels so much higher than the suburbs.
📖 Related: Caldo de Arroz y Pollo: Why Your Grandma’s Comfort Food is Actually Science-Backed Medicine
Why Locals Actually Stay Here
There’s a specific vibe to Patty Jewett that's hard to replicate. It’s the kind of place where Porchfest—an annual September event where local bands play on people’s front porches—isn't just a Facebook event; it's a mandatory neighborhood holiday.
You’ve got the Shooks Run Trail cutting right through, which used to be the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad line. Now, it’s where everyone bikes or runs to avoid the traffic on Uintah.
Then there’s the food. You don't go to Patty Jewett for fine dining; you go for the atmosphere.
- Patty Jewett Bar & Grill: It’s in the clubhouse. The food is standard "clubhouse fare" (solid burgers, decent breakfast), but the patio is the best in the city. Period. You’re sitting right on the grass with an unobstructed view of Pikes Peak.
- Good Neighbors Meeting House: This place is basically the neighborhood’s living room. It’s where the remote workers congregate during the day and the wine-and-charcuterie crowd hits at night.
- Stir Coffee & Cocktails: Located in the Bon Shopping Center (which, by the way, looks like a time capsule from the 1960s), it’s the go-to for a quick caffeine fix or a low-key drink.
The Reality Check: What Most People Get Wrong
People think living in Patty Jewett is cheap because the houses are "small." It isn't. Median prices have climbed significantly over the last few years, often hovering well above the city average. You’re paying a premium for the history and the fact that you’re five minutes from downtown.
Also, the "quiet" is relative. If you’re right on Uintah or Wahsatch, you’re going to hear the city. But once you get three blocks deep into the grid, the noise just... vanishes. It’s replaced by the sound of the bells at Colorado College or the wind through those century-old cottonwoods.
Military families are a huge part of the fabric here too. Because it’s centrally located, you can get to Fort Carson or Peterson Space Force Base in about 20 minutes. It makes the neighborhood a weird, wonderful mix of transient military pros, tenured CC professors, and "old-timers" who have lived in the same bungalow since the 70s.
Living the Patty Jewett Life
If you’re thinking about moving here or just spending a Saturday in the area, stop looking at the MLS and go for a walk. Start at Taylor Elementary—which has been the neighborhood anchor since 1952—and walk toward the golf course entrance.
Check out the wrought-iron gates. Look at the trees. Most of them were planted over a hundred years ago and they form a literal tunnel of leaves over the road. It’s one of the few places in Colorado Springs that feels "finished."
Practical steps for your next visit:
- Park at the clubhouse: Even if you don't play golf, grab a seat on the patio for a sunset. It's the cheapest "million-dollar view" in the state.
- Walk Shooks Run: Follow the trail south toward downtown to see how the architecture shifts from 1950s ranches back into 1890s Victorians.
- Visit the Bon Shopping Center: It’s one of the last "neighborhood" shopping centers that hasn't been turned into a generic strip mall.
- Check the alleys: That’s where the real character is. You’ll see the ADUs, the hidden gardens, and the crumbling brick garages that tell the real story of how this neighborhood has evolved over the last 130 years.
The draw of Patty Jewett Colorado Springs isn't about being fancy. It’s about being established. In a city that is growing faster than it can pave its roads, there is something deeply grounding about a neighborhood that already knows exactly what it is.