Fort Logan

Fort Logan is an older subdivision of Denver that has old, large beautiful trees and is a really mixed area. In addition to the homes and apartment complexes there is the Fort Logan Mental Health Center which services much of Colorado. This facility has been in the area since 1960 when the state of Colorado donated over 300 acres to the mental health hospital.

There is a good sized YMCA in the neighborhood located just off of 285. It has the typical amenities such as a pool, large gyms, weight room, etc. There is ample parking and the fees are more than reasonable to work out here, even if you're not local.

One very interesting part of this neighborhood is the Fort Logan National Cemetery which is a place where former military soldiers and their families are buried. Many residents of Colorado have a loved one buried here and it is a really incredible thing to see how it is laid out. The grave stones are all symmetrical regardless of which direction you're looking and there is also a mausoleum for those who have chosen to be cremated. There are more than a couple of Medal of Honor recipients buried here along with numerous soldiers from every war.

The homes in this area are all older and many are made of brick giving the neighborhood an older feel to it. They go from anywhere in the high $100s to the lower $200s. The views in many of the areas here are great and very green. There is also the Pinehurst Country Club within the borders which has a nice golf course that can be a challenge for many players.

The public schools in this neighborhood perform below average on state testing standards. However, some would consider this area to also contain one of the best private schools in the state. In 1932 the Mullen High School opened for orphaned boys and has continued, going through many changes along the way. In 1989 the school began accepting girls as well. This private school expects excellence in academics and athletics as well. Tuition isn't cheap at over $11,000 a year per student. The campus is very pretty though with old majestic buildings and a lot of greenery.

Traffic in the neighborhood is fine with the exception of Sheridan Blvd. and 285. During peak driving times 285 can get very backed up and it can take a long time to get just a little distance. Other than these two roads the traffic isn't bad.

Fort Logan has a lot to offer many different people but it's main draw is how lovely it is, how easy it is to get to the mountains from here, and it's somewhat secluded nature in the midst of a large city. Even if you're not considering moving, the cemetery is something to see and a great place to go and pay tribute to the men and women who have fought for this country of ours.

When I think of Fort Logan, I usually think of the cemetery here. This is an old military cemetery for service personnel and their families. My grandfather, who was a marine and served in the Pacific in WWII, is buried here. The funny thing is that I do not think of this area as Denver, because it is quite a drive from the main part of the city. I'm actually surprised to see it on the map, because I have to admit that I thought this was Englewood.

This is one of the old suburban neighborhoods. There are lots of new suburban areas, which have a completely inorganic feel, as though they have been plopped onto wide swaths of land overnight with no particular reason for being there. But Fort Logan isn't like this. The buildings here are older and well-established, as are the homes. But for anyone who needs to commute to the center of the city, this is quite a long way from downtown. It's a bit more accessible to the tech center, but if you need to find a spot close to a commercial district, Fort Logan is pretty far out of the way. I allow about 45 minutes when I head from central Denver to Roxborough State Park, and Fort Logan is even further south. During rush hour, it could easily take twice as long.

On the plus side, this is a beautiful spot. This feels much closer to the mountains than the city, and the views are spectacular. There is no shortage of open park spaces just outside this neighborhood. Roxborough and Chatfield to the south are hugely popular open spaces. There is fishing, boating, hiking, and camping here. There are lakes and golf courses. This would be a good spot for anyone who wanted to raise a family around lots of outdoor activities without actually moving to the mountains.

Today a far southwestern middle class suburb, Fort Logan surrounds two historic nuclei: the Fort Logan Cemetery and the Colorado Mental Health Institute. The former is Denver’s version of Arlington. Creeping along the cemetery’s roads will leave you dazzled with the symmetry: the white tombstones line up in perfect precision vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, which brings home the realization of just how many people are buried here. Not all died in the line of duty, but all either served or were family members of those that served, and their names and any combat tours are carefully inscribed on the neat tombstones. Around the cemetery, the newer, brick homes seem to have picked up an air of military precision.

The Mental Health Institute is a different story. The largest building in the complex, made of tile that looks like old teeth, could be the setting for a dark psychological thriller or horror movie. Nearly-identical large brick homes with rambling porches surround it, some seemingly abandoned, others well-kept, and others with an air of shabby, faded elegance. These buildings date back to the late 1800s: once part of “officers’ row,” they are now group homes and mental health organizations, and there is also one that is a museum. The complex is fenced off with a high, chain-link fence all around, and some of the streets crossing it dead-end in vacant land covered in tall grass and big old trees. Established as an actual frontier fort in the late 1800s, Fort Logan was then used for military clerical training before the mental health hospital was built in the middle of last century. If any of this sounds creepy, bear in mind that the Mental Health Institute is a well-respected facility – the scariest thing about it nowadays is probably the budget cuts.

Fort Logan is popular with families and retirees. Shopping, dining, and nightlife are thin on the ground, though the suburban basics can be found east on Federal, which is technically outside the neighborhood’s borders. It’s also going to be a long drive to downtown for anyone who works there. One of the neighborhood’s assets is its extensive green space: the extensive Bear Creek Park abuts the cemetery, golfers can take advantage of the country club, and there are several other parks in the neighborhood.