The Retreat at Banning Lewis Ranch

Independent Assessment

The Retreat at Banning Lewis Ranch is a genuine, actively selling, age-restricted 55+ new-construction community, with corroboration from Oakwood Homes' own site, Banning Lewis Ranch's master-plan site, 55places.com, and multiple new-home marketplaces. The builder 'Oakwood Homes' and the brand 'OakwoodLife' are not separate: OakwoodLife is not an unrelated senior-living operator, but Oakwood Homes' own in-house marketing brand for its three Active Adult communities (including The Retreat and a Denver-metro community, The Reserve at Green Valley Ranch), consolidated in 2026 under a broader 'OneOakwood' branding initiative. A genuinely distinct and unrelated entity, a national corporate-housing/apartment operator that also uses an 'Oakwood' name, did surface in adjacent research and should not be confused with either Oakwood Homes or its OakwoodLife active-adult brand. Separately, and consistent with the broader Colorado Springs-area pattern of age-restricted enclaves sitting inside larger, non-restricted master plans, only The Retreat itself carries the 55+ age restriction; the surrounding Banning Lewis Ranch master-planned community is a large, all-ages development with its own separate, non-age-restricted neighborhoods, amenities, and HOA structure, and buyers should not assume the broader Banning Lewis Ranch name implies an age restriction.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want a brand-new, actively selling 55+ community with a private resort-style clubhouse, a Lifestyle Director-run social calendar, and a choice of several floor-plan collections are a strong fit for The Retreat. Its location within the broader, amenity-rich Banning Lewis Ranch master plan in far northeast Colorado Springs also appeals to buyers who want walkable access to a larger master-planned community's parks, trails, and retail while living within their own dedicated age-restricted neighborhood.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Oakwood Homes built The Retreat as Banning Lewis Ranch's first and, as of the last update, only age-restricted 55+ neighborhood, marketed under the builder's OakwoodLife active-adult brand. The community offers a series of main-floor-living floorplans across several named collections, including the Explorer Collection (roughly 1,409-1,877 sq. ft., two bedrooms and two bathrooms) and the larger Epic Collection, spanning single-family and courtyard-style attached homes designed for a low-maintenance lifestyle. Construction is ongoing as of the most recent review, with Oakwood Homes continuing to release new lots and floor plans.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

Reported builder pricing at The Retreat ranges from roughly $404,000-$447,000 for the smaller Explorer Collection homes up to roughly $600,000-$692,000 for the larger Epic Collection, with 55places.com reporting a current market-average sale price near $602,000 reflecting a mix of collections and lots. Because the community is new construction and still actively selling, buyers should request current builder pricing, available lots, and any active incentives directly from Oakwood Homes' on-site sales office rather than relying on the figures shown.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

As an actively selling, under-construction Oakwood Homes community, current purchases at The Retreat come directly from the builder with a standard Oakwood Homes warranty; a resale market has not yet meaningfully developed given how early the community remains in its build-out. Buyers should expect ongoing nearby construction activity for a period of years and should confirm current lot availability, floor plans, and incentives directly with the sales office.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes in The Retreat are subject to El Paso County property tax at the county's current mill levy, along with any applicable City of Colorado Springs municipal charges and metropolitan-district mill levies common to Banning Lewis Ranch and other large Colorado Springs master-planned communities. Colorado offers a Senior Property Tax Exemption for qualifying long-term homeowners age 65 and older, a state-level benefit separate from this community's 55+ HOA eligibility threshold. Buyers should confirm the current combined mill levy, any metropolitan-district assessments, and senior exemption eligibility directly with the El Paso County Assessor's Office.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

The Retreat offers a low-maintenance, main-floor-living lifestyle centered on its own private clubhouse and pool, set within the larger, walkable Banning Lewis Ranch master plan. Because the community is still in active construction, its layout and amenity roster will continue to fill in over the next several years as remaining collections and homesites are completed; early buyers should expect a growing rather than fully settled community for some time, with construction traffic and staging typical of an active new-home community.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

The Retreat sits within Banning Lewis Ranch in far northeast Colorado Springs, Colorado, near North Powers Boulevard, a major arterial running through the eastern part of the city, with a reference address near 9158 Braemore Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80927. The location offers convenient access to Powers Boulevard for shopping, dining, and commuting, along with the broader Banning Lewis Ranch master plan's own parks, trails, and neighborhood amenities.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

The Retreat at Banning Lewis Ranch is marketed and sold by Oakwood Homes as a legally age-restricted community requiring at least one resident age 55 or older per household, consistent with the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) framework. Buyers should confirm current age-verification procedures directly with Oakwood Homes or the community association; the specific recorded covenant text for this El Paso County subdivision was not independently reviewed. The surrounding Banning Lewis Ranch master-planned community is not age-restricted; only The Retreat's own neighborhood carries the 55+ requirement.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Because The Retreat is still under active construction, buyers should expect ongoing nearby building activity for a period of years as remaining collections and homesites are completed, and should confirm current lot availability, phase, and any builder incentives directly with Oakwood Homes rather than relying on the pricing snapshot. As a new-construction-only community at this stage, a meaningful resale market has not yet developed. Buyers should also clearly distinguish The Retreat's own age-restricted HOA from the larger, non-age-restricted Banning Lewis Ranch master association that governs the surrounding all-ages neighborhoods, and confirm which association fees and rules apply to a specific home.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Within the Colorado Springs 55+ market, The Retreat is the area's primary new-construction option from a major builder, offering a resort-style clubhouse and Lifestyle Director-run programming comparable in ambition to Classic Homes' smaller Legends Collection enclaves (such as Village of Cortona at Flying Horse) but with a larger planned home count and a broader mainstream price range starting in the $400,000s. Buyers who want a brand-new home with builder financing and warranty options, and don't mind ongoing construction nearby for a few years, should focus on The Retreat, while buyers who prioritize an already-complete neighborhood or country-club-style golf amenities may prefer an established resale enclave instead.

Current Listings

A connected local agent or Oakwood Homes' own on-site sales office can confirm current new-construction availability by collection, current pricing, and HOA fee amounts at The Retreat.

Is The Retreat at Banning Lewis Ranch age-restricted?

Yes. Oakwood Homes markets and sells The Retreat as a legally age-restricted 55+ community requiring at least one resident age 55 or older per household. The surrounding Banning Lewis Ranch master plan is not age-restricted; only The Retreat's own neighborhood carries this requirement.

Is 'OakwoodLife' a different company from Oakwood Homes?

No. OakwoodLife is Oakwood Homes' own in-house brand for its Active Adult communities, not a separate or unrelated operator. A different, unrelated national corporate-housing company also uses an 'Oakwood' name and should not be confused with either.

How many homes are planned at The Retreat?

The community is planned for approximately 236 single-family and attached homes across several floor-plan collections at full build-out. Confirm current availability and remaining phases directly with Oakwood Homes.

What is the HOA fee at The Retreat?

Reported HOA dues are approximately $288/month. Confirm the current fee and exact coverage directly with Oakwood Homes or the community association.