Initially owned by Thomas Sloan as far back as 1866, the land was initially used as a farm and cattle ranch. According to legend, Sloan tried to dig a well on his property and tapped into a very high water table! Water flooded most of his land, and the lake was created. In the 1870s a canal was created between the lake and Cheltenham Heights – an area located roughly near Colfax and Federal today. For a short time steamship cruises were offered along the canal and around the lake. In the 1890s a small, private amusement park called Manhattan Beach was created along the southern shore of the lake, which was outlasted by nearby Lakeside and Elitch’s amusement parks. In 1906 the land was purchased by Denver’s Park System, and in the 1930s Sloan Lake was connected to the adjacent Cooper Lake, creating the shape of the lake familiar to residents today.

Real Estate prices in the neighborhood are generally above the Denver average, currently in the mid to upper $200,000s. Areas north of the lake are generally more expensive as a result of the areas proximity to the popular West Highlands District at 32nd and Lowell. Houses in the area were generally built in the 1920s and 1930s, with later development and infill projects lasting into the 1950s. In parts of the neighborhood, some houses and duplexes are being replaced with brand new construction single family homes and duplexes. However, the city recently “downzoned” some of these areas preventing future duplex development.

The future of the Sloan’s Lake area looks great. The Highlands District to the north continues to gain popularity, and the city has a strong interest in making Colfax Avenue along the south side of the neighborhood into something better than it is today. Also, St. Anthony’s, a large hospital complex on the south side of the lake, is planning a move farther west into Lakewood. Approximately 16 acres will be rezoned and redeveloped, which will undoubtedly attract new residential and retail projects just as Stapleton and Lowry did years earlier.