Homeowners in Aurora, Colorado, in the Blackstone neighborhood said a country club fee tied to their homes costs them hundreds of dollars a month for a membership they don't use.
Some told CBS Colorado the charge is now more than double what it was when they purchased their homes.
Here's what to know
According to CBS Colorado, required monthly dues at Blackstone Country Club in southeast Aurora have risen from just over $100 to about $245.
Residents said a petition against the mandatory membership has drawn about 250 signatures. Because the obligation is written into recorded covenants, homeowners cannot simply cancel it like a typical club package.
Full golf access is not part of the required social membership. Instead, it includes amenities such as dining, social events, swimming, fitness, and racquet sports.
For some homeowners, the price no longer matches the benefits. Shawn Martin, a homeowner in the community, called it "taxation without representation." Homeowner Josh Reddell said he stopped paying because he no longer sees enough value in the escalating cost.
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Invited Clubs, which operates Blackstone, pushed back on the criticism, saying it believes the opposition is coming from "a very small, but vocal number of residents." The company also said more than one-third of households have upgraded beyond the required membership.
More background
Because Blackstone's covenants don't set a ceiling on dues, residents said they are left wondering how high the required charge could go.
For homeowners already spending about $3,000 a year, that open-ended obligation feels especially fraught. As homeowner Heather Garber put it, "They could charge us 600 a month and [there's] nothing we can do — just pay 600 a month."
Homeowner Dmitri Pales said, "The club has no incentive to improve their services because they have indentured people who will continue to pay no matter what they do."
Homeowners said the added cost can also complicate a sale, and they noted that the mandatory membership does not cover every club activity. Events including the Haunted Hayride, Wine Expo, Santa Brunch, and the annual Fourth of July party still require extra payment.
The dispute at Blackstone reflects a broader pattern of covenant and HOA conflicts across the country, including cases where associations have blocked money-saving home upgrades such as rooftop solar panels or native plant lawns. For homeowners facing restrictive neighborhood policies, working with HOAs can be a starting point.
What's being done?
Several residents have begun protesting by withholding their dues.
Reddell and Garber told CBS Colorado they are among those who have stopped paying. Garber said that choice could expose homeowners to legal action from Invited Clubs, while others have joined the petition instead.
Invited has said the dues increases are tied to labor costs and inflation, maintaining that the required membership still represents "an incredible value." The company also said it has invested more than $3 million in upgrades to Blackstone's fitness facility, pickleball courts, pool, and splash pad.
State lawmakers first heard the issue in 2026 through House Bill 26-1316. The proposal would have barred new covenants requiring private club memberships beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and added disclosure requirements for existing ones.
The bill ultimately failed to advance. During a committee hearing, Rachel Carter of the National Golf Course Owners Association warned, "The homeowners, if allowed to opt out, can unravel the financial model these clubs are built upon."
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