Discover Cripple Creek, Colorado
On the back side of Pikes Peak, snugged onto the hillsides of a once-rollicking and wildly rich gold camp, sits today’s Cripple Creek, a limited-stakes gaming town that draws visitors from around the world.
Like many of Colorado’s mountain towns, it was first home to the Ute tribe, which moved through the high country with the seasons, living off the abundance of game and fish.
When settlers discovered gold, the landscape changed dramatically. It was Bob Womack, who had searched in vain along the southwest slope of Pikes Peak for more than a decade before hitting paydirt in 1890. Ironically, his riches were found in a place known as Poverty Gulch, which eventually became Cripple Creek.
Thousands of prospectors and the ancillary businesses of merchants and ladies of the night came to the region, and between the time of Womack’s discovery and 1910, the region was hailed as the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp.” If you were assign a 21st century value to the 22.4 million ounces of gold extracted from more than 500 mines during Cripple Creek’s heyday, you’d have yourselves more than $11 billion.
Gambling Strike in 1991
Although gold production declined dramatically in a relatively short period of time, Cripple Creek hit it big again in 1991 with legalized gambling. Many of the historic buildings became refurbished casinos and hotels, and new edifices were erected where others once stood.
In 1995 an open-pit gold mine was opened at the site of the old Cresson Mine, and it continues to produce today.
Now for many the draw is the glitter of the casino and the sounds of the electric slots and the murmur of gamers at the tables. But for history buffs, the Cripple Creek Historic District, a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, offers a wonderful glimpse into times gone by.
Many shops maintain the rustic ambience of old-time mining days, and the Cripple Creek Heritage Center offers hands-on displays that bring the past alive. Today, visitors to the area can experience the rich Cripple Creek, Colorado history through its shops, attractions and museums.
You can also tour 1,000 feet underground in the historic Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, and the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad provides another perspective on the area’s past.
Brew at the Zoo presented by Three Corners Connector
Apr 27
3455 Nuckolls Ave, Pueblo, COPueblo’s favorite festival is back for its 7th year! Pueblo Zoos Brew at the Zoo presented by Three Corners Connec
Battle MMA Championships 13
Apr 27
Norris Penrose Indoor Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd, Colorado Springs, COAn adrenaline-fueled epic night filled with fights! Local fighters go head-to-head in battle, showcasing their skills in
Collecting and Collections by Renowned University Expert
Apr 27
200 West Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CORussell Belk, Distinguished Research Professor and Marketing Chair at York University in Toronto, Canada, will present C
International Trivia Night
Apr 30
200 West Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, COThe ever-popular International Trivia Night will be held from 6-8 pm Tuesday, April 30, at the Global Village Museum of
237 Virginia Avenue
May 02 - May 19
2700 Arapahoe St, Denver, COSYNOPSIS When Eric, an overeducated and underemployed professor, begins researching the history of his father Rex’s pr
Maria Schneider Orchestra
May 03
2344 E Iliff Ave., Denver, COThe seven-time Grammy award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra has been hailed by critics as “evocative, majestic, magi
Pack Rats at Heart: The Joys of Collecting
May 04
200 West Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, COWith over 60 years of adventures collecting artifacts, Gary and Carol Ann Hixon will present Pack Rats at Heart: The Joy
Desert Highlights Trail Camp
May 10 - May 13
777 Grande River Drive, Palisade, COJoin us for a long weekend in the colorful desert landscape of Western Colorado! This year, we have partnered with Gemin
Resplendent Rachmaninoff – Fort Collins Symphony
May 11
417 West Magnolia Street, Fort Collins, COOur season closes with music that has captivated audiences in concert halls, movie theaters, and figure skating arenas f
Run to the Shrine
May 18 - May 19
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, Colorado Springs, COJoin us on Saturday, May 18 or Sunday, May 19, 2024 for Run to the Shrine, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s annual fundraiser r
