Cripple Creek: A Prime Place to Visit, Play And Stay This Summer

The lodging race winner. The Wildwood casino has won the initial race for opening the first new hotel addition, with the 101-room hotel scheduled to open this week. An extensive amount of construction has occurred at this site, adjacent to the casino, in recent months.

No Shortage of Fun Options in the World’s Greatest Gold Camp

Jeff Mosher

Cripple Creek Marketing and Special Events Director

Cripple Creek is open and excited to have you visit.  Whether you are a local looking for a quick getaway, or a visitor who wants to experience everything this mountain town has to offer, there are plenty of opportunities to create lifelong memories.

It all starts with your drive to an elevation of almost 10,000 feet.  There are five roads that can lead you to Cripple Creek.  Only two are paved.  From Highway 24 turn south on Highway 67 in Divide or take Teller County Road 1 from Florissant or High Park Road from Canon City.  You can also take the challenging and very scenic gravel routes of Shelf Road or Phantom Canyon Road from Canon City, and Gold Camp Road from the Broadmoor area of Colorado Springs.  Some of these routes are part of the majestic Gold Belt Scenic Byway, a must do for any visitor or those wanting to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in Colorado.

A grand opening has been tentatively scheduled for early July. Several other big lodging ventures will also open in the next few years, as Cripple Creek takes a stab at becoming more of a destination area. The Wildwood, which opened in 2009, is known for its Las Vegas feel, featuring the town’s largest single-gaming floor.

Sometimes in Cripple Creek the past and the present can be blurred.   Gold was discovered in 1890 which bolstered the population to over 50,000.  Along with gold came all the excitement and entertainment.  Gold is still being mined by the Newmont CC&V Mine and several small private operations.  The Cripple Creek Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad still operates a steam engine for tourists in the summer.  Travel 1,000 underground on the Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour. You can sit in an original jail cell of some of the most renowned outlaws in the west at the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum.

The Old Homestead House Museum was an actual brothel operated by Madam Pearl De Vere at the end of the 19th century.  Fire Station #3 houses fire equipment used in the early 1900’s.  You can even try your luck at the escape room inside the Cripple Creek District Museum.  The Heritage Center provide plenty of historical displays and interactive activities.  You may even be lucky enough to meet members of our resident donkey herd wandering the streets, which are actual descendants of donkeys used in mining over 100 years ago.  The Butte Theater is one of only three theaters in the U.S. to preserve the melodrama genre.  Professional shows are held throughout the summer and through the end of the year.  It is a must see for anyone.  Gambling is still alive and well in any one of the nine casinos in town and alcohol sales is also permitted 24 hours a day.

The birth of the Chamonix resort. Bronco Billy’s has started the infrastructure work for its new four-star 300-room hotel addition, highlighted by a spree of new amenities, and a parking garage. Above, work continues non-stop in the Second Street area at a former parking lot, which has been relocated to the east part of town off Hwy. 67, near the Cripple Creek District Museum. Shuttle service is available for Bronco Billy’s customers. The new $180-million project, called the Chamonix resort, is scheduled for completion in 2022. Photo by Rick Langenberg

While you are in town grab some ice cream and a souvenir at the Rocky Mountain Canary or indulge your sweet tooth at the Cripple Creek Candy Store.  Artwork, gifts, jewelry and all kinds of surprises can be found at places like the Cheshire Cat, The Little Store, Nana’s Nook, 9494, and Creations Everlasting.  Grab a bite to eat in one of the casino restaurants, or try Ralf’s Breakroom, or The Creek, a brand-new non-casino restaurant.  Want something to-go, try Pioneer Pizza and Subs or one of a handful of food trucks like Smokin’ Rusty’s BBQ, Docs, or several rotating vendors.  You can even try your luck at the escape room inside the Cripple Creek District Museum.  For the outdoors, bring your BMX bike to hit the Mountain View Adventure Park. The Park includes a dog park, playground equipment, hiking trail, mountainside disc golf course, and picnic pavilion.  For fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding or hiking, head out to Skagway Reservoir, east of historic Victor.

You can also learn more about the area, the mine, and recreational opportunities by jumping on the Gold Camp Adventure Tour Bus.  Tours leave from the Lowell Thomas Museum in neighboring Victor, Colorado, at 10:00 Saturday mornings.  The Gold Camp Victorian Society Historic Trolley Tours depart from the Cripple Creek District Museum at 1:00 on Saturdays and include re-enactments and guides in period outfits.

There are also a lot of exciting events coming to town this summer.  This lineup includes The Top of the World Rodeo, Trolley Tours, 4th of July weekend activities for the whole family, Pearl De Vere Day with bed races, the 90th anniversary of Donkey Derby Days, Mt. Pisgah Speaks cemetery tours, and the Two Mile High Club Aspen Color Tours.

There are over 300 hotel rooms in Cripple Creek including the newly opened Wildwood Hotel, and remodeled rooms at Double Eagle Casino, Triple Crown Casinos, and Century Casino, so you can extend your stay and enjoy everything that Cripple Creek has to offer.  We also look forward to the opening of the huge Bronco Billy’s hotel and event center in late 2022.

Whatever you plan to do this summer, do not miss a visit to Cripple Creek where you can still strike it rich.  Visit www.VisitCrippleCreek.com to learn more about the events and other information about town.