Dream Big; Destination Mecca in the Making
Rick Langenberg
Development fever will strike with a huge push in Cripple Creek and southern Teller throughout 2025.
Destination, Cripple Creek will be the name of the game, whether it’s an effort to build new affordable homes, a new 24/7 daycare center or another hotel, or to hedge bets on a multi-million-dollar tourist attraction.
2025 will become an active year in the gaming community, and few political obstacles appear in the way of stopping probably the most aggressive economic development plan from unfolding. The town has debated the various merits of becoming a tourist destination area for years, and 2025 could finally become the time when the pedal hits the floor. Or, the very least, a realistic game plan is established
Buoyed largely because of the success of Ice Castles and the new Chamonix Casino & Hotel, Cripple Creek is ready for more growth, housing and non-gaming amenities. In fact, the town wants to diversify its betting hand and step beyond the limited confines of gaming. The big hurdle: How do we make this happen.
The number one project is the new daycare center, called “A Place For Kids.” This nearly 10,000-square-foot facility, costing $3.4 million, is slated to initially accommodate 66 children. It is mostly being pushed by the Aspen Mine Center sand Community of Caring Foundation.
Although the face a tough funding hurdle in trying to raise $1 million-plus in a month or so period, look for ground-breaking to start this spring. This is a project that has garnered wide-spread support, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if casinos step up to the plate in the final 11th hour. And with a new mining company, SSR Mining, taking over the operations of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, this is a project that the new kid in town may get more involved with. In fact, if there is the slightest breath of dissent regarding this daycare effort, it deals with how to increase the projected services more and fast-track the process.
Leaders also will get quite aggressive in finalizing their master plan project throughout 2025. The big question, though, deals with if the plan could signal the green light for an ambitious heritage tourism project of some kind to generate more visitors. These efforts have been tried in the past, often being promoted by several elected leaders themselves, but they never gained much community support. Many locals viewed former ventures as pie in the sky ventures and questioned if they would help the main core of town.
Such an effort should coordinate well with Cripple Creek’s possible plan to become the newest Main Street community in Colorado. With Annie Durham as mayor, this program has a good chance of getting off the ground in Cripple Creek, and overcoming past pitfalls that occurred with the program in Woodland Park. A community meeting next month could determine the fate of the Main Street venture for Cripple Creek.
However, this Main Street program takes a lot of commitment. The town will also mull the idea of becoming a home-rule city, but some fear this could just add too much extra work for citizen volunteers. Home-rule may become more of a buzz word in another year. 2025, meanwhile, could become a time for a master plan that actually does something and a Main Street push to help the downtown.
But one sure bet: Cripple Creek will place more bets on doing more events. The revival of the Salute to American Veterans Rally will take central stage, but it will re-ignite the familiar controversies of the past. No surprises here, but look for the event to add a little more military flavor to the town. Also, look for more events to get added to the list, as Cripple Creek tries to bring back the spirit of its previous “Summer of Fun,” magic. 2025 could also become a good season for Ice Castles.
Cripple Creek will sport another election in November, with several seats up for grabs. But we don’t see any big controversies. Most elected leaders appear on the same page in taking an ultra-pro-growth and development stand. Leaders already took this position when they granted certain development liberties to Chamonix, with a special merit designation.
If they back down now, the city could crash economically. Of course, the big elephant in the room will deal with the big I (infrastructure) word. How can the town finance the necessary infrastructure enhancements to make these project a reality. With Frank Salvato heading the managerial ropes, the city has gotten extremely aggressive on the grant front. But at some point, there is a limit to these funds.
In anything, 2025 could become one of the more pivotal years Cripple Creek has confronted in years.
Down the Pass
Green Mountain Falls also faces a pivotal year.
The big issue GMF must confront is money, money and then money
The town will have big election in November. At issue is a possible tax increase to help foot the bill for a permanent town manager. This vote could determine once and for all, if the town should move forward with a full-time town manager. Town residents are split on the idea, which has been implemented for the last decade, at the recommendations of a former regional director for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. But in the process, the town has sported more than five town bosses during this time and has grappled with contrary managerial directives expressed by elected leaders. This town manager idea was fermented when the town pursued a new $1 million town hall facility, after an arson fire destroyed its previous facility. That event became a stepping stone for GMF to operate more like most municipalities in Colorado.
However, the town manager form of government has sparked mixed opinions. Instead, some residents would prefer investing more funds into roads and relying more on volunteers and possibly reverting back to the town’s former trustee/liaison system. In any case, roads and the best way to maintain this rough network of gravel surfaces at difficult mountain scales will become a dominant concern.
But most current civic leaders say this is a short-term fix, and a town manager is needed to take the politics out of running the city government and to help generate needed grants. This issue will be decided in November.
On the upside, another bonanza season is predicted for the Green Box Arts Festival, which has dazzled crowds for nearly two decades. Green Box’ growing influence on the town will continue, with some locals quipping that maybe the town should be sold to the Kirkpatrick Family and Historic Green Mountain Fall Foundation. Regardless, look for aesthetic improvements throughout the Gazebo Park.
For a small town, Green Mountain Falls abounds with some big-city challenges.
