Congratulations Best Of Winners, Finalists; and Yes, Tens of Thousands of Voters who partook in the 35th annual showdown on The Mountain. The following is a synopsis of the main winners and finalists of the 2025 Best Of Contest, sponsored by The Mountain Jackpot (TMJ) News. Due to popular demand, we have compiled a synopsis of the many business, casino, culinary and specialized service champs, along with our fine individual standouts. (Just in case you missed a few of the detailed categories in our Best Of issues.) Thanks for your strong participation. And for those who didn’t win or place, there is always next year. In addition, feel free to contact us regarding new categories you would like to see added.
Cripple Creek Gaming and Retail
Safest/Cleanest Casino
Gold – Triple Crown Casinos
Silver – Chamonix
Bronze – Century
Best Casino Atmosphere
Gold – Chamonix
Silver – Triple Crown Casinos
Bronze – Johnny Nolon’s/Colorado Grande
Most Money Won and Where
Gold – Johnny Nolon’s
Silver – Golden Nugget
Bronze – Triple Crown Casinos
Loosest Slots
Gold – Triple Crown Casinos (Midnight Rose)
Silver – Johnny Nolon’s/Colorado Grande
Bronze – Double Eagle
Most Welcoming Casino
Gold – Chamonix
Silver – Century
Bronze – Johnny Nolon’s/Colorado Grande
Best Table Games – Triple Crown (Brass Ass)
Silver – Golden Nugget
Bronze – Double Eagle
Best Casino Food Deals
Gold – Miner’s Pick (Triple Crown)
Silver – Home Café (Bronco Billy’s)
Bronze – Mid City Grill (Century)
Best Casino Restaurant
Gold -Pint & Platter (Triple Crown)
Silver – 980 Prime (Chamonix)
Bronze – Lombard’s (Double Eagle)
Best Casino Lodging
Gold – Century
Silver – Chamonix
Bronze – Golden Nugget
Best Casino Player’s Club
Gold – Century
Silver – Bronco Billy’s
Bronze – Triple Crown
Best Casino Entertainment
Gold – Opening of the Chamonix and Jay Leno Appearance
Silver – Talk about Special Events and Housing
Bronze – Gaming Town Rumors
Best New Casino Renovation
Gold – Rocky Mountain Gaming CC (Johnny Nolon’s and Colorado Grande)
Silver – Finishing Touches on the Chamonix Project
Best Casino Facebook Campaign
Gold – Rocky Mountain Gaming CC
Silver – Triple Crown Casinos
Bronze- Bronco Billy’s
Best Casino Bar
Gold – Johnny Nolon’s
Silver – Pint & Platter (Triple Crown)
Bronze – Woody’s (Golden Nugget
Best Cripple Creek Bar
Gold – District Kitchen & Saloon
Silver – The Creek
Bronze – Pint & Platter
Best Cripple Creek Retail Store
Gold – Creations Everlasting
Silver – The Mercantile
Bronze – Colorado Trading and Transfer Store
Best Cripple Creek Specialty Store
Gold – Colorado Trade and Transfer Shop
Silver – Creations Everlasting
Bronze – Maudie’s Incredible Emporium
Best CC/Victor Event
Gold – Donkey Derby Days
Silver – Ice Fest
Bronze – Victor Celebrates the Arts
Food, Drinks, Hospitality, Events, Entertainment and More
Best Area BBQ
Gold – Roy’s Crew BBQ and breakfast Too
Silver – Peak View BBQ
Bronze – Tipsy Pig BBQ
Best Area Hotel
Gold – Country Lodge/Microtel
Silver – Cripple Creek Hospitality House
Bronze – Black Monarch
Best Wait Staff
Gold – The Creek
Silver – Russ’ Place
Bronze – Red Diamond Gastro Pub
Best Area Local Hangout
Gold – The Creek
Silver – The District Saloon
Bronze – Jess’ Place
Best Woodland Park Bar
Gold – Jess’ Place
Silver – Peak View BBQ
Bronze – Red Diamond Gastro Pub
Best Area Sports Bar
Gold – McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub
Silver – Jess’ Place
Bronze The District Saloon
Best Area Restaurant
Gold – Boards and Barrels Bistro
Silver – Wines of Colorado
Bronze – Peak View BBQ
Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Gold – 980 Prime Steakhouse (Chamonix)
Silver – Boards and Barrels Bistro
Bronze – Wines of Colorado
Best Weekend Eatery
Gold – The Pantry
Silver – McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub
Bronze – Russ’ Place
Best Area Steak
Gold – 980 Prime (Chamonix)
Silver – Wines of Colorado
Bronze – The Creek
Best Area Seafood
Gold – Wines of Colorado
Silver – Fusion Japan
Bronze – McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub
Best Asian Food
Gold – Fusion Japan
Silver – Mayflower
Bronze – Fortune Dragon
Best Area Burger
Gold – Russ’ Place
Silver – Judge’s Char-Grill
Bronze – McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub
Best Pizza
Gold – Blue Moose Tavern
Silver – A.J.’s Pizzeria
Bronze – Pioneer Pizza
Best Area Brewhouse
Gold – Paradox
Silver – BierWerks
Bronze – Bristol Brewing
Best Area Breakfast
Gold – The Pantry
Silver – Hungry Bear
Bronze – Grandmother’s Kitchen
Best Area Restaurant Atmosphere
Gold – Wines of Colorado
Silver – McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub
Bronze – Peak View BBQ
Best Area Lunch
Gold – Joanie’s Deli and Bakery
Silver – Judge’s Char-Grill
Bronze – Peak View BBQ
Best Area-Wide Event
Gold – Donkey Derby Days
Silver -Victor Celebrates the Arts
Bronze – Salute to American Veterans Rally
Best Antique Shop/Market
Gold – Maude Imperial Emporium
Silver – Victor Trading Company
Best Area Bank
Gold – Park State Bank & Trust
Silver – ENT
Bronze – Community Banks of Colorado/Vectra Bank
Best Furniture Store
Gold – Tweeds Fine Furnishings
Silver – Williams Log Cabin Furniture
Bronze – American Furniture Warehouse
Best Clothing Store
Gold – Creations Everlasting
Silver – The Cowhand
Bronze – Miss Priss
Best Woodland Park Retail
Gold – Colorado GearLab
Silver – The Cowhand
Bronze – Zebz Outfooter
Best Cripple Creek Coffee Shop
Gold – Creations Everlasting
Silver – Common Grounds
Bronze – Gold Camp Café
Best Woodland Park Coffee Shop
Solid Grounds Coffee Roasters
Silver – Java Haus
Bronze – Café Leo
Friendliest Area Coffee Shop
Gold – Starbucks/Walmart Center
Silver – Solid Grounds
Bronze – Java Haus
Best Margaritas
Gold – Cantina Verde
Silver – Judge’s Char-Grill
Bronze – 110 Reserve/Peak View
Best Local Entertainment
Gold – Butte Theater
Silver – Gold Hill Theater
Bronze – WP City Council/RE-2 School Board Meetings
Best Family Entertainment
Gold – Butte Theater
Silver – Cripple Creek District Museum
Bronze – Gold Hill Theatres
Best Place for Live Music
Gold – Blue Moose Tavern
Silver – 110 Reserve
Bronze – Crystola Roadhouse
Specialized Services
Best Pet Groomer
Gold – Clearwater Pet Grooming & Pet Care
Silver – Woodland Pet Salon
Bronze – Mama Mia’s Pet Spaw
Best Veterinarian Clinic
Gold – Woodland Veterinary Clinic
Silver – Compassion Animal Hospital
Bronze – Rampart Range
Best Area Dentist
Gold – Forest Edge Dental
Silver – Dr. Stephenie Kaufmann
Bronze – Rampart Family Dental Center
Best Hair Salon
Bronze A Wild Hair
Silver – The Salon
Bronze – The Bliss
Best Chiropractor
Gold – Powell Chiropractic
Silver – Reason Chiropractic
Bronze – Ute Pass Family Chiropractic
Best Real Estate
Gold – Kellie Case
Silver – Carrie Miller
Bronze – Jessica Schwab
Best Liquor Store
Gold – Banana Belt Liquors
Silver – Cripple Creek Liquors
Bronze – Gold Mine Liquors
Best Electrician
Gold – Hardcastle Heating and Home Services
Silver – Ace Electric
Bronze – Woodland Park Electric
Best Plumber
Gold – Persing Plumbing
Silver – Woodland Plumbing, HVAC
Bronze – Hardcastle Home Services
Best Heating and Air Company
Gold – Hardcastle Home Services
Silver – Woodland Plumbing
Bronze – Teller Plumbing and Heating
Best Building Supply Store
Gold – Foxworth-Galbraith
Silver – Woodland Hardware
Bronze – Lowe’s
Best Hardware Store
Gold – Woodland Hardware
Silver – Foxworth-Galbraith
Bronze – Ace True Value
Best Jewelry Store
Gold – Lane Mitchell Jeweler
Silver – Shane Co.
Bronze – The Mercantile
Best Car Repair Shop
Gold – Home Town Garage
Silver – Vahsholtz Automotive
Bronze – Schumacher’s Alignment & Tires
Best Car Dealer
Gold – Phil Long Motors
Silver – Mike Maroony
Bronze – Spradley Kia
Additional Business and Community Champs
Best Area Non-Profit Organization
Gold – Aspen Mine Centers/Community of Caring
Silver – Two Mile High Club
Bronze – Friends of the Forest
Best Shoe Store
Gold – Zebz Outfooter
Silver – The Cowhand
Bronze – Walmart
Best Grocery Store
Gold – City Market
Silver – Safeway
Bronze – Walmart
Best Area Bed and Breakfast
Gold – Cripple Creek Hospitality House
Silver – Edgewood Inn
Bronze – Pikes Peak Paradise
Best New Business
Gold – Cantina Verde
Silver – District Kitchen & Saloon
Bronze – Common Grounds
Most Unique Business
Gold – Creations Everlasting
Silver – Our Reserve Art Gallery
Bronze – The Painted Bear
Best Area Business Events
Gold – Woodland Park Chamber After Hours
Silver – Teller Sheriff Town Halls
Bronze – Charity Golf Tourneys
Best Area Internet
Gold – Teller WiFi
Silver – Vero Networks
Bronze – Century
Best Area Lawyer
Gold – Justin Fisch
Silver – Family Law Group
Bronze – Kirk Garner
Best Area Tattoo Shop
Gold – Above the Clouds Tattoo
Silver – Celestial Tattoo
Bronze – West Side Tattoo
Individual Winners
Best Local Personality
Gold – Edie Smith
Silver – Cripple Creek Donkeys
Bronze – Dennis Zerull
Best Bartender on the Mountain
Gold – Loriann Bentzler, Peak View BBQ
Silver – Jewels Jewett, Russ’ Place
Bronze – James Reynolds, Blue Moose Tavern
Best Public Servant
Gold – Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell
Silver – Cripple Creek Police
Bronze – Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case
Best Troublemaker
Gold – Bobby Kerr
Silver – Russ McKnight
Bronze – Jessica Nichols
Best Local Sports Star
Gold – Cheyenne Becker, Girls HS Wrestling
Silver – Marqus Schoenberger, HS Football
Bronze – Bryson Leonhardt, HS Football
Best Local Sports Team
Gold – Woodland Park High School Football
Silver – Woodland Park HS Boys’ Soccer
Bronze – Woodland Park HS Girls’ Wrestling
Best Political Troublemaker
Gold – Jerry Penland
Bronze – Jason Ledlie
Bronze – Mary Sekowski
Best Area Politician
Gold – Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham
Silver – Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case
Bronze – Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams
Best Casino Employee
Gold – Rebecca Sloan, Triple Crown Casinos
Silver – Wendy Field, Bronco Billy’s/Chamonix
Bronze – Jason Bray, Triple Crown Casinos
Best Casino Bosses
Gold – Triple Crown Casinos
Silver – Chamonix Casino & Hotel
Bronze – Rocky Mountain Gaming
Best Casino Managers
Gold – Jerry Berger, Triple Crown Casinos
Silver – Scott Porter, Triple Crown Casinos
Best Rumor Mongers
Gold – Rick Langenberg, Trevor Phipps (TMJ News)
Silver – Jessica Nichols
Bronze – Jerry Penland
Best Political Controversy
Gold – The Woodland Park Council/RE-2 School Board Fights
Silver – State Gun Battles
Bronze – STR Fights and Housing Woes
