Visitors Now Get a “Behind the Scenes” Chance to See a Modern Gold Mining Operation
Trevor Phipps
Many who visit the Southern Teller area, and even those who live here, have often stared up at the bustling modern mine activity occurring just outside of Cripple Creek, and wonder what takes place behind the closed gates.
The entire Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine is closed to the public. As a result, many often get curious about exactly how the world’s most precious metal gets pulled out of the ground in Teller County.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the mine used to offer tours to the public where people loaded onto a bus and got to see the mining operations up close and personal. But once COVID struck, the mine changed managers and owners, and the public mine tours just stayed discontinued.
But now that Cripple Creek-Victor Mine General Manager Lowe Billingsley has returned to the Teller High Country and holds the head operational reins, he has made some positive changes. In his first few months managing the mine, Billingsley has launched a massive effort to get information out to the public pertaining to how the mine operates, and how their company (SSR Mining) gives back to the community.
The public mine tours started last month with more of a soft opening. Then last week, the mine invited the media to a special tour so that we could help spread the word regarding the return of the tours.
When I first heard about the opportunity, I was excited to get the chance to take a mine tour once again. Before the tours ended at the onset of COVID, I was able to take a tour with one of my long-time family friends as the tour guide. And then one time I even got my own personal tour from one of CC&V’s former media relations directors.
Mine Tour Puts New Operations on Full Display
But back when I saw the mining operations over six years ago, the mine looked very different. At that time, there were only two active pits with a third one underway.
Now that scenario appears to have drastically changed. Just entering the mine is different now as there is a new pit where the mine road used to sit, along with another large pit just outside of Cripple Creek. Currently there are mining activities taking place in six different locations.
Upon entering the mine over the new two-plus mile road, the first thing that caught my eye were two pits you must drive around to get to the mine’s main entrance. The giant holes have benched rock walls that display a rainbow of colors of rock existing underground.
As we drove towards the top of the pits at over 10,000 feet elevation, the views of the mine were interesting, but the sights from the area on top were breathtaking. Sitting so high on top of the mountain, the giant clouds above seemed so close that you could almost touch them. The shadows created by the moving clouds seemed like they were trying to talk to you.
And to me, it was also very interesting to see first-hand the massive size of the mining operation, and to receive a step-by-step tutorial of the process. We also got the chance to see (and stand next to) several mega pieces of mining equipment.
The trucks (that can carry 250 tons of material) are so big that most people are only as tall as half a single tire. In fact, when they were driving around the mine, they looked like medium-sized buildings cruising on top of a giant mountain. Overall, the sights and sounds of the CC-V mine are a one-of-a-kind experience. Also, it is important to note that the CC-V mine is the only large-scale gold producer in the state.
Mine Tour Serve as an Economic Driver for Southern Teller County
Along with learning about the process of turning dirt/rock from the ground to gold bars, the mine tours also talk about the economic impact of the mine and how much gold it produces. This year, the mine’s target is to produce 138,000 ounces of gold which equates to around 378 ounces per day. With current gold prices, this means the mine produces nearly $610 million worth of gold annually.
According to the mine manager, the mine tours help inform the public about their operations as well as giving a boost to local tourism. The idea is that the mine tours will become another attraction to draw people to the Cripple Creek/Victor area. And besides conducting mine tours, visitors will see other historic attractions and unique sites in the region as well.
“We are super thrilled about the return of these tours, when they were going on in 2010, they would bring thousands of visitors every year to the town to experience not only the mining heritage but also modern mining operations,” Victor City Administrator Bobby Tech said. “Our hope is that it will have a positive impact on our businesses and supporting sales tax.”
The mine tours are slated to take place every Thursday through Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from now until the end of October (dependent upon weather). The mine tours start at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. All of the proceeds generated by the tours will go to benefit the museum. To book a tour visit, victormuseum.com/ccv-mine-tours.
