The historic town of Cripple Creek, Colorado has seen its fair share of change since it was established in 1896. Once dubbed the ‘World’s Greatest Gold Camp’, over 22,400,000 ounces of gold were extracted from the nearly 500 mines in the Cripple Creek mining district (including the neighboring town of Victor, Colorado) between 1890 and 1920.
Today’s quaint, charming community was once a classic wild west town with unruly miners, fortune seekers, and rowdy brothels. Once home to gold rush miners, outlaws, and scores of other colorful characters, Cripple Creek, Colorado became a renowned mining district in 1891 after a local cowhand discovered some promising-looking rocks that turned out to be gold and registered his cow pasture as a mining claim. As many as 50,000 came to seek their fortunes and helped contribute to the town’s rich cultural history. As a working mining town, Cripple Creek soon had many bars, dance halls, hotels, shops, and a theater. Miners weren’t the only settlers to the town either. By 1896, there were 91 lawyers, 88 doctors and dentists, 14 newspapers, 70 saloons, and a single, busy coroner.
Visitors to Cripple Creek, Colorado today seek a fortune of a different kind in limited-stakes gambling. Reminiscent of its gold rush past, gaming was introduced to Cripple Creek, Colorado in 1991, and casinos quickly became one of the town’s primary industries. With over 14 unique casinos – all within easy walking distance – gambling in Cripple Creek offers slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker in a friendly atmosphere deep in the Colorado Rockies.
Visitors to Cripple Creek today can enjoy renovated historic hotels, fine food, and a wide variety of local attractions in addition to the fun and exciting gaming in local casinos year round. In addition to an abundance of outdoor recreation options that include hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, and rock climbing, visitors can enjoy a tour of a working gold mine, visit historic museums, and take a tour on a historic narrow gauge railroad. The town is surrounded by the majestic beauty of Pike National Forest, so scenery abounds with dazzling opportunities for nature photography, bird-watching, wildlife-watching, fishing, and more.
Stay and play in Cripple Creek, Colorado – a town with National Historic Landmark status since 1961 and part of the Gold Belt Byway – it’s fun for the entire family in a great location.
