Gold was first discovered here in 1890 and the town quickly grew. At the population's peak, this town had 73 saloons, 19 schools, 16 churches, five newspapers that came out everyday, two opera houses, and a stock exchange.
It is interesting to see the priorities of its mining citizens, isn't it? They also built a railroad depot that had no less than 18 arrivals and departures each day. I read that there was also an elaborate streetcar system in this quaint, little town. The elevation is pretty high--9494 feet above sea level so keep that in mind if you have breathing or heart problems.
Gold mining stopped in 1961 and by then, over $800 million of gold ore had been mined.
When my husband first moved up to Colorado Springs to register for school, he went up to find a job before moving the family there so we would have an income. He got a job with a restaurant supply company and his route delivered restaurant supplies to some eateries out in Cripple Creek so he became familiar with the town.
After my kids and I moved up to Colorado Springs to join my husband, he drove us out to show us the old gambling town of Cripple Creek.
You can learn more about what there is to do by clicking the link above this sentence. It really is a quaint little town that looks sort of like something out of the old west, but with modern conveniences. And casinos.
The main strip is Bennett Avenue and this is where most of its casinos are located. (There are approximately 25 casinos there now.) Colorado Springs visitors drive the 45 miles west out there to gamble because there are no casinos in Colorado Springs.
Gamblers must be 21 years old to play. Some casinos do have children's areas while Mom and Dad try their luck and spend their money. This town loves tourists. Once you have lost your limit of money, get out of the casinos and see what is outside. You are in some beautiful country.
There are fun things to do in Cripple Creek Colorado for the whole family. There are some interesting old museums to visit and some guests actually stay out there for several days.
There are several good hotels for visitors to stay in if they want more than just a day trip. There are some good eateries. There is a lot to see and do inside the casinos and outside in the natural beauty. You might get to see a wild donkey roaming around in the hills, take a hike, ride a bike, take a train ride.
The Imperial Casino Hotel is popular among visitors. It was built in 1896 after a fire ripped through a great deal of the historic town.
To get to Cripple Creek Colorado, take U.S. 24 West out of Colorado Springs and then Colorado 67 South. The drive out is scenic. Bring your camera and prepare to have fun.
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