On our trip to South Dakota we made a stop in this town of Cripple Creek, Colorado. We like casinos and got a good deal at one of the local ones.
Cripple Creek – Mt Pisgah Cemetery Sign
We took the backroads to get here as it sits up in the Rocky Mountains. As we got near we stopped at the cemetery to get some pictures of their veterans memorial located inside these beautiful gates.
Cripple Creek – Colorado Rockies
The view alone was worth the trip. The town sits in a small valley but the views from the surrounding hills are spectacular.
Cripple Creek – Looking Down Bennett Ave
The casinos are concentrated along Bennett Ave. They have kept it looking like a gold mining town – of which it is a working gold mining town.
Cripple Creek – Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino Entrance
We stayed here at the Midnight Rose. It was just like it looks on the outside. Just like being there during the gold rush. High marks for the room, food, and casino.
Cripple Creek – The Brass Ass Window Sign with Us
Could not help ourselves but get a selfie with the Brass Ass next door.
Cripple Creek – THE Brass Ass
And if you go inside you can visit THE Brass Ass.
Cripple Creek – Tour the World’s Greatest Gold Camp
Cripple Creek – The Gold Belt Tour Sign Close-Up
As we left town northward along highway 67 we found several signs that tout the rich gold mining history of this town. They have been mining gold here for decades and will continue to mine for years to come.
There are also train rides and mining tours available. We posted about the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad in an earlier post. Well worth the price to ride, see the countryside, and get a history lesson along the way.
Cripple Creek – Looking Down on the Town
As we looked back we were amazed by the views of this beautiful little valley.
Cripple Creek – View from the Northern Entrance
We hope to go back again to enjoy this gorgeous place up in the Rockies. The one issue that we did have was the altitude. The town itself sits at nearly 9500 feet. My wife had a hard time breathing much of our visit. We found out later – through a comical remark I made – that they sell oxygen in the nearby stores for people who have this problem. Had we got some before we got there my wife would have enjoyed it that much more.
This is a simply a gorgeous Rocky Mountain gold mining town. There was so much to do here. We only spent a day here but I could have stayed for much longer. If you get a chance to visit we highly recommend it.
As I mentioned above, if you have breathing issues at high altitude, get yourself some oxygen canisters. We found some at Cabela’s for a different trip. They are also available online if you plan ahead.
For more information go to:
https://visitcripplecreek.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cripple_Creek,_Colorado