© Deborah Erickson
For many years after the gold mines closed, Cripple Creek was not much more than a quaint but decaying historic town, perhaps worthy of a brief stop for a few photos and lunch. In 1991, Colorado voters allowed Cripple Creek to establish legalized gambling and the town came alive once again.
Downtown Cripple Creek
© Deborah Erickson
Casinos now occupy most of the downtown historic buildings and several new multi-story hotels rise at one end of town. Tourists come by the bus loads, hopeful that they will strike it rich, just like miners of old. But, is this a family-friendly place, a place that kids will enjoy?
After spending two nights in Cripple Creek with our grand-girls (ages 12 and 10), the answer is a resounding YES! Here are the things they enjoyed most:
#1–MOLLIE KATHLEEN GOLD MINE TOUR
A former hard-rock miner led our tour.
© Deborah Erickson
The girls voted that this was the best thing we did this weekend. Although a bit pricey ($25 adults, $15 kids), they said it was worth every penny. After a descent of 1000 feet in a very cozy “man-skip” elevator car, we were led through winding mine shafts and educated by a very knowledgeable former miner. He told us how hard the miners worked in 1891 for 75 cents a day.
The girls’ comments about the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour: “Fun. Really Neat. Pretty cold down there. Learned a lot. Not scary to go in the elevator.”
After the tour, we drove up the dirt road just a ways to see how gold is mined now, in a massive open-pit.
Gold mining today in Cripple Creek
© Deborah Erickson
#2—STAYING IN AN OLD HOSPITAL
Cripple Creek Hospitality House Hotel
© Deborah Erickson
The Teller County Hospital was originally constructed in 1901 to provide state-of-the-art medical care for a booming population in the Cripple Creek mining district. The hospital closed its doors permanently in 1960 after last serving as a nursing home.
The building was purchased in 1963 and lovingly restored to serve as a beautiful Victorian hotel, the Cripple Creek Hospitality House. Antique furnishings abound throughout 14 guest rooms, lobby and other public spaces. Each guest room is adorned with its own unique decor and each door bears the name of how that particular room may have been used when once a hospital.
Our room in the hospital, “The Outpatient’s Room”
© Deborah Erickson
What did the girls think about the hospital hotel? “Really pretty. Good breakfast. Loved our big room. Different to stay in a hospital. Lots of hummingbirds.”
#3—THE MELODRAMA AT THE BUTTE THEATER
© Makenna Erickson
The tradition of presenting classic melodrama in Cripple Creek dates back to the late 1940s when the productions were staged in the basement of the Imperial Hotel. In the early 1990s the last show was performed at the Imperial. After a few dark years, the traditional Cripple Creek melodrama was granted a new lease on life. When final renovations were completed on the Butte Theater in 2000, the summer melodrama moved to its new home.
“Love to boo and hiss. Lots of really good singing. The olio at the end was really funny.” Yes, indeed, the melodrama was a hit with the kids!
Classic melodrama is alive and well in Cripple Creek.
(Photo courtesy of Carol Highsmith on WikiMedia Commons.)
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#4—THE CRIPPLE CREEK DONKEYS
The author with a friendly critter.
© Deborah Erickson
The current donkey herd of about 18 animals is made up of direct descendants of the donkeys that were used to work the mines in the early years of the gold camp. When miners left the area, often their donkeys were let loose.
Today, the donkeys roam Cripple Creek, freely walking through the town’s streets, neighborhoods and hills. In the winter, they live in pens for their safety and comfort.
© Deborah Erickson
After dinner one evening, we drove up one street and down the next on our quest to find the critters and finally had success. Once the donkeys realized that we had carrots (I brought a pound bag from home.), we were mobbed by the hungry fellas. The next morning, they were all resting on the front lawn of the hospital hotel.
They would have eaten five pounds of carrots!
© Deborah Erickson
Comments: “They are so cute. It tickles when they eat from my hand. Look at those faces. I’m so glad we finally found them. We should have brought more carrots.”
#5–THE CRIPPLE CREEK HERITAGE CENTER
© Deborah Erickson
This welcome center/museum offers a wonderful insight into the history of the gold camp. It is especially interesting to see the cut-away diorama of the Mollie Kathleen Mine, located just across the highway. There are tables outside for a picnic. There is no charge to visit the Cripple Creek Heritage Center.
From a kid’s perspective: “I liked to learn more about mining. The stuffed animals were cool. It was a fun picnic with just junk food.”
#6—CRIPPLE CREEK & VICTOR NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD
© Deborah Erickson
A 45-minute journey takes visitors back to a time when miners and other passengers rode the train between Cripple Creek and nearby Victor. Today’s train is pulled by an “iron horse,” typical of coal-fired steam engines of the time. Riders can see remnants of early mines and learn about the history of the area.
The girls enjoyed the trip and especially Echo Canyon, but they both said, “It might be better for younger kids.”
#7—FOSSILS AND ROCK-TREES
One of many petrified redwood trees at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
(National Park Service public domain photo)
Twenty-five minutes northwest of Cripple Creek is the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Here visitors learn how and why there came to be petrified redwood trees and thousands of picture-perfect fossils of leaves, insects and fish in this part of Colorado; a movie in the visitor center explains it all. Hiking trails abound, and ranger-led walks lend further insight into this unique place.
Even though the girls were anxious to begin the journey home, they had this to say about Florissant Fossil Beds: “I didn’t know that trees could turn into rocks. Maybe next time we can stay longer.”
For many adults, Cripple Creek is a place where they can sit in casinos and lose/win money. For us, it was a memorable weekend with the grand-girls, filled with activities geared to their liking.
© Deborah Erickson
