We will be staying at the Cripple Creek KOA from the 19th to the 25th of June.
Lots of fun stuff to do there, mine tours, steam train rides and lots of beautiful trails to follow.
Come visit for a while or for the week. Should be a great time.
My cell phone is 619-306-7260. Thanks for looking.
Here is some history on the place
Cripple Creek, Colorado, known as "The World's Greatest Gold Camp," transformed from a 19th-century cattle ranch into a premier 1890s gold rush town, producing over 500 mines and 22 million ounces of gold. Following a 1991 vote, the former boom-and-bust town revitalized its economy through limited-stakes gambling and historic tourism, while maintaining its 1890s Western character.
Gold Discovery and Boom (1890–1900s)
- Production: The Cripple Creek Mining District became the fifth-richest in the world, with over 500 mines operating in the area.
- The 1896 Fires: Two massive fires in 1896 destroyed much of the town, forcing the reconstruction of buildings with brick and stone, which still stand today.
- Discovery: Ranch hand Bob Womack discovered rich gold ore in Poverty Gulch in 1890, sparking the last great Colorado gold rush.
- Rapid Growth:
The town incorporated in 1892, with its population surging from a few hundred to over 10,000 within three years
.
Labor Strife and Decline (1900s–1980s)
- Labor Conflicts: Violent strikes occurred in 1894, 1903, and 1904, heavily impacting the community as mine owners and unions fought, leading to federal intervention.
- Decline: As gold production declined and the economy shifted, the city nearly became a ghost town for much of the mid-20th century.
Modern Era (1991–Present)
- Gambling: In 1991, voters approved limited-stakes gambling, which allowed for the, revitalization of the town’s, historic, infrastructure, according to YouTube.
- Tourism: Today, it is a National Historic Landmark with a vibrant gaming industry, museums, and attractions like the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine and local herds of wild donkeys.
The town remains a, working, mining, community while, embracing, its, history, for visitors, as, detailed, in the YouTube video.
Here is an overview of some of the trails available
The Bank Trail. Beautiful views and fairly easy trail.
Shelf Road
Skyline Drive
Phantom Canyon Trail
Plus dozens of other trails in the area.
If you want to see the absolute BEST of pristine Colorado nature, far away from the crowded tourist attractions, this is the adventure you’ve been looking for! This is our personal favorite family day trip because it has everything. From soaring mountain ridges with miles of scenic views, to deep valleys with historic driveable tunnels, and everything in between filled with wildlife, we never end this trip disappointed.
First, we’ll head south from Cripple Creek to Shelf Road, originally a tolled stagecoach route that delivered people and goods to and from Cripple Creek and Canon City. It is aptly named for long stretches of road being literally a shelf carved into the side of the mountain, with no guardrails and steep drop-offs. Filled with mind-blowing views and VERY abundant wildlife (including Rock Mountain Bighorn Sheep!), we think this trip will quickly become your favorite too! Everything in between filled with wildlife, we never end this trip disappointed.
After exiting Shelf Road into Canon City, we’ll visit Skyline Drive, a narrow one-way road soaring along a razorback ridge 800 feet above the surrounding landscape, with no guardrails or view obstructions (and let’s not forget the verified dinosaur tracks!), this is likely the MOST scenic 2.8 mile drive you will ever witness.
Last but certainly not least is Phantom Canyon Road, originally the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad built in 1894. Connecting the lucrative mining districts of Cripple Creek, Canon City, and Florence, Phantom Canyon still contains two original (and driveable) tunnels that were meticulously carved out of solid rock by the old-timers, and features miles of breathtaking scenery filled with Colorado aspens and one-of-a-kind views. We look forward to giving your family the same epic experience we fell in love with!
Here's a link to a video of some of the good times in Cripple Creek https://youtu.be/gpoBmwrcof4?si=WyUj2T2YQjN_cAg5
