COME TO LIFE DIG INTO THE HISTORY OF Cripple Creek Present-day Cripple Creek enchants visitors with gleaming aspen-lined trails and thrill-filled casinos. But the allure of this charming mountain town extends way back to the 19th century, when the rolling green hills and craggy peaks served as a backdrop to the last great Colorado Gold Rush. Rewind the clock to 1890, when Robert Miller Womack struck gold and staked a claim in the little-known town, setting off a decades-long frenzy to harvest as much precious metal as possible. Within two years of Womack’s first claim, 5,000 eager adventurers migrated to the area to set up camp and get in on the riches. That number doubled just three years later. The town quickly grew into an economic hub, proliferating to neighboring villages Victor, Gillett, Alban and beyond. Before long, the doors swung open at wood-structured saloons, churches, food markets, restaurants and schools in the district. Prosperity was in the air, but it required a lot of labor. Backbreaking work and dragging days made life toilsome for a Cripple Creek miner. Some days commenced before sunrise and concluded after sunset without a glimpse at daylight. Falling rocks and equipment failure were commonplace and resulted in serious injuries. Rest was rare but rolled around every Sunday when most headed to local churches. Where to Go: Want to delve into these historical sites in-person? Traverse the Vindicator Valley Trail in Victor, a well-established walking path where you can spot the remains of more than 500 mines along the 2-mile “trail of gold.” Along the way, you’ll come across blast houses, mine owners’ homes and even some old outhouses. 90 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 90
