The Best Colorado Summer Vacation is in Cripple Creek
Besides all the fun things to do around Cripple Creek, and gambling in our new (and historic) casinos, we have a rich gold mining history to share with you. A cowboy named Bob Womack had been searching for gold for nearly 15 years and finally discovered the precious metal in 1890 in Poverty Gulch, which later became the town of Cripple Creek.
Between 1890 and 1910 thousands of prospectors flocked to the region dubbed the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp.” More than 22,400,000 ounces of gold (approximately $11.2 billion in today’s dollars) was extracted from more than 500 mines in the Cripple Creek and Victor region. However, by the early 1940’s gold production was down to less than one percent of what it once was and by 1990, the town was almost dead with only 600 residents. In 1991 with legalized gambling, the town was revitalized and many of the historic buildings were refurbished as casinos.
The Cripple Creek Historic District is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. Today’s visitors can experience the rich Cripple Creek history through its unique shops, attractions and museums.