We pull into Cripple Creek with enough time to have breakfast. This place was the largest gold field in the world at the turn of the century. Almost 50,000 people lived here then. Like most gold rush towns this one declined but got a reprieve in 1992 when Colorado started to allow gambling. Now it is a mini mecca of the sport with every other building being a casino.
We walk both sides of the main street and are amazed at the large number of cigarette butts on the sidewalk, and this is with ash trays at every entrance. Thank goodness for fresh mountain air. We visit the jail and then take a ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. The four mile trip takes us through the old mine fields. We weather a hail storm that is really loud in the motor home. We dine at McGill's Casino and notice the strained expressions on peoples faces as they gamble. They are especially noticeable on those playing poker. We park for the night in the Midnight Rose Casino lot.
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| Cripple Creek, Colorado |
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| Town of Cripple Creek |
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| Looking down main street. |
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| The Bad Ass Gambling Casino |
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| This 24K gold motorcycle was inside the Bad Ass Casino |
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| Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum |
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| There really is a Tommy the Train! (Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad) |
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| Headframe used in gold mining and old train depot in Cripple Creek. |
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| Prospect holes near Cripple Creek. |
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| El Paso gold mine near Cripple Creek. In its day it produced around $15,000,000. |
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| Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Company in 2012. |
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| Old town of Anaconda at base of what is now the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Company. |
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| Remaining structure in the what used to be the town of Anaconda- Blacksmith shop. |
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| Who pushed over the outhouse? |
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| Old Midland Depot, now a museum. |
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| Mitch advising Bob Womack how to hang onto his gold. |
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| Honey, I'm home. |
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| I just need a room for one night. |
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| Drinks are on me. |
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