Twenty-five minutes up the mountain from our cabins sits a town that was, for a brief and dazzling moment in the 1890s, the richest gold mining district on earth. More than $500 million in gold came out of these hills. Today Cripple Creek is one of Colorado's most underrated destinations — equal parts living history, mountain scenery, and small-town fun. Here's how to spend a day there.
The history (it's wilder than you think)
In 1890, a cowboy named Bob Womack struck gold in a cow pasture here. Within a few years, Cripple Creek exploded from empty grassland into a city of 50,000 with electric streetcars, opera houses, and dozens of millionaires. The boom faded, but the Victorian-era downtown survived remarkably intact — walking Bennett Avenue today feels like stepping into the 1900s, just with better coffee.
Go underground: the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
The single best thing to do in Cripple Creek. The Mollie Kathleen takes you 1,000 feet straight down in an original mine shaft, guided by people who genuinely know (and love) the history. You'll see the equipment, feel the cool of the rock, and come up with real appreciation for what these miners did. It's surprisingly family-friendly and consistently one of our guests' trip highlights.
The casinos
Cripple Creek is one of only a few Colorado towns where gaming is legal, and the casinos here are housed in those gorgeous restored Victorian buildings rather than glass towers. It's low-key and walkable — pop in for a few hands of blackjack, grab a famously cheap and generous buffet, and catch live music on summer weekends. The vibe is more "historic mountain town" than "Vegas," which is exactly the appeal.
Don't miss the donkeys. Cripple Creek's free-roaming herd descends from the burros that worked the mines, and every June they get their own festival. Read our guide to Donkey Derby Days if you're visiting in late June.
The scenic drives
Half the magic of Cripple Creek is getting there. Gold Camp Road and Shelf Road wind through some of the prettiest backcountry in the region — old railroad grades, tunnels, canyon walls, and big mountain views. Shelf Road is also a world-class rock-climbing area. If you brought a 4x4, this is your playground.
A few more worth your time
- Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad — a short, scenic steam-train ride past historic mining sites.
- Cripple Creek Heritage Center — a free, genuinely good overlook and museum to orient yourself before exploring.
- Victor — Cripple Creek's quieter sister town just up the road, even more frozen-in-time and worth the short detour.
Make it a day trip from your cabin
Cripple Creek is an easy 25-minute drive from our Florissant and Woodland Park cabins — close enough for a relaxed half-day, with the hot tub waiting when you get home. Pair a morning mine tour with an afternoon scenic drive and an early casino dinner, and you've got a perfect Colorado day.
Want Cripple Creek on your doorstep?
Our six cabins put you 25 minutes from town and in the middle of everything worth doing. Book direct and save up to 15% vs Airbnb.
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