What do Colorado casino towns have that Las Vegas does not? Well, for starters, there are the legends of the Old West—including those of colorful Baby Doe and legendary gold miner, Bob Womack. Then, there's the historical and prestigious Central City Opera, and finally there's the railroad that will whisk you back in time to the volatile, and sometimes dangerous, days of the famous Colorado Gold Rush.
Our three mountain gambling towns are easy to get to and fun for the whole family. Central City and Black Hawk are located within a mile of each other, just 34 miles west of Denver. Cripple Creek is 48 miles west of Colorado Springs. Several casinos offer economical round-trip transportation to and from Denver and the Springs; many transportation deals include free drinks and gambling tokens as well.
Central City and Black Hawk
Situated smack in the middle of what once was called "the richest square mile on Earth," Central City and Black Hawk offer bright lights and the winning sounds of bells and laughter as you search for Lady Luck in the several bustling casinos. The two mining towns are home to a multitude of legendary tales (most are true), and visitors of all ages can experience the lifestyle of more than 100 years ago. Enjoy the fast pace of the craps tables, the intensity and concentration of blackjack, and the chance to win big on the slots. For information on both towns, call (303) 582-3345.
If you want to take a break from gambling, or if you've brought the family along, you'll want to visit the
Teller House where you'll see the infamous "Face on the Barroom Floor," a painting of the scandalous Baby Doe, who tormented Black Hawk citizens—and her husband—with her philandering ways. Her face is painted, literally, on the barroom floor. This beautifully restored hotel is also the caretaker of one of the best collections of Victorian furniture in the West. For information call (303) 582-5283 or visit
www.coloradomuseums.org.
Located 144 miles from Denver at the crossroads of three interstate highways, US 24, 50 and 285A, is Salida, home to
The Lost Mine. Open May through October, this three-hour round trip outing will take you on a photo adventure on a European six-wheel troop carrier—past 1890s lime kiln ruins, up to an authentic magnesium and tungsten mine, circa 1916, complete with old ruins. Travel 150 feet past old mine shoring into a mineral-coated cavern with a fluorescent mineral lightshow. For information call (719) 221-MINE or visit
www.salida.com/lostmine.
Built in 1878 by Welsh and Cornish miners, the
Central City Opera House is a site you won't want to miss. Home to the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, it was founded in 1932 and has hosted numerous stars of the opera and stage through the years—including Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Beverly Sills and Jerome Hines. Watch for the long-running American classic "The Ballad of Baby Doe," and the popular one-act opera "The Face on the Barroom Floor." For information call (303) 292-6700 or visit
www.centralcityopera.org.
Cripple Creek
Founded in 1892, Cripple Creek is once again alive with excitement. From its origin until the early 1900s, the town flourished with the discovery of gold and soon was dubbed "The World's Greatest Gold Camp." Because the gold and other precious metals were bound to tellurium, however, extraction was difficult and eventually led to the death of the mining industry in the area. New extraction technologies have made it cost-effective to resume mining. As gambling also has returned to Cripple Creek, the town is experiencing a revival. Today the streets of Cripple Creek are lined with 1800s-era gambling saloons, historical buildings and parks. Twenty casinos sport slot machines, video and live poker, blackjack tables, bars, restaurants and arcades for the kids. Cripple Creek also is the home to two museums and the recently renovated
Butte Opera House.
For a little history lesson in the midst of the casino games, catch a ride on the
Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad for a 45-minute trip through time into the heart of the gold mining district. For information visit
www.cripplecreekrailroad.com. And make sure to stop by the
Old Homestead Museum. The parlour house, built in 1896, that was once in the town's Red Light District. For information call 719-689-2519 or visit
www.cripple-creek.co.us.
You'll have fun as you look around and imagine life back in the days of Bob Womack, the first person to discover gold in the area. He would have been proud. For information on Cripple Creek call (877) 858-GOLD or (719) 689-3315.