Takin' A Drive: Cripple Creek

[theGinsue]

My wife and I like to take drives around CO for little 1 day trips as a means of exploring.

Today we'll be heading up to & around Cripple Creek. We don't plan to be doing any gambling, but that was also the case when we went to Blackhawk and that certainly changed once we got there.

So, if you're in the area and see a POS Toyota Celica that is supposed to be blue but severely needs a paint job (with one of the old site "stickers that shall not be named" on the back bumper), give me a honk and a wave. If I can stop, I will.

Ginsue - out.

[zteknik]

Theres some pretty cool spots up there to check out.
Joe T turned me on to the mineral museum they have up there,pretty neat stuff.
And theres a ton of history around if you look.

I just love how some of the buildings have the old ads repainted on them.I allways wanted to do an old western Colt ad on the side of my garrage!!

Stop by the JackAss Cafe and pick up some soveniers!!

Have fun up there!!

[Ah Pook]

The mining museum is worth checking out. I'm always a sucker for the trains too.

[Madusa]

SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE HAUNTED. THERE'S A CASINO THERE THAT GAVE ME THE CREEPS.

[Scanker19]

SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE HAUNTED. THERE'S A CASINO THERE THAT GAVE ME THE CREEPS.

Cripple Creek was just on Ghost adventures last week.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Cripple Creek was just on Ghost adventures last week.

I love this stuff. Have fun "T" and be safe. If you see Elvis... Better run.

[Ah Pook]

SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE HAUNTED. THERE'S A CASINO THERE THAT GAVE ME THE CREEPS.

All casinos give me the creeps.

[Zundfolge]

I'm probably too late in getting this to you, but if you end up in Victor, go to the "Gold Camp Bakery" and order a "Bee Sting". You will not be sorry. (split one between you and the wife ... getting one each would be too much)




Bonus points if you ask for a "Bienenstich"

[T-Giv]

My wife and I are doing the same thing tomorrow!

[theGinsue]

So we did make it to Cripple Creek but not Victor.

I've been thrugh Victor a lot on my way to/from Skaguay Lake for fishing. Small fish, but I always catch my limit.

Thanks a ton to Skanker19 for hooking my wife and I up with a meal.

We've been to CC before, just not since before I moved to Massachusetts in '03. Town hasn't changed much since then. We didn't get there until after 2pm so we didn't have a lot of time to play with.

We've ridden the narrow gauge train before but it didn't look like it was an option this time. Petted and fed burro's outside of the mining museum/gift shop. Then, my wife wanted to check out the casinos. Thank heavens for penny slots as we spent $25 total for gambling (all $0.01 slots) but stayed entertained all afternoon/early evening.

I was hoping that we'd drive around the area for the bulk of the time and check out the scenery, but once we hit CC, we didn't leave until it was time to go home.

I remember the town before gambling came to it and (in my opinion) ruined the place. I remember how it was a quaint old west style of town with a lot of charm and character. I suppose Victor still has that and the drive to Victor is awesome - wish I could have talked my wife into heading that way for a brief side trip.

Comparing Cripple Creek to Blackhawk though.... I found the CC casinos extra crowded (too much jammed into too little space) and the whole place a lot lower class than BH. Just not as clean, no perks from the casinos like we saw in BH, especially if you signed for a VIP/Players Card. Rare to get someone to come by offering drinks, poor attitude from the employees, etc. Just overall, not as good of an experience. If I'm going to gamble, I think I'll make the extra drive to Blackhawk for now on.

I think my next adventure might not be until next Spring, after the thaw (Memorial Day or after). This will be a 2 day trip. Looking to hit Buena Vista, over Cottonwood Pass, around Taylor Resv. To Almont, then up to the liberalized Crested Butte. Eventually making it back South to Gunnison where I'll stay the night. Too bad the Cattleman's Inn burned down, used to stay there as a kid. Then the next day East over Monarch Pass and on to home via Hwy's 50 and 115.

Zundfolge: That Bee Sting looks awesome. Really makes me regret not getting her to go to Victor.