Cripple Creek - Colorado Ghost Town

CRIPPLE CREEK

NAME: Cripple Creek
COUNTY: Teller
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 5
CLIMATE: Cold winter, mild summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Just west of Colorado Springs, Semi-ghost, tourist town.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

Located not too far west of Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek offers the visitor an excellent opportunity to examine the area that produced more wealth than any other on the face of the earth up to the year 1930-over $400 million in gold. How did Cripple Creek get its name? Quite by accident. It is said a cattleman was building a shelter close to a nearby creek assisted by a helper. The helper accidentally discharged a gun, wounding another man in the foot. The excitement and confusion frightened a calf, which broke its leg jumping over the creek. The calf was crippled causing the rancher to refer to the creek as "Cripple Creek." There are many buildings, mines and other sights suggestive of the town's history for the visitor to enjoy. Cripple Creek once had a population in excess of 35,000. A major fire broke out in 1896 followed by a second fire only days later. Much of the town was destroyed. Nevertheless, Cripple Creek was rebuilt and lives on today. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. UPDATE: Colorado allowed Cripple Creek and Black Hawk to establish legalized gambling in the early 1990's. Cripple Creek has a population of around 1500 residents and is more of a gambling and tourist town than a ghosttown. Of interest to people interested in ghosttowns would be the narrow gauge train ride from Cripple Creek one or two miles past several small ghosttowns, and goldmines and glory holes. Also of interest would be the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine tours into a real gold mine led by a real gold miner. Both the goldmine tour and the train ride have very knowledgeable guides with many interesting stories. At last count, there were 18 casino's there also. Looking at a flyer from there, I found some internet addresses that may be of interest: www.cripple-creek.co.us--for info from City of Cripple Creek,..... Victor, CO Chamber of Commerce (also on your listing of Colorado ghosttowns) at www.rmi.net/tellercounty/victorch.html This is the story of Winfield Scott Stratton, the area's first millionaire. A carpenter by trade, Stratton drifted into the Cripple Creek area after failing to win his fortune in many other boom camps in Colorado. On Independence Day of 1891, he discovered what he called the Independence lode. History says Stratton did not push development of the lode because he feared the "banks would go bust." He preferred to let the gold remain in the ground until it was needed. He sold his holdings to an English syndicate eight years later for eleven million dollars. The Independence produced more than twenty-five million dollars in gold up to 1915 when the property was again sold. Stratton spent much of the remainder of his life and much of the wealth he gained from the Cripple Creek gold fields in philanthropic pursuits. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Cripple Creek Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Town Courtesy Joe Ptak House on a hill above Cripple Creek Courtesy D.Squat A deserted house in Cripple Creek (2009) Courtesy D.Squat This skeleton house is on Rt. 67 as you enter town from Colorado Springs. A very big, modern casino is across the street Courtesy D.Squat Deserted house in Cripple Creek (highway 67) Courtesy D.Squat Abandoned house (same as before, different view) Courtesy D.Squat Remains of mine shack Courtesy D.Squat One of several abandoned shacks overlooking Cripple Creek Courtesy D.Squat	Cripple Creek in 1896 as the fire broke out Courtesy Colorado State Historical Society This committee welcomes every visitor into town Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Main Street Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Courthouse Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Cripple Creek Fire Department Engine House Courtesy Joe Ptak Large log and shingle house Courtesy D.Squat Abandoned home in Cripple Creek Courtesy D.Squat You have to climb up some pretty steep land to get to this scene on the east end of Cripple Creek Courtesy D.Squat A couple of ruined houses on the east end of Cripple Creek Courtesy D. Squat A cluster of empty houses high on a hill on the east end of town Courtesy D.Squat Ruined home on a hill overlooking Cripple Creek. You can see the town in the background through the trees Courtesy D.Squat Partial view of downtown from a hill on the east side Courtesy D.Squat

Located not too far west of Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek offers the visitor an excellent opportunity to examine the area that produced more wealth than any other on the face of the earth up to the year 1930-over $400 million in gold. How did Cripple Creek get its name? Quite by accident. It is said a cattleman was building a shelter close to a nearby creek assisted by a helper. The helper accidentally discharged a gun, wounding another man in the foot. The excitement and confusion frightened a calf, which broke its leg jumping over the creek. The calf was crippled causing the rancher to refer to the creek as "Cripple Creek." There are many buildings, mines and other sights suggestive of the town's history for the visitor to enjoy. Cripple Creek once had a population in excess of 35,000. A major fire broke out in 1896 followed by a second fire only days later. Much of the town was destroyed. Nevertheless, Cripple Creek was rebuilt and lives on today. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

UPDATE: Colorado allowed Cripple Creek and Black Hawk to establish legalized gambling in the early 1990's. Cripple Creek has a population of
around 1500 residents and is more of a gambling and tourist town than a ghosttown. Of interest to people interested in ghosttowns would be the
narrow gauge train ride from Cripple Creek one or two miles past several small ghosttowns, and goldmines and glory holes. Also of interest would be the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine tours into a real gold mine led by a real gold miner. Both the goldmine tour and the train ride have very knowledgeable guides with many interesting stories. At last count, there were 18 casino's
there also. Looking at a flyer from there, I found some internet addresses that may be of interest: www.cripple-creek.co.us--for info from City of Cripple Creek,..... Victor, CO Chamber of Commerce (also on your listing of Colorado ghosttowns) at www.rmi.net/tellercounty/victorch.html

This is the story of Winfield Scott Stratton, the area's first millionaire. A carpenter by trade, Stratton drifted into the Cripple Creek area after failing to win his fortune in many other boom camps in Colorado. On Independence Day of 1891, he discovered what he called the Independence lode. History says Stratton did not push development of the lode because he feared the "banks would go bust." He preferred to let the gold remain in the ground until it was needed. He sold his holdings to an English syndicate eight years later for eleven million dollars. The Independence produced more than twenty-five million dollars in gold up to 1915 when the property was again sold. Stratton spent much of the remainder of his life and much of the wealth he gained from the Cripple Creek gold fields in philanthropic pursuits. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.