Then and now...

Help is just a call away in
Victor, Colorado

On our recent trip to the Manitou Springs area we took a side jaunt up Highway 24 through Woodland Park and then up the back road to Cripple Creek and Victor. Haven't been up that way since I was a lad of fourteen or fifteen which puts it way, way back in time even before legalized gambling took over both towns as a supposed economic panacea for towns that saw their life's blood - the mines - dry up. 1991 was the year gambling became legal and sadly it does not appear to have brought boom times to either town. I know we're just coming out of a pandemic so its hard to know what the future will hold . I hope Colorado and out-of-state tourists alike rediscover this neck of the woods not so much because I'm a gambling fan but because its a beautiful area of the state with such a rich (literally!) heritage it would be a shame to see these towns turn to dust.

$11 billion came out...
Where did it all go?

The area is of course rich in western history. Before 1890 the history was largely focused on the Ute Indians but when Bob Womack finally found gold in, appropriately enough, Poverty Gulch, the rush was on. From 1890 through 1910 the area was known as the "World's Greatest Gold Camp" with more than 500 mines operating in the Cripple Creek/Victor region. Who's to argue as more than 22 million ounces of gold was pulled from the ground. That's worth, in today's dollars, about $11.2 billion. A tidy sum in almost anybody's book.

Note the credit to
"Women in Mining"

While the casinos that are still operating focus on pulling folk's hard-earned cash out of their pockets, I spent my time looking backward. There is still gold mining going on (the proprietor at what seemed to be the only gift shop in Cripple Creek told us the big Newmont mine on the hill is yielding about a $million a day) but I was curious to visit some of the relics of yesteryear. Driving over toward Victor we stumbled on the Trails of Gold, a series of walking trails that take you through some of the old mining district. Its not too steep a trail (like the Manitou Incline, but that's a story for another blog) but you might feel the altitude a tad if you're a humble mortal like me. Still, it's worth the effort and they've done a nice job with the trails, the signage, and the old mine structures. Here's a short video of some of the highlights captured on a cool day when those infamous Colorado thunderstorms were threatening to recreate Noah's flood. Thank goodness the rain held off until we were nearly back to the car but the dark skies only added to the allure of these relics of days gone by. 

So if you're ever in the area take the turn out of Divide, Colorado onto State Highway 67. The drive alone is worth it, and if you want to part with some of your cash in the Gambling Halls I guess that's fine too. But if you're like me, don't miss the chance to get out and stretch the legs on one of the Trails of Gold. Memories is what you'll find which just might make your day...