Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek began as a mining town in the 1800s, but a real, profitable find wasn't made until 1891, much later than many other areas. At the turn of the century, the Cripple Creek area had over 500 working mines and the town boasted a population of over 35,000. As with many other mining towns, when the gold was gone so were most of the people. When Colorado legalized gambling in the state back in 1991, Cripple Creek was one of the towns to set up shop for casinos. This has turned Cripple Creek into a tourist spot and although the town's population is now a mere 1,200, it's a busy place, with 13 casinos and numerous restaurants. The median household income in Cripple Creek is $32,000 and almost half of the residents work in entertainment or hospitality which is the town's biggest draw. A home in Cripple Creek costs much less than the state average at around $112,000.

While there are no medical facilities here there is a hospital 12 miles away in Woodland Park. There are numerous little touristy type of shops and restaurants which can make this a fun outing for a day or two. For those who are staying longer there are numerous outdoor activities to do such as: hiking, camping, horseback riding, nature walks, hunting, snow sports, and water sports like rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.

One of my favorite things about Cripple Creek is the way the town looks as if it's still the 1800s. While the interiors of the buildings have all been updated, the main street still looks as it did years ago. Tall narrow shops with varying colored store fronts line main street as do old brick buildings.