victor, colorado · •jr ranger book on geology of byway region •land preservation workshops...

Inside the Guide...Gold Belt Tour Page 10, 11

Trails of Gold Map Page 6, 7

Emergency Information Page 30

Events Page 8

Fishing Page 31

Gambling Page 17

Historic Cemeteries Page 32

Lodging Page 26

Mine Tours Page 29

Modern Mining Page 28

Museums Page 24, 25

Scenic Overlooks Page 30, 33

Shuttle Website Info Page 7

Theater Page 22, 23

Train Ride Page 20

Victor Ice Rink Page 31

Cripple Creek Page 16, 17

Victor Page 12, 14

Thanks to our advertisers for their support and to our contributors for theircontent. This guide is a product of ZStudios, POB 244, Victor, CO 80860. Thisguide and more information available online at VictorColorado.com. All contents copyright April 2017 ZStudios, Victor, CO. To order guides, [email protected].

Gold! Few words can change the character of an entire region like the cry of “gold fever”.Gold was discovered here in 1890; the fever spread like wildfire, bringing thousands to the

Pikes Peak region. Prospectors Bob Womack and Winfield Scott Stratton discovered the gold orethat touched off the legendary Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Rush. The ranching country onPikes Peak's western slopes was transformed as thousands flocked to the area to seek their for-tunes. Towns sprang up on the mountainsides serving 500 gold mines, all requiring fuel, sup-plies, transportation, and a large supply of labor.It became a priority to link the Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District to places beyond. Two

stage roads and three railroads were built to carry lumber, food, coal, ore, and people to andfrom the mining district towns. Some of the historic rail routes comprise the segments of a loopof back country adventure called the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway (see map on page 11).Today the towns are linked with a shuttle service - park in one town at your hotel and ride theGold Camp Connector to the other to hike and shop.Colorado’s Gold Country - the famous Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining District - is known as

The World’s Greatest Gold Camp. The Golden Loop, a side tour of the Gold Belt, offers an up-close look at the 1890’s mining structures via The Trails of Gold, scenic drives, mountaintopoverlooks, mining exhibits, and museums. It is a perfect outing for a day or a week - an experi-ence that will create a lifetime of memories. Along the scenic routes are historic and modernmining operations, remnants of railroads, active ranching, as well as the cities of Cripple Creekand Victor. Venture off the beaten track - pan for gold, tour a modern and a historic gold mine,take in a theatrical performance, or experience a special event. At the end of the day, find one ofour historic inns and hotels for a home away from home.

Hike through time on a series of trails thatwinds through the mining district’s backcoun-

try. The Trails of Gold and several historic sites offerup-close looks at the remnants of the 1890’s goldrush legacy as well as the active modern mining ac-tivities, ranching, and old town sites. Most of the trails are open to foot, horse, and bicy-

cle traffic in summer, and skiing and snowshoeing inwinter. See trailhead information orVictorColorado.com for details. No motorized trafficis allowed on the trails. You can access most all ofthe Victor side trails from downtown Victor or theBattle Mountain Kiosk just east of town. CrippleCreek trails are accessed from the Cripple Creek Dis-trict Museum area; you can also use the city shuttleservice to get back and forth between the two towns.The Southern Teller County Focus Group, a Col-

orado non-profit, works with the local mining com-panies, governments, and smaller private landowners to provide and maintain this series of trailsthat lead you through the wealth of gold mining thatmade Victor and Cripple Creek famous. Visitors - please remember you are crossing pri-

vate land and must stay on the trails for your safety;do not enter open mine shafts or historic structures. The trails are through mountain terrain at eleva-

tions of 9,500 to 10,500 feet above sea level. Dressappropriately for mountain weather and bring a hat,sunscreen and a jacket in case of a rain or snowshower. Some trails are remote and rugged andwildlife may be present; please respect their naturalterritory.Access areas to the Theresa, Vindicator, Little

Grouse, Gold Camp, and Independence mines arehandicap accessible; trails beyond the parking areasare on mountain terrain. Cross country skiing andsnowshoeing are best in February to mid-April.There are no services at the trails; no camping orovernight parking is allowed. These are dog-friendlytrails, but please keep pets under your control andremove from the trail any messes they make. There are GPS trail maps located at trail heads and

on line at VictorColorado.com.

Map LegendCitiesCripple CreekVictor

Scenic RouteslNewmont Mining Corp. Tours - VLT MuseumlCC&V Narrow Gauge RailroadlGold Camp RoadlPhantom Canyon roadlShelf RoadlState Highway 67lTeller County Rd. 82

Historic Sites To Visit1. Gillett2. Goldfield3. American Eagles Headframe (Planned 2017)4. Independence Mine/Cresson Ore Sorting5. Independence Mill site/Outdoor Amphitheater6. Cresson Headframe7. Gold Coin Mine8. Battle Mountain kiosk9. Victor Lowell Thomas Museum/Walking Tour10. Sunnyside Cemetery11. Mollie kathleen Mine12. Cripple Creek Heritage Center13. Poverty Gulch14. Mount Pisgah Cemetery15. Cripple Creek District Museum16. Old Homestead House Museum17. Cripple Creek Jail Museum18. Victor’s Gold camp Ag & Mining Museum19. Rittenhouse headframe20. Grassy Valley Mining Overlook

Trails21. Vindicator Valley Trail22. Battle Mountain Trail to the Ajax Mine23. Independence Mill site Trail24. Golden Circle Trail25. Little Grouse Mountain Trails26. Lawrence Trail27. Gold Camp Trail28. Victor Downtown Trail29. Cripple Creek Community Trails30. Sunnyside Trail31. Purple Fluorite Trail

The Gold Camp Connector Shuttle Service provides transportation be-tween Cripple Creek & Victor. See CityofVictor.com for information.

Several events areplanned throughout

the year, some of whichare not finalized beforethis publication’s date.See VictorColorado.comandVisitCrippleCreek.comfor final dates, times,and changes in thisschedule.

MayMay 20�Sunnyside Cemetery Tour, Victor�Annual STCFG Historic Tour - AjaxMine and Battle Mountain TrailMay 13�Cripple Creek museums, CCVNGTrain open full time for the season.May 27�Victor Lowell Thomas Museum andVictor’s Gold Camp Ag & Mining Mu-seum open for season.May 27 - September 4�CC&V Mine Tours, from the VictorLowell Thomas MuseumMemorial Day Weekend�Annual Victor Garage Sale

JuneJune�Gold Bar Room Theater, ImperialHotel, opens its summer seasonJune 2-July 28�Cripple Creek Ragtime Revue, ButteTheater, Cripple CreekJune 9-11�Cripple Creek Top of the WorldRodeoJune 16-8�5th Annual Victor Gem & MineralShowJune 23 - July 5�Once Upon a Time in the West ArtShow, Cripple Creek Heritage CenterJune 23-Aug. 24�After Dark & Olio Melodrama atButte Theater, Cripple Creek June 23-26�Cripple Creek Donkey Derby Days:

Donkey races, street dance, beer gar-den, music, donkey rides, beard con-test, gun skits, dog show, parade,vendors, fun for the kids of all ages.

JulyJuly 4�Cripple Creek July 4th CelebrationJune 30 - August 26�Annie Get Your Gun - Butte Theater,Cripple CreekJuly 14-16�Victor Gold Rush Days:Mine Tours, Gold Panning, Chili Din-ner, Vintage Baseball, Street Dance;Pancake Breakfast, Mining Games,Gold Panning, Mine Tours, Home andBuilding Tours, Tractor Pull, Vendors,Kids Games, Reunion Dance, WalkingTours, and moreJuly 15�Cripple Creek Music FestJuly 29 - August 6�Teller County Fair, at the Fair-grounds, Cripple Creek

AugustAugust 12�Cripple Creek Tesla RallyAugust 18-20�Annual Cripple Creek Salute toAmerican Veterans

SeptemberSeptember 1-4�Victor Celebrates the Arts Show,Victor Elks LodgeSeptember 1-23�The Nerd, Butte Theater, CrippleCreekSeptember 9�Victor Race Day - pack burro race.

September 9-10�Cruise Above the CloudsCar Show, Cripple Creek�Victor Ghost Town GarageSaleSeptember 16-17�Mt. Pisgah Speaks Ceme-tery TourSeptember 23-24, September 30-October 1�Two Mile High Club Aspen

Tours, Cripple Creek September 29-October 28�The Toxic Avenger, Butte Theater,Cripple Creek

OctoberSeptember 30-October 1�Cripple Creek Big Aspen Happen’October 7�Stories at the Strong - A Day of TallTales and Mining History, VictorOctober 21�Zombie Scavenger Hunt CrippleCreekOctober 31�BOOzaar Cripple Creek Parks andRecreation

NovemberNovember 4�Cripple Creek Spirits FestivalNovember 24 - January 1�Gold Camp Christmas HeadframeLightingNovember 24 - December 30�Angel of the Christmas Mine, ButteTheater, Cripple Creek

DecemberDecember 8-10�Gold Camp Christmas CrippleCreek and Victor�December 8 - Victor Highlights Pa-rade�December 9-10 - Cripple Creek,Victor Events

February 2018 February 10-11, 17-19�Cripple Creek Ice Festival

In large part to willing landowners and generous funders, a significant portion of the Gold BeltTour Byway has been protected in perpetuity. Local land trusts work with landowners to en-sure conservation of the natural, scenic, agricultural, historic, and cultural aspects that make thisarea unique. This protection ensures these areas will never be developed and will continue to bean asset for community members and visitors.Approximately 10,000 acres have been conserved along the Gold Belt since 2007. The Byway

Association considers Conservation Efforts (CE) their top priority to help preserve the nature ofthe byway routes. CEs are voluntary agreements between landowners and qualified conservationorganizations that permanently limit the development and subdivision of properties.All CEs are unique and are tailored to each landowner and their property. They are designed to

protect the “conservation values” of a property forever. Examplesof conservation values includeopen space, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, scenic vistas, and historic properties. Landownerswho sell or donate a CE may be eligible for financial and tax benefits through direct cash pay-ments, federal income tax deductions, estate tax exemptions, and transferable state income taxcredits. With a CE, the landowner retains full ownership in the property and the right to continueexisting agricultural operations and customary rural enterprises (e.g., farm, ranch, hunt, graze,fish) and the right to control access. The organization has in place CEs on seven properties.The Gold Belt Tour Byway was first designated a BLM B ack Country Byway in 1989 and then a

State Scenic and Historic Byway that same year. In June of 2000 the routes of the Gold Belt weredesignated a National Scenic Byway. Over the past 27 years the Gold Belt Board has completedover $3,000,000 dollars worth of projects. The projects aside from the CEs include:•Paving in Garden Park Area •Signs and Walking Tour in Cripple Creek, Florence, and Victor•Brochures •Interpretive Signs Along the Byway •Website •Marketing and Business Plan•Audio Tour CD •Newsletter and Partnership Building •Historic and Geologic Guidebooks •Portal and Informational Signs •Heritage Landscape Preservation Plan •Historic DVD•Jr Ranger Book on Geology of Byway Region •Land Preservation Workshops •Garden Park School Assessment and Preservation •Economic Development PlanningThe Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Association is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that strives

to manage the Byways corridor, and assistance is appreciated. Visit GoldBeltByway.com to learnhow you can become a member or buy one of many educational products.

GoldBeltByway.com

ROADS TO RICHES & OUTDOOR ADVENTURES GOLD BELT SCENIC & HISTORIC BYWAY

GoldBeltByway.comHistory, Scenery, Shopping, Restaurants & More...

Victor is a quiet, his-toric mining town

full of character and ad-venture at nearly 10,000feet above sea level onthe southwest side ofPikes Peak. The 1890'sgold mining town archi-tecture, the sunny days,fresh mountain air, andfriendly small-town at-mosphere provide anopportunity to escapethe city life and find ad-venture in the Gold Rush era.

Today's Victor is a quiet mountain get-awayalong the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway,with over 300 days of sunshine each year. Thedowntown has undergone a major renewalwith sidewalks, an event plaza, and restoredfacades. Several of the original 1899 brickbuildings still line the historic streets, housingshops and eateries. The local experience in-

cludes antiques, broomand tinware making,fine art, and local crafts.Enjoy homemade good-ies at a German bakery,ice cream at an old-fashioned soda foun-tain, and food and drinkat three bars. The an-nual Gold Rush Days,Gem and Mineral Show,Christmas events,cemetery tour, packburro race, modern

mine tours, gold panning, and hiking trailsround out the fun.

The Gold Camp Connector Shuttle makes itpossible to easily get from Cripple Creek toVictor and back. For information, see CityofVic-tor.com.

The town’s visitor center is located on eastVictor Avenue. For more information, visit Vic-torColorado.com and CityofVictor.com.

4TH & VICTOR AVENUEVICTOR, CO 80860

AutoRepair &TowingAvailable

719-689-2325

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Warren, Harry, and Frank Woods came to Victor in 1892. WarrenWoods, the father, was born in 1834 in Ohio and was president

of most of the Woods’ enterprises. The Woods purchased the MountRosa Placer and incorporated the Mt. Rosa Mining, Milling, and LandCompany January 9, 1892. The area was platted into lots, and the in-vestment paid off - the 137 acres of Victor on the side of Battle Moun-tain netted the Woods over $50,000 by 1895.Victor was named after one of the town’s first pioneers and ranch-

ers, Victor Adams. According to family members, the townsmen de-cided to draw names from a hat to select the town’s name. Adams,who lived in Victor long before it became a gold mining town, was thelucky draw.

By the time the town was platted in 1893, it was already known as the City of Mines becausethe largest and richest gold mines of the Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District were locatedjust above Victor on Battle Mountain. While Cripple Creek claimed the glory of a wealthy goldcamp, nearby Victor and its environs played the biggest role in the production of the nearly$434,000,000 in gold (in 1890’s value). In the spring of 1894, the town was officially incorpo-rated and the first town council was elected in July of that year. Bruce Barger was the firstmayor and he was assisted in governing the town by six trustees. March 3, 1898, Victor becamea statutory city in Colorado. By then the town had a population of 8,000 residents. In August of1899 the downtown burned and was rebuilt in brick.

July 4, 1891, above what as to be the town of Victor, Winfield Scott Stratton staked claims tothe Independence and Washington mines. The news that Stratton, an itinerant carpenter

known for his persistent prospecting, could find a paying gold mine gave life to the new Col-orado gold rush. He developed the Independence Mine as well as several other claims and wasknown as an eccentric, although a very generous one. Stratton died before he could prove histheory of the Bowl of Gold, a formation of pure metal in the shape of a wine goblet he believedwas the mother lode. But his other theory, “Gold is worth more IN the ground than out,” provedto be ever so true when he later sold the Independence for $11,000,000, making him the firstmillionaire in the district. Stratton’s Independence Mine and Mill Site can be seen above Victorand is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mill Site and Mine have been devel-oped into an historic site with interpretive signs and an outdoor amphitheater carrying his name.

Victor Adams

In 1895 as the “World Celebration” wasstarted in honor of the town's incorporationas a city on July 16, 1894. The Miners Reunioncontinued until 1899 when a fire destroyedmost of downtown Victor and some of the sur-rounding residential areas. Following the fire,the next celebration was in 1904 when the Rin-gling Brothers was the featured attraction withtheir “big top” at the corner of Fourth Streetand Victor Avenue. After WWII the name of theevent was changed to Gold Rush Days and hascontinued uninterrupted since. See CityofVictor.com for an updated sched-

ule of events being planned.Friday, July 14 - Street Vendors; Gold Pan-

ning; CCV Mine Tours; Chili Dinner at the ElksLodge; Street Dance and Beer Garden.

Saturday, July 15 - Pancake Breakfast;Street Vendors; Mining Games; Gold Panning;CCV Mine Tours; Historic Home and BuildingTours; Tractor Pull; Vintage Baseball Game,Old-fashioned Kids games, Walki8ng Tours,Evening Reunion Dance at the Elks.

Sunday, July 16 - Pancake Breakfast; CCVMine Tours; Gold Panning; Tractor Pull; NoonParade.

Annual Gem & Mineral ShowColorado mineral specimens, jewelry,

gems, and fossils will be on display andfor sale June 16-18 for Victor’s Fifth AnnualGem & Mineral Show. Meet the stars of theProspectors TV show who will be on hand tosell their Colorado-dug minerals. Vendorswill be located in downtown Victor near theElks Lodge on North Third Street. Kids cantry their hand at gold panning at the mu-seum. See VictorColorado.com for eventsplanned during the show. The event is spon-sored by the Southern Teller County FocusGroup, a local non-profit with a mission ofhistoric preservation, community develop-ment, and mining education, with supportfrom Newmont Mining Corporation, and theCity of Victor.

Victor Gold rush DaysCelebration

The town of Cripple Creek developed along a small creekwinding its way from the mountains near Poverty Gulch,

where gold was found in 1890 by ranch hand Bob Womack.There are numerous stories about how the city was named.The most recounted story is of a cow that fell while crossingthe small stream that flowed through Poverty Gulch, resultingin the statement, “That’s some Cripple Creek.”

By 1894, what had been a quiet, serene cattle ranch was a booming gold camp of about50,000. The small camp was to become the fifth richest gold strike in the world, a legacy thatcontinues today with a still actively producing gold mine between Cripple Creek and Victor.On what was once a ranch, Denver real estate men Horace Bennett and Julius Myers platted

out lots, sold, and developed Cripple Creek from its quietbeginnings. The gold rush brought lumber yards,hotels, 100 saloons, over 40 assay offices, anequal number of brokerage firms, 80 doc-tors, 91 lawyers, and 14 newspapers.Electricity lighted the streets in 1892,and in 1893 the city’s water systemwas completed. The first (and only)authentic Mexican bullfight was heldat Gillett north of the district. Thefirst indoor rodeo was held in CrippleCreek at the Grand Opera House. Sev-eral celebrities either grew up here orspent time in the mining district, including:Groucho Marx, Lowell Thomas, Texas Guinan,Wyatt Earp, and Jack Dempsey.

Disaster struck Cripple Creek twice in1896. In late April of that year, a “taxi

dancer” on Myers Avenue (the Red Light Dis-trict) got into a fight with her beau. During thestruggle, a kerosene heater was overturned

which started a fire. Due to prevailing winds and the fact that all the buildings were wooden, theeastern half of the Cripple Creek business district burned as well as a good portion of the resi-dences. The resilient Cripple Creekers refused offers of help and rebuilding commenced the nextday. Three days later, a cook at one of the hotels overturned a pot of grease on a hot stove,which started another fire. This second fire burned what was left of the business district, includ-ing the start of the new construction, and several more homes. This time, offers of help weregratefully accepted. The city fathers ordained the business district to be built in brick thereafter.

A Rocky Mountain ranch thatbecame a golden hub

The Cripple Creek donkey herd can be foundwandering around town. The animals are pur-

ported to be the descendants of the donkeys thatworked in the mines before electricity reachedthe District. They provided a major labor forceabove and underground, packing supplies andhauling ore cars and timbers for miners. The TwoMile High Club cares for the animals. Every Junethe town honors the donkeys with Donkey DerbyDays. This event is the third full weekend of Juneand includes fun for all ages. See VisitCripple-Creek.com for event information.

heritage centerLocated on Tenderfoot Hill above Crip-

ple Creek, the Cripple Creek HeritageCenter displays include geological history,regional recreational activities and attrac-tions, and mining history. The center is wellknown for its wall of windows that offersstunning views of the Sangre de Cristomountain range. The staff providesbrochures, maps, directions, and other visi-tor information. The heritage center is lo-cated one mile north of Cripple Creek onHighway 67 and is owned and funded bythe City of Cripple Creek. For hours and in-formation, call 1-877-858-4653 or Visit-CrippleCreek.com.

Today, the 1890’sbrick buildings

that line CrippleCreek’s Bennett Av-enue are home tomodern-day casinos,shops, and eateries.Several more historicbuildings line the city’s sidestreets and make a superb walk-ing tour of history.In 1990, the voters of Colorado approved

limited-stakes gambling in Cripple Creek, a century after gold was discovered. The surge to buildcasinos and make civic improvements brought on a new gold rush to the city that began with themeager endeavors of a few ranchers with big dreams in Poverty Gulch.Bets are limited to $100 each. Several casinos sport slot machines, video and live poker, black-

jack tables, craps, and roulette. Cripple Creek casinos, large and small, offer a chance to strike itrich in both historic and modern venues. Casinos offer gaming fun, bars, dining, and VIP bene-fits, free parking, as well as hotel rooms. Events such as Donkey Derby Days, Salute to American Veterans, rodeos, fall color tours, and

July 4th as well as historic venues such as the Butte Theater, Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, andCC&V Narrow Gauge celebrate the town’s heritage.

two mile High donkeys

Getting to and fromCripple Creek in the

1890s was a matter ofdetermination. Minersrode horseback, packedmules, or walked. Rail-roads soon were built andtransported goods, ore,and passengers up thecanyons that led to thegold fields. The first rail-road to open was the Florence & Cripple CreekJuly 1, 1894. The next day the train derailed.Two other railroads served the district, includ-ing the Short Line and Midland Terminal fromColorado Springs. The last train to run to Crip-ple Creek was in 1949.On June 28, 1967, Dr. John M. Birmingham

opened the Cripple Creek & Victor NarrowGauge Railroad for tours; the CC&VNGRR hasbeen carrying passengers ever since. Today 50years later, the CC&VNGRR is still operated bythe Birmingham family and is the only remain-ing railroad trip in the district. The railroad

boasts three 100-plus-year-old engines andfour more modernpassenger cars. Thegift shop and ticket of-fice, originally built in1894 as the Anacondatrain station, is next tothe original CrippleCreek Midland Depotwhich houses the Crip-

ple Creek District Museum at the east end ofBennett Avenue in Cripple Creek. The train route winds through some of the

historic mining region and affords breath-tak-ing scenery along the route. An added bonus isnarration by the engineer telling the passen-gers about the historical sights along the way.The trip lasts about 45 minutes. The train sta-tion is located at Fifth & Bennett Avenue and isopen mid-May to mid-October. For information, call 719-689-2640 or visit

CrippleCreekRailroad.com.

Scenic Routes For Rails

The Phantom Canyon Road is one of the most scenic and historic drives in Colorado. Theroute, which follows the 1890’s bed of the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad (F&CC), in-

creases in elevation from 5,500 to 9,500 feet and offers the chance to see a wide range ofplants and wildlife in their natural setting. The F&CC was built in 1894 as the first connectionfrom Florence to the goldfields of Cripple Creek and Victor. The unique bridges and tunnelsoffer a visual link to the area's historic past. The F&CC was shut down July 12, 1912, when aflood roared down the canyon, ripping out track and 12 bridges. The route was opened as anauto road in 1918 and today is part of the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway.The Midland Terminal, which ran from Colorado Springs up to Cripple Creek, opened July 4,

1894, three days after the F&CC arrived. Four passenger trains per day ran on the tracks andgold was hauled to a processing plant on Colorado Springs’ west side. The railroad, which isnow Highway 67 from Divide to Cripple Creek, closed in 1949 when it was no longer necessaryto haul gold down the mountain for processing.The Short Line (aka Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway) was the shortest route

to Colorado Springs and starting in April of 1901 operated two passenger trains each way daily.The 46-mile route cost over $4.5 million in 1900 values and was paid for by wealthy mine own-ers. Over 220 box cars and 60 ore cars brought ore from the Cripple Creek and Victor minesdown the mountain to the mills in and around Colorado Springs. Theodore Roosevelt pro-claimed “This is the ride that bankrupts the English language!” Service on the route ended in1920. Later it became Gold Camp Road, which winds from Teller County 81 north of Victordown the mountain canyons to Old Stage Road near the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Theroad is maintained, though can be washboardy and in winter may require four-wheel drive orchains. The scenery is spectacular and includes towering rock formations, overviews of Col-orado Springs, and in the fall, brilliant gold aspen stands.

The Butte Concert andBeer Hall opened about

1896, when proprietors fea-tured nightly entertainmentwith a Ladies' Vienna Orches-tra. After ups and downs andbeing used for storage, earlyin 1999, the city of CrippleCreek began extensive renova-tions to refurbish the formertheater with fresh paint, Victo-rian-era wallpaper, and periodchandeliers. The Butte Theater is home

to Thin Air Theatre Company(TATC) professional shows aswell as community produc-tions. For information, seeButteTheater.com. To makephone reservations, call 719-689-3247.

2017 season tatc A Cripple Creek Ragtime RevueJune 2- July 28Ragtime returns with this revue ofsome of the most memorablemusic performed by the talentedTATC actors. This is an upliftingwalk down memory lane to theearly days of Cripple Creek's the-ater scene.After DarkClassic Melodrama and OlioJune 23-Aug. 24Classic Victorian Melodrama at it'sbest... Once a member of awealthy family, George Medhurstis reduced to working odd jobs inorder to provide for his youngwife; but when he learns that hisfortune will be restored to him —if and only if he marries his dis-tant cousin — which path will ourhero choose? Followed by an allnew Olio showcasing the singingand dancing talents of the profes-sional cast.Annie, Get Your GunMusicalJune 30 –Aug. 26Annie Get Your Gun features

lyricsandmusic byIrving Berlin. Thestory is a fictionalized version ofthe life of Annie Oakley, a sharp-shooter who starred in BuffaloBill's Wild West Show, and her ro-mance with sharpshooter FrankButler. This Tony Award winninghit had one of the longest runson Broadway (spawning a 1950film starring Betty Hutton andHoward Keel).

The NerdComedySept. 1-23An aspiring architect in TerreHaute, IN...Willum Cubbert...hasoften told his friends about thedebt he owes to Rick Steadman, afellow ex-GI whom he has nevermet but who saved his life afterhe was seriously wounded in Viet-nam. Willum has written to Rickto say that, as long as he is alive,'you will have somebody who willdo anything for you'. Willum isdelighted when Rick shows upunexpectedly at his apartment onthe night of his 34th birthdayparty. After Willum's birthday,Rick stays becoming the houseguest from Hades with his contin-ued presence leading from onehilarious incident to another...The Nerd was written by LarryShue.

ToxicAvenger:The MusicalHalloweenMusicalSept. 29-Oct. 28Based on Lloyd Kaufman's 1984cult film The Toxic Avenger andwinner of the Outer Critics CircleAward for Best Off-Broadway Mu-sical, the show is a charming lovestory and laugh-out-loud musicalthat has it all: an unlikely hero,his beautiful girlfriend, a corruptNew Jersey mayor and two guyswho play... well, everyone else ...bullies, mobsters, old ladies andstiletto-wearing back up singers.

Angel of the Christmas MineChristmas show and OlioNov. 24-Dec. 30A Cripple Creek favorite writtenby the district’s favorite play-wright Chris Sorensen. In themidst of a horrible mine collapse,three miners are trapped belowground. Separated from theirfamilies above, the miners man-age to find solace and hope inthe face of tragedy by sharingstories of Christmas. Followed byan all new Christmas Olio full ofsinging, dancing and laughterguaranteed to fill you with Christ-mas spirit.

Gold mining waned in the 1930s and1940s, and so did business in Cripple

Creek. In 1946 Wayne and Dorothy Mackinpurchased the Imperial Hotel and began thetradition of producing 45-plus years of melo-drama. The Imperial Players performed to summer

crowds and helped revitalize the town with anew tourism economy. In the early 1990s theGold Bar Room was closed. Gary and WiniLedford have re-opened the historic theater. The new season will include variety of live

entertainment. For more information, visit Im-perialHotelRestaurant.com.

GRAINGER REALTY, INC.

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Visitors to the Cripple Creek Jail Museum can get a taste of the shadier side of early life inthe gold camp. The museum is housed in the historic red brick building that served as the

Teller County Jail from 1902 until the 1990s. The original cells have been left intact so visitors can examine them from the inside. Displays

highlight the laws and the lawless, with samples of police logs from the 1890s, examples of earlycity ordinances, and newspaper accounts of crimes big and small.The museum features a gift shop. Located on Bennett Ave. and A St. For information, call 877-

858-4653 or VisitCrippleCreek.com.

Named a Top 10 Western Museum by TrueWest Magazine, the museum is full of photos

of yesteryear, artifacts, and exhibits that showhow the district’s gold was discovered, howtowns were settled, and how they grew into oneof the most noted mining camps in the world.Don’t miss a turn-of-the-century assay office,

the former Colorado Trading & Transfer Com-pany with the its unique gift shop, the bookstore, two courtyards containing mining machin-ery and memorabilia, as well as an assay office. The museum has hundreds of files in its

archives, including photographs, newspaper ar-ticles, documents, letters, scrapbooks, city di-rectories, death and burial records, marriageand baptism records, and correspondence fromancestors of the folks who lived in the CrippleCreek District. Located at the east end of Ben-nett Avenue. For more information, visit CrippleCreekMu-

seum.com or call 719-689-2634.

Florissant Fossil Beds North of Cripple Creek about 28 miles,

the peaceful ponderosa pine forestsand rolling meadows of modern Florissantare a sharp contrast to the violent volcanicactivity that occurred there millions ofyears ago. Volcanic ash and mud flows pre-served a priceless legacy - petrified red-wood stumps and delicate plant and insectfossils dating to 35 million years ago - setaside as the Florissant Fossil Beds NationalMonument. The historic 1800’s HornbekHomestead is located at the north end ofthe monument. Located about 18 milesnorth of Cripple Creek on Teller CountyRd.1. 719-748 3253 nps.gov/flfo

At the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, you canpan for real gold and gems and take in two

floors of artifacts, books, exhibits, and photographsdepicting the life in Victor from its earlier days to theheyday of gold mining. Exhibits highlight the life ofLowell Thomas and other pioneers of The World’sGreatest Gold Camp.Take a modern mine tour and see how gold is

taken from the earth with 21st century technology.Check the museum website for guided historic walk-ing tours on summer Saturdays at 11 a.m. and pro-grams, including a Sunnyside Cemetery tour in May.Take off on a tour of the Trails of Gold right from

the museum’s front door, with access to miles ofhiking and biking trails that wander past 1890’smines, homes, and the scenic gold mining district.The gift shop offers Victorian hats and gemstone

jewelry, new and rare used books, historic maps,postcards, gold ore, one-of-a-kind gifts, and rocks.

The museum, at 3rd St. and Victor Ave., is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, week-ends through Christmas. For information, call 719-689-5509, or visit VictorColorado.com.

Old Parlor House Open Between Cripple Creek's famous fires in

April of 1896 and the following Novem-ber, Madam Pearl DeVere built a palatial parlorhouse. As the fanciest of bordellos, the OldHomestead included running water, electricitya telephone, as well as a full staff of chamber-maids, housekeepers, a cook and a musician.The Old Homestead, the last of the infamous

pleasure palaces of Cripple Creek, stands inquiet dignity today on Myers Avenue - in mutetestimony to its raucous, glamorous past. Thebright lights, the tinkling pianos, the coarseshouts of the pleasure-seeking miners aregone, but the Homestead remains. The Museum is Located One Block South of

Bennett Avenue at 353 Myers Ave., CrippleCreek, the museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.7 days a week mid-May through October.

More in Victor

Victor’s Gold Camp Ag & Mining Museumhouses displays of historical tractors. The

home for this collection is the historic Fill-abaum Ford Dealership located at 102 SecondAve., Victor. Call 719-651-5569 for informa-tion.

Pan for Gold, tour the mine

In the heart of downtown Cripple Creek youcan find first-class respite in two historichotels, enjoy fine dining and fast food, peruseantiques and fine art, and take in a show at alive theater - all within a one-block walking dis-tance. The Carr Manor/Imperial Hotel proper-ties offer a one-stop vacation get-away in theheart of Cripple Creek. In the 1890s, the New Collins Hotel, now the

Imperial Hotel, featured steam heat, electriclights and a new dining room. The Imperial hasrenovated rooms with private baths. You canwalk indoors from your hotel room to the Mid-land Depot Restaurant, which offers family-style Italian food. The historic Gold Bar Theaterin the lower level has been brought back to lifeand offers a variety of entertainment. To top offthe evening, the historic Red Roster Bar offersa cozy respite from life’s pressures. The MonteCarlo Mining Company Emporium stocks fineart and antiques on the Bennett Avenue level,which also includes Bobbie B’s Burgers and IceCream.Carr Manor, an 1890’s school one block east

of the Imperial, is appointed as a boutiquehotel. This destination resort offers first-classaccommodations in the heart of Cripple Creek.Conference facilities, a grand ballroom, aspa/fitness room, and a gift shop complete theamenities. Some suites feature four-posterbeds reminiscent of the period; all offer exqui-site furnishings. Walls of fine art and historical

mem-orabiliamake for thefinest lodging experience inthe district.Carr Manor - 350 East Carr Ave., Cripple Creek; 719-689-3709; CarrManor.com.Imperial Hotel & Restaurant - 123 N. Third St., Cripple Creek; 719-689-2561; ImperialHotelRestaurant.com.Midland Depot Italian Restaurant - 123 N. Third St.; 719-689-2561Gold Bar Theater - 123 N. Third St; 719-689-2561Red Rooster Bar - 123 N. Third St.; 719-689-2561

historic Hospital

The Thompson House Miner’s Cabin719-689-5700; 3rd & Diamond Ave., Victor-VictorColorado.com/coloradotnt.htmThe Fortune Club Rooms 3rd & Victor Av-

enue offer historic stays in an 1890’s goldmining town; 719-689-2623.

Historic Victor rooms

The Hotel St. Nicholas, built in 1898 as aCatholic hospital, today offers comfortable ac-commodations, continental breakfast, stunningviews, and “distinctive spirits” in the Boiler RoomTavern. 719-689-0856. HotelStNicholas.com303 North Third St., Cripple Creek.

The Newmont Mining Corporation’s Cripple Creek & Victor Mine (CC&V) operates the mod-ern, high-tech surface gold mine, the largest in Colorado, between Cripple Creek and Victor.

CC&V is now approaching 5.5 million ounces of gold mined from the Cresson Project, whichstarted in 1995. Since the rush began in 1890, the Cripple Creek Mining District has produced over 25,000,000

ounces of gold. Driving around the area you can see modern mining methods that keep the dis-trict’s gold mining legacy alive - from surface mining along county roads, to the valley fill/gold re-covery processes along Highway 67 northwest of Victor, to the Salon Beard, Altman, and SquawGulch toe-berm reclamation sites. Above Squaw Gulch, CC&V has built a new rod and ball millthat has begun operations and is processing higher grade ores. CC&V invites you to tour thisamazing mining operation - see VictorColorado.com for tour reservations and information. At one time, over 500 underground mines operated in the district. CC&V has worked with the

local communities to preserve some of the remaining historic structures that have not been lostto time. Several of these structures include the Cresson headframe in Victor, the Anchoria LelandMine near Cripple Creek, American Eagles, and the Rittenhouse headframe on South 4th Streetin Victor. The company has also provided access to several sites on its land that offer safe, up-close views of the historic mining structures. Please be aware that old mine sites can be danger-ous, so enjoy them from the established roads and trails. Please do not harm historic sites sothat others may enjoy them. CC&V is a proud member of the community. Its 580-plus employees have donated thousands

of hours of volunteer time to local organizations, and CC&V has an active donation program con-tributing over $700,000 in 2016 to infrastructure projects, health care, education, and events.Based on permitted surface mining plans, and its ongoing geological exploration, which may in-clude additional surface and potential underground operations, Newmont Mining Corporation willbe a part of the district’s heritage for years to come. CC&V is not just preserving local history, but also heritage statewide. CC&V donated 75 ounces

($125,000 value in 2013 prices) of gold for the restoration of the State Capitol dome in Denver;as a result Cripple Creek and Victor gold continues to shine brilliantly throughout Colorado.

Tours through the moderngold mining operations of

Newmont Mining Corporation’sCripple Creek & Victor Mine areoffered in the summer months.See giant haul trucks, shovels,and drill rigs in action. Watch amassive crusher reducing boul-der-sized ore into gravel andlearn about modern refiningmethods while helping to pre-serve the 1890’s history.All tour proceeds go to the Vic-

tor Lowell Thomas Museum in downtown Vic-tor, where the tours start. Modern mine toursbegin Memorial Day Weekend and are an af-fordable way to see a real working gold mine.Tours in 2017 are offered at 10 a.m. and

1 p.m. as follows:May 28-Sept. 4 daily except no tours on

Thursdays; see VictorColorado.com for addi-tional times and dates. Reservations arestrongly encouraged.The cost is $8.50 per person, all ages. The

maximum on each tour is 13.Please be sure to reserve your tours early as

they are very popular and fill up quickly. Toursleave from the museum on the corner of VictorAvenue and Third Street.Reservations strongly recommended:Online at VictorColorado.com, or by

leaving a message at 719-689-4211, or

during summer months at 719-689-5509.To ensure visitors’ safety, several policies

must be followed:l All tour participants must sign a release form; parents of children under 18 must sign the release form for their children.

l Arrive at the museum 15 minutes early; everyone is required to view a mine safety video.

l No children under 5 allowed on tours.l Everyone will be required to wear long

pants (no shorts), fully enclosed shoes, as well as hard hats, safety vests, and safety glasses provided by CC&V.

l CC&V is an active mining operation; tours may be limited by mining operations.

For information visit VictorColorado.com.

be prepared for the Mountains Southern Teller County is nearly two miles above sea level. If you are from a lower eleva-

tion, you may experience shortness of breath or other discomforts when exercising. Thehigh elevation affects breathing and heart rate and will also affect how much alcohol you mayconsume. Please drink responsibly.Weather is unpredictable. Nights can drop into the 30s even in summer, making this a great

place to escape from the heat of the plains. While the summer is filled with sunny warm days inthe 70s, it can also be rainy and even snow. Bring a warm jacket and clothing to ensure yourstay is comfortable. In the winter, enjoy sunny blue-sky days. Often when it's snowing in Col-orado Springs and Ute Pass in the winter, Southern Teller County is basking in sunshine. Takeextra precautions when driving in the mountains. Pack warm clothes, emergency food, a blan-ket, and chains. Cell phones do not work in all locations.

Pikes Peak Regional Hospital in Woodland Park offers emergency and personal physiciancare services at 16420 W, Hwy 24, Woodland Park. A state-of-the-art community hospital, PPRHoffers emergency room care for minor injuries and conditions as well as surgical needs. Formore information, call 719-687-9999 or visit PikesPeakRegionalHospital.com.

Late in the fall of 2016, New-mont Mining Corporation

opened its new Grassy Valley MiningOverlook to the public. This observa-tion area, which features an amazingCAT 793 Haul Truck Bed converted to anobservation deck, provides a safe and dynamicway for visitors to view modern mining operations. The360-degree view takes in the historic Grassy Valley, a beautiful angle of Pikes Peak, and one ofNewmont’s historic mining preservation sites known as the Hoosier Mine. It a must-see for any-one exploring the area’s ongoing mining heritage as it also overlooks the modern surface mine.You can find this overlook on Teller County Road (TCR) 82 (between Colorado Highway 67 and

TCR 81). While you are there, don’t forget to take a hike on the Gold Camp Trail – look for the trailhead at the Hoosier Mine north and west from the overlook about ¼ of a mile on County Road82. Newmont is also planning to relocate the 1890’s American Eagles Mine structures to the top of

Little Grouse Mountain and create a new road to an over look there south of Victor in 2018.Photo by Brad Poulson, Newmont Mining Corporation.

Victor kids of all agesknow where to hang out

in the winter - Brian’s Park isthe only groomed ice rink insouthern Teller County and isopen daily from mid Decem-ber into early March.

Just below Portland Avenue in Victor at Fourth Street, the rink is home to the Victor PenguinsHockey Club. Several divisions play on the rink, from young kids to adults. Hours are posted atthe rink. The club has its own Zamboni for ice maintenance. The Penguins sponsor adulthockey and also field youth teams. These teams play against regional hockey teams in Januaryand February. Tournaments are also held during the season.The Penguins Hockey Club is a nonprofit organization. Donations are always welcome and

are tax deductible. For more information, call Brian Hayes at 719-689-2029.

Skaguay Reservoir, seven milesfrom Victor, is a quiet, mountain

get-away worth the trip down a scenicbackcountry road. Skaguay Reservoirwas built in 1900 to power the min-ing district. Today the lake is a popular moun-

tain fishing spot. To find the reser-voir, drive about one mile downPhantom Canyon Road from Victor to the first left and turn at the sign for reservoir; then followthis aspen-lined road to the lake. Fishing is best at the inlet, east shore, and dam. Boats andcamping are allowed. If you need bait, tackle or lunches, stop in Victor before heading out, G&SSporting Goods sells fishing licenses, and several establishments offer lunches to go.

Visiting historic cemeteries isa perfect way to connect

with the past, whether searchingfor family ties or learning aboutthe events that shaped the Dis-trict. Two public cemeteries offerpaths to the past - Victor’s Sunny-side and Cripple Creek’s Mt. Pis-gah are open daily throughout

the year. In May each year the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum offers a tour of the SunnysideCemetery. In September each year the Gold Camp Victorian Society holds Mount Pisgah Speaks.Please respect graves and family gatherings while visiting the locations. See VictorColorado.comand VisitCrippleCreek.com for event information.

Sunnyside CemeteryThe cemetery is unique in that its residents are granted only the "surface ground." Deeper, one

finds portions of the Hattie W. lode, the Cemetery lode, the Robert E. Lee lode, and the Anny B.lode, all now inactive gold mines. One wonders if the residents could indeed "rest in peace," withall the rumblings of mining that once came from below. Hundreds of graves are unmarked or areguarded by wooden markers from which all inscription has disappeared. The many fenced areasreserved for burials of fraternal society members speak to the community's strong social struc-ture. The earliest recorded burial is that of 3-year-old Maggie Ferrans, who died April 26, 1891.Sunnyside Cemetery is located west of Victor on County Road 87. From Victor Avenue, turn

west at Seventh Street on the southwest end of Victor. Drive about 0.9 mile down the dirt road tothe entrance of the cemetery.

Mt. Pisgah CemeteryLand for the 40-acre cemetery was donated

on March 21, 1895, by Horace W. Bennett andJulius A. Myers of Denver to the Mount PisgahCemetery Association. They retained mineralrights but noted that any mining would bedone "without injury to the surface." The earli-est marked burial is that of James Gozad, whodied May 11, 1892, so the land was in use as acemetery before 1895.The veterans section includes graves of 38

Civil War veterans moved in the 1920s or1930s from the original GAR Cemetery nearVictor when gold was mined there. SeveralSpanish-American War veterans and one Con-federate soldier are also buried there. Populargraves include those of Old Homesteadmadam Pearl DeVere and Dr. Susan Anderson,pioneer doctor of Cripple Creek and GrandCounty on whom the TV character Dr. Quinn issaid to be based.From Bennett Avenue in Cripple Creek (the

main street), drive to the west end and turnright at B Street. Turn left at Carr Avenue anddrive approximately one-half mile.

The Ajax Mine sits high above Victoron historic Battle Mountain. The

Ajax Gold Mining Company shipped highgrade gold ore starting in 1895. About1903, Charles Tutt, Spencer Penrose,Charles MacNeill, Clarence Hamlin, andOliver Shoup owned the mine. The mineoperated for years but eventually water lev-els at depths of 2,000 feet and lower madethe endeavor unprofitable. With the con-struction of the Carlton Tunnel, a six-miledrainage project completed in 1941, themine was more easily worked below 3,000feet underground.The Ajax and its satellite properties were

the seventh largest producing gold mine in the United States in 1947 and the largest producer inColorado in 1954. Mining continued through the years and the steel headframe now in place waserected in 1959. In 1972 the facility underwent a major rehabilitation. Operations continued intothe mid-1980s.In 2017 Newmont Mining Corporation invested in the necessary construction required to pro-

vide visitors with a safe access to the mine site and an exciting new overlook above Victor. Theoverlook provides vistas of the town as well as the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. The over-look is accessed via an extension of the Battle Mountain Trail off the Old American Eagles Road(off of Diamond Avenue in Victor). The Southern Teller County Focus Group, a Colorado non-profit, in cooperation with Newmont Mining Corporation will hold a guided tour of the mine andnew trail extension on Saturday, May 20. Meet at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum at 12:30;more information is available online at VictorColorado.com.

victor, colorado · •jr ranger book on geology of byway region •land preservation workshops...

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