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| CRIPPLE CREEK
from page 13
Donkeys aren’t Cripple Creek’s only attraction, of course. Starting in 1991, gaming came to town and now there might be more gold in the casinos on historic Bennett Avenue than there was in the mines that once surrounded the town. Besides games of chance, including slots, poker, Black Jack, craps and roulette, the casinos also offer lodging and good restaurants. The town also has two historical entertainment venues. The Butte Opera House and the Thin Air Theatre Co. offer mining-camp-style melodrama, a summer musical and community theater, while the Gold Bar Room Theater in the newly restored Imperial Hotel & Casino offers music, magic and comedy acts. For those who want more than slot machines, Cripple Creek flaunts its Western and
2012 TELLER COUNTY GUIDE mining heritage with five museums. Located at Fifth Street and Bennett Avenue, the Cripple Creek District Museum is a complex of three buildings showcasing six floors of history. Outdoor exhibits at the museum include mining artifacts and two completely outfitted, early 20th-century cabins. For more information about the museum, visit www.cripple-creek.org. Other Cripple Creek museums include the Cripple Creek Heritage Center, which covers local history from the days of the dinosaurs to the end of the Gold Rush era; the Outlaws & Lawmen Jail Museum, where some of the town’s heroes and shady characters come to life; the Old Homestead Parlour House Museum that used to house one of the town’s premier gentlemen’s clubs; and Fire Station #3. Cripple Creek’s outdoor activities include the Trails of Gold between Cripple Creek and Vic-
tor and the Golden Loop Historic Parkway driving tour. For information and trail maps, go to www.victorcolorado.com. Finally, Cripple Creek is known for its many festivals and celebrations. The big event every June is Donkey Derby Days, the city’s annual celebration of its mining heritage and famous donkeys. Other events include the Once Upon a Time in the West Art Show in June, the 4th of July celebration, the
Salute to American Veterans Rally and Teller County Fair in August, Cruise Above the Clouds Car Show in September; aspen-viewing , Mt. Pisgah Cemetery and Ghost Walk tours in October; Gold Camp Christmas and headframe lighting in December and the Ice Festival two weekends in February. For more information including dates and times, visit www. cripple-creek.co.us. ■
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