Creede and Mineral County Visitor Guide - Creede, Colorado

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welcome

Happy Birthday Creede! This year we celebrate a rich 125 years of history that began on June 13, 1892 and continues through today. The pioneering spirit that launched this town is still alive and well and we invite you to experience our mountain splendor along with the unique charm of our local townsfolk as you share in the festivities.

There is much to do in and around Creede during your visit. With a diverse variety of shopping, restaurants and other attractions like the Underground Mining Museum, Historical Museum and so much more, there is something for everybody here in town. And for those who are looking to sample the many outdoor activities here, there is an abundance of fishing, camping, hiking and other pursuits available to all in a county that boasts 96% of its land available for public use.

Creede also offers art galleries, music festivals and theatre for those with an interest in the arts. The Creede Repertory Theatre has been entertaining locals and visitors alike since 1966. Our town has numerous renowned artists and galleries whose work may be viewed either in store or at a number of festivals held throughout the year. Musical performances abound here and the Headwaters Music Festival will be celebrating its second year this season.

With so much to sample here during your visit, these are just a few of the activities to be enjoyed. We encourage you to peruse this Visitors Guide for other offerings in Creede and Mineral County. If you have questions, please stop by and visit us at the Visitor Center at 904 South Main and we would love to meet you. In the meantime, enjoy your stay and the warm hospitality that Creede has to offer as we celebrate a very special 125th Birthday.

Executive Director Creede & Mineral County Chamber of Commerce Cover Photo: Bob Seago Photography. This Page: Courtesy of Creede Historical Society.

published by

PO Box 580 / 904 S. Main Street Creede, co 81130 719-658-2374 / Office@creede.com Š 2017

in this issue

2017 Calendar of Events 6 Creede: A Very Brief History 9 1892 Creede Model 15 Creede Repertory Theatre 17 19 Taste of Creede Dining 21 22 A Love Affair Shops + Galleries 23 Tomkins Hardware 25 Lodging 27 Maps 28 32 Bachelor Loop The Fish of the Rio Grande 35 38 Happy Trails Hikes and Solitude 39 Campgrounds 41 Willow Creek Restoration Project 47 Worship Services 49 51 Local Services Members + Advertisers 54 FAQs + Important Numbers 57 Underground Mining Museum 58

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The cost of this publication has been provided entirely by Creede & Mineral County Chamber of Commerce members and area advertisers.

Lodging Tax Funds were not used.

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 3

A Unique New Neighborhood In Creede World Headquarters 114 North Main St. Creede, CO 719.658.0223 www.creedeamerica.com

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creede & mineral county visitors guide / 5

2017 calendar

of events May 14 20 26

Mother’s Day Breakfast / Elks Lodge #506 Pants on Fire / Ruth Theatre / CRT

Unveiling of CRT’s 2017 Art Poster

by Aaron Morgan Brown / Ruth Theatre / CRT

27 National Small Print Show Opening

CRT / CAC

27, 28, 29 Taste of Creede, A Festival of Fine Arts

and Fine Dining National Small Print Show Opening

Silver Chef Competition

Artists Quick Draw Competition

Art Auction

29 Memorial Day Ceremony / Basham Park Elk’s Lodge #506

legend

June

2

CRT Opening Night Celebration She Loves Me Opens / CRT

Trash to Treasures (719)658-2729 / CREEDE PARKS & REC

6 10 13 14 16 17 17 17-18 18

Creede Donkey Dash Burro Race

21 24 27

28 30

Creede Chute Out! / URGEC

Creede’s 125th Birthday Willow Creek Reclamation Fundraiser The Syringa Tree Opens / CRT Runoff Runoff Community Center Gala Event / ccc Mineral County Fair

ATV/OHV Bingo Run Dutch Oven Workshop

Boomtown Opens / Ruth Theatre / CRT Mining through Poetry, Stories and Song Ruth Theatre / CRT Creede Chute Out Rodeo Mountain Shoot Out Photography Show / CAC Arsenic and Old Lace Opens / CRT

CMCCC : Creede & Mineral Co. Chamber of Commerce (719) 658-2374 / creede.com

CHS : Creede Historical Society (719) 658-2004 / 719-658-2394 / creedehistoricalsociety.com

CAC : Creede Arts Council (719) 658-3012 / creedearts.wordpress.com

CRT : Creede Repertory Theatre (719) 658-2540 / creederep.org

CCC : Creede Community Center (719) 658-0811 / undergroundminingmuseum.com

URGEC : Upper Rio Grande Events Complex, upperriogrande.org

calendar

July 3-4

Creede’s Annual July 4th Street Festival Elks Lodge Annual Dance / July 4

Parade / July 4 / 10am

Street Vendors

Children’s Activities

Colo. State Mining Championship Days of ’92 Mining Events

Beer Garden

Creede Chute Out! Special Show / URGEC

Fireworks

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12 12-13 14 19 26

Woodcarvers Rendevous creedewoodcarvers.com / ccc Creede Chute Out! / URGEC Ladies Aid Bazaar Tally’s Folly Opens / CRT Creede Chute Out! / URGEC

Creede Chute Out! Final Round — Last Rodeo URGEC

4-6

Creede Rock & Mineral Show / ccc

August 5 12 18-20 18 25 26-27 26

Annual Snowshoe Shuffle

September

2-3

5 15-17

Photos: Avery Augur

Labor Day Weekend Celebration 7th Annual Balloon Festival / Creede Mining Heritage Inc. 31st Annual Creede Mountain Run Salsa Fiesta 6th Annual Gravity Derby ATV Rodeo / (719) 480-3137 10 Minute New Play Festival / Ruth Theatre / CRT

Cruisin’ the Canyon Car Show

November

18 Community Thanksgiving Dinner 24-25 Chocolate Festival

Creede Scoop Chase

December TBD 31

Community Christmas Dinner New Year’s Eve Dance / Elks Lodge #506

Silver Thread Studio Tour / CAC Creede Sculpture Show / CAC General Store Opens / CRT Headwaters New Play Festival / CRT Headwaters Music Festival Upper Rio Grande Tour of Homes / Creede Early Learning Center

visit creede.com for up-to-date event information

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inspired Creede: A Very Brief History

by Janis Jacobs Creede Historical Society

Photo Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

Boom Town Creede

“Creede” is a name that has been drawing people to this area since 1890. Our town has gone from soaring heights to devastating lows followed by many ups and downs in its varied history. For one and a half years it was at its highest pinnacle as a boom town. For almost one hundred years it was primarily a mining town and it has had to reinvent itself in many ways since 1985 when its mining ended. But the town has always come out on top through all of its good times and challenging times. To tell about the history of the town, one must also tell about the mining and the effect it had, and still has, on the town – the two have always been intertwined.

People were traveling through the Upper Rio Grande area for many years before Creede was founded. Native Americans traveled through here until the early 1870s. Then prospectors began heading toward the new mining towns of Lake City and Silverton. Prospectors looked for silver outcroppings wherever they were. Many other people came through here in the 1870’s and 1880’s. Some stayed and established ranches.

The Hot Spring Hotel was built at Wagon Wheel Gap in the early 1870’s because of the interest in the curative waters.

It was so popular that the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad extended their rails from Del Norte to the Gap in 1884. By this time, many other ranches had been set up, including Wason Ranch, the Texas Club (now Freemons), San Juan Ranch, Soward Ranch, Antelope Springs, Wetherill Ranch (now RC Ranch), Broadacres and many more.

In late 1883, a small mining camp was set up at Sunnyside where Rat Creek and Miners Creek come together. Nothing big came of it, but the first recorded silver production in the

area was sent from here in 1884.

The town of Creede actually started in East Willow Creek Canyon. Nicholas Creede had located the Holy Moses claim on Campbell Mountain in the fall of 1889. He traveled to Denver for the winter and when he returned in the spring of 1890, many followed him, having heard of his “big” strike.

The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was passed by Congress in 1890 almost doubling the price of silver which increased the numbers of prospectors in the Rocky Mountains.

As more people heard of the strike, a camp began to bloom in lower East Willow Canyon. Shacks, cabins and businesses began to be built. Some of those who came were families: women and children were a part of the camp life from its beginning. The camp was first called Willow Camp, but in the fall of 1890 the miners voted to change the name to Creede.

The narrow canyon was soon overflowing, so building was extended downstream and into Willow Canyon. This canyon was slightly larger, so cabins, houses and businesses were built there, too. It was called Stringtown.

In the summer of 1890, some of the business people decided to build downstream at the end of Willow Canyon and a large business district began to emerge. Shacks, cabins and houses were built at the south end of the business district and on the sides of the hills and on the mesas. This area had many names, but the most prominent became Jimtown.

The small boom of 1890 was taken up a notch in the fall when Nicholas Creede sold the Holy Moses mine for the shocking sum of $70,000 to three investors who were connected with the D&RG Railroad. News of the big sale brought more people to Creede.

In the spring of 1891, Stringtown and Jimtown were still cont’d >>>

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 9

cont’d >>> growing. The business district in Jimtown had two main streets – Creede Avenue to the west and Cliff Street to the east. Wooden buildings were built on both sides of each street for several blocks down stream and most shared walls.

The business district had many saloons, gambling houses and dance halls along with “legitimate” businesses, like grocery, meat and mercantile stores, offices, theaters, sign painters, newspapers, banks, photographers, and others.

More ore discoveries were being found in East Willow Canyon and along West Willow Creek. New claims included the King Solomon, the Ridge and the Kentucky Belle on East Willow, the Commodore (which would become the longest producing mine in the district), the Last Chance and the Amethyst (discovered by Nicholas Creede) on Bachelor Mountain.

By January of 1892, Jimtown was being called “Creede,” but all three areas were considered part of the same town.

The BIG BOOM to Creede started in January of 1892. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad HAD extended its rails to Creede by that time. Now ore could be sent out more quickly and in larger amounts. Mines which had been stockpiling ore were shipping ore out, 10 to 12 cars a day. People and supplies could get to Creede more easily and faster. Newspapers around the state estimated 150 to 200 people arriving daily.

Small mining camps were set up to accommodate the mines – Bachelor City, Weaver and Stumptown.

The year of 1892 was the biggest boom time in Creede’s history. That year brought many good and many bad things and people to town. By late spring, the boom brought miners, business people and ordinary people. But it also brought in scoundrels – con men, gamblers, ladies of the night, gunslingers and others who wanted to mine the miners rather than the hills.

Bob Ford, infamous killer of Jesse James, found his way here and he soon became the “camp boss” of all the shady businesses in town. A month later, Jefferson Randolf (Soapy)

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Smith arrived with his soap game. Smith challenged Ford to be the “camp boss” and Soapy won out. In June of 1892, Bob Ford was shot to death in his tent saloon by Ed O’Kelley, who served a prison sentence for the killing.

Probably because of Bob Ford, Soapy Smith and all the saloons, gambling halls, gunfights and undesirable people and incidents, Creede got the reputation as one of the wildest boom towns in Colorado.

The Creede Mining District was made up of land from Hinsdale County (West Willow and Bachelor), Saguache County (East Willow, Stringtown and the upper part of Jimtown), and Rio Grande County (the lower part of Jimtown). Miners and mining companies often weren’t sure which county their claim was in, so they would sometimes file in all three counties.

One of the worst disasters in the history of the town happened on June 5. 1892. Around 6 o’clock in the morning a fire started in a saloon located at the north end of Jimtown.

In two and a half hours most of the wooden district had burned down. It devastated the town, but had little effect on the mining. Although many of the business people (and undesirables) left town, many stayed and rebuilt (starting the next day). This time, most of the businesses were built with brick which was made locally. The main block of the business district today still looks very much like the rebuilt district looked after the fire. People were still coming to the boom town.

On June 13, 1892, Creede was incorporated as a “city.”

The city limits included the first Creede Camp (now called Upper Creede or North Creede) on East Willow, Stringtown and lower Creede (Jimtown). Now Creede would have local people making rules and regulations for the city and local law enforcement to keep the peace.

The 1892 Colorado Business Directory stated the population of Creede as around 6,000 and close to 10,000 in the mining district. The Creede Candle newspaper reported

inspired

Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society that mine production was outstanding in 1892. The Amethyst Mine was listed as the highest producer of ore and the second highest was the Last Chance Mine.

In the first half of 1893, Creede was still booming. In March, the mining problems involving the three counties were put to rest when Mineral County was formed.

The boom and the excitement came to a sudden end in August of 1893 when the U.S. Congress repealed the Silver Purchase Act. The government quit buying silver, the price of silver crashed and silver mining in all the American West was halted. The boom was over! All mines closed in Creede. Many miners left town, which caused many businesses to close and owners to leave town. Soapy Smith was one of them.

Creede was one of the few lucky silver mining towns that never became a ghost town. Hundreds of little mining towns were abandoned in Colorado during the Crash. Within a few months the larger mines in the Creede District reopened but with much smaller crews and much lower wages. The town did not die, but it certainly changed, and it has never come even close to the population in the BOOM times.

After The Boom

Mining remained the main economy in Creede until 1985 when the last producing mine closed. As a mining town, Creede continued to experience boom and bust times. During the boom times more people would live here, buildings would be built, schools, churches and other groups would thrive.

During bust times, many would leave town, businesses would close and social groups would have fewer numbers. The town was affected very much by the price of silver.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Creede experienced an economic upturn. In 1905 the Humphreys Mill and the Amethyst Mill were built. In 1930 the Emperius Mining Company was founded by B.T. Poxson and Herman Emperius.

By 1945 they controlled most of the mines and purchased a

mill just south of town.

In the 1960’s the Commodore Mine was still being worked by the Emperius Mining Company.

Homestake Mining company came to Creede in that same decade and they opened the Bulldog Mine, initiating what was to become the last silver boom in Creede. In the 1970’s the population was growing so fast that house trailers had to be brought in and almost every nook and cranny in town had a trailer in it. Around 200 students were in attendance at the K-12 long schools during part of that boom. It did not last. In the 1980’s the Commodore Mine ceased operation and in 1985 Homestakes’s Bulldog Mine halted its mining, closed its doors and sold many of its buildings.

With Creede’s dependence on mining for so many years, its population was cyclic, depending on the price of silver. Many businesses were open, then closed. Essential businesses stayed open, like grocery stores, livery and later auto repair shops, Tomkins Hardware (which provided goods for the town’s citizens and for the mines), and mercantile stores. The town might have many stores open for years and then would have many abandoned store fronts and houses for years.

Tourists had begun coming to the Creede area in small numbers until the 1920’s when automobiles became more affordable and popular. Many area ranches offered beds and food and, later, became dude ranches with cabins available.

In town, hotels, lodges and, later, motels were built for the tourists.

Nature had given us many natural wonders to attract people to the area. There is so much to see and do for people who love the outdoors. Hunting and fishing have always been popular, in early time more necessary than now.

Camping has always been popular. The outdoors (mountains, canyons, unbelievable vistas), elk, deer, moose, birds and the lure of mining buildings and a mining town have brought photographers here since the 1890’s.

There have been schools in Creede since the early days: cont’d >>>

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 11

inspired

Photo Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

cont’d >>> two in North Creede and three in lower Creede. Now there is a new school south of town.

Creede men have been part of our armed services and served in all of our country’s wars in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Creede women have also served in the 21st Century.

The town has lived through many disasters since 1900.

We have experienced floods, fires, the 1918 flu epidemic (the only place to put the ill was on the pool tables in the bars), mine closings, and the loss of a train into town in 1972.

From the beginning of the town, it has had many social groups and organizations. Among those still active are the Elks, the Masons and Ladies Aid, all of which were founded in the 1890s.

Entertainment has abounded in Creede. Live theater has been here since 1890, involving traveling troupes, local school children or local people, until 1966, which was a time of a mining slump. The Creede Jaycees wanted to help the town and invited a group of Kansas University students to come to Creede and produce summer plays. Creede Repertory Theatre was born. Since the loss of mining in 1985, CRT has grown and has become a nationally known theater. It now plays a big “role” in drawing people to Creede.

Fourth of July parades and mining competitions have been an important part of Creede’s history. Mining competitions started sometime in the early years. Miners vied against miners in hand competitions (single jack and double jack steeling) and hand mucking (shoveling dirt into ore buckets).

Later machine drilling and mucking were added. Today the Days of ’92 and the Colorado State Mining Competitions are a featured part of our 4th of July celebrations. In the 1920’s and 1930’s the 4th included circuses and/or carnivals. In the

1930’s a Ferris wheel was part of the festivities.

The Creede Museum was started in the 1940’s in a shed, moved to the Elks building in the 1950’s and to the abandoned depot in the 1960’s. The local historical society took over its operation in 1984 when the society was incorporated. The very unique Underground Fire Department and Underground Mining Museum were blasted out of the Willow Creek canyon walls just above the town by miners in the late 1980’s.

From 1959 until the mid-1970’s raft races were held on the Rio Grande between Creede and South Fork. Participants came from all over and huge crowds of people came to follow the rafts and cheer them on. A small T-Bar ski tow opened up near McKinney Springs around 1960 and was enjoyed until the 1970’s. In the 1980’s a local ice hockey team played competitive games with surrounding town teams in the area.

In recent years an ice skating rink has been built up the canyon and a yearly ice hockey tournament has been held.

The town has also become known as an art community.

Many artists have galleries in town. Books and articles in newspapers around the state have highlighted many of our artists.

The people of Creede had to totally change the “persona” of the town after mining died. We still emphasize our mining history through the remains of mining, museums, literature and the mining competitions. Many come here because of the arts, the unique shops, the beautiful scenery, the various summer and winter sports and the friendly people. All of these help lure the visitors to Creede, many of whom end up staying and becoming a part of our current history. Creede is thriving! Come at any time of the year and join the locals in our little piece of paradise! t

SOURCES Feitz, Leland. A Quick History of Creede: Colorado Boom Town. Golden Bell Press, 1969.

Harbert, Charles. Creede, Colorado History . . . . Vestige Press, 2010.

Huston, Richard. A Silver Camp Called Creede: A Century of Mining. Western Reflections Publishing Company, 2005.

LaFont, John. 58 Years Around Creede. Vantage Press, 1971.

LaFont, John, The Homesteaders of the Upper Rio Grande. Oxmore Press, 1971.

Mumey, Nolie. Creede: The History of a Colorado Silver Mining Town. 1949.

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DownloaD the app!

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Search: hinsdale County in your app Store

l a k e C i t y. C o m • 9 7 0 / 9 4 4 - 2 5 2 7

preserved

Photos Courtesy of Tom Kutzley

1892 Creede Model

by Tom Kutzley

The model of North Creede shows the town as it was in October of 1892. I have been asked many times why I chose North Creede as a subject to be modeled. First and foremost, the rich and unique history of Creede deserves the ability to enjoy history In three dimensions.

The second reason was the size of the town. It was small enough to be modeled without any compromise in a reasonable space.

Every building that existed in October of 1892 is shown on the model. Each building was made from one of the photos displayed beneath the model. Every door and window of every building can be seen as modeled in the scale of 3.5 mm to the foot. (A scale any model railroader will recognize as HO gauge).

The number of photos to be studied is greater than can be counted. The greatest challenge to the model builder was to find enough photos showing all of the town dated at the same point in time. The combination of investigation and building required 23 years of effort.

The history of the model began in 1980 when we moved to South Fork, CO after residing in Albuquerque, NM for 33 years.

Living in the area, my attention was drawn to the history of the great narrow gauge railroad empire that laced The San Juan mountains like a spiderweb.

After studying the reams of available data, a second interest began to emerge; the history of the San Luis valley in general, and the history of Creede in particular. A classic example of serendipity, the Creede model is the result of this second interest.

I believe that to understand Creede today, you must learn about Creede as it used to be.

Beginning in 1885, silver was discovered at Sunnyside, one of the seven towns that became Creede camp. The discovery of the Holy Moses mine and it’s neighboring mines in 1890 caused a flow of ore down East Willow Creek forming the town of North Creede.

From this beginning, Creede camp became

a huge industrial complex extending not only up East Willow Creek, but finally, up West Willow Creek as well.

To illustrate the size of Creede camp, it is important to know that while most mining districts, such as Cripple Creek and Victor, consisted of a few mines, four or five at most. In contrast, Creede today consists of 62 named tunnels and shafts.

Mines like Nicholas Creede’s Amethyst and the great Commodore produced more than 5 million tons of silver over the first half of the nineteenth century. Some people believe that the Commodore mine is the richest silver mine that has ever existed on earth.

By 1976, the last of the old mines, Commodore number 5, ended production. Meanwhile, Homestake’s great Bulldog mine was discovered, thereby continuing output from Creede until 1985. In 1983, the output from the Bulldog was greater than the combined output of all of the other Colorado silver mines.

The huge reserves identified at the Bulldog, coupled with continuing exploration at the north end of the Amethyst vein insures a bright future for Creede. Creede camp still exists, and Creede will always be a great mining town. t

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 15

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Mac &

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$2 off! purchase of $10 or more

111 Wall St, Creede • 719-580-9959 Limit one coupon per purchase. Code: CRT

unexpected Creede Repertory Theatre 2017 / our 52nd season

award-winning, eclectic repertory theatre (719) 658-2540 / creederep.org

SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Based on a play by Miklos Laszlo

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

by Joseph Kesselring

June 2 - Aug 8

June 30 - Aug 9

June 16 - Aug 26

July 14 - Sept 15

Aug 18 - Sept 16

May 20 - Aug 11

COMFORT FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD 112 N MAIN STREET CREEDE CO 719-658-ARPS (2777)

www.eatatarps.com

DINE IN • TAKE OUT GRAB AND GO • CATERING

creede elks lodge #5o6 A Proud

Creede TradiTion

Since

June 22 nd, 1899

Creede elk lks s sponsor

Fun For Everyone!

drug awareness hoop shoot soccer shoot after prom party + award scholarships to qualified creede high school graduates

“as long as there are veterans, elks will never forget.�

Creede elks maintain the Creede elks veterans MeMorial Park +

Creede elks volunteer in M any CoMMunity aCtivities Photo: Bob Seago

26TH ANNUAL WOODCARVING SHOW & SALE woodcarvings - classes - tools CREEDE COMMUNITY CENTER JULY 8-14, 2017

Main Street, Creede / 719-658-2526 Ron & Kay Fief, Proprietors

kentuckybellemarket.com

Lodge every 2nd and 4th tuesday at 7pm Bingo every monday at 7pm June-august One link in the chain of 2,000+ Elks Lodges nationwide.

Newly renovated building available for special events. for more information, please contact henry hosselkus, secretary at hhosselkus@centurylink.net

unexpected

Art and Food in Abundance at the 29th Annual Taste of Creede Festival!

This year’s 29th Taste of Creede Festival will showcase local art and cuisine on Main Street. This annual event was envisioned by local artist Steven Quiller and the Taste of Creede Festival will delight visitors with inspired local art and great food.

Pick a bench in Basham Park and enjoy listening to live, local music while noshing delectable treats. Then be sure to watch the Silver Chef competition, which pits local chefs against one another in a cook-off to create a winning dish.

Each chef is provided with surprise ingredients, provided by Shamrock Foods, and has one hour to prepare an offering meant to delight the judges. The winning entry has bragging rights for the ensuing year until next year’s Silver Chef cookoff.

On Sunday, head north on Main Street for the annual Quick Draw event. Artists begin with a blank canvas and have one hour to complete their one-of-a-kind works. Afterwards, these pieces are offered in the annual art auction. Artists are readily available to offer their expertise to other interested art lovers. Come to the 29th Annual Taste of Creede Festival to experience food and art in abundance. t

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dining drinks 4UR Ranch 719-658-2202 / One Goose Creek Rd., Creede 4urranch.com Rich in history and tradition, 4UR Ranch has been welcoming families for over 120 years. Though a private resort, you’re invited to dine with us by reservation.

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Antler’s Riverside Restaurant & Lodge 719-658-2423 / 26222 Hwy 149, Creede antlerslodge.com Excellent dining on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Choose between our heated riverside deck or our beautiful aspen wood dining room. Signature items include Lobster Bisque, Antler’s Filet Mignon, Ovenroasted Rack of Lamb, Ponzu Glazed Salmon, Creme Brulee-just to name a few! Serving Top Shelf Bar and Fine Wines. b, d / a / zzz / O

arp’s 719-658-2777 / 112 N. Main St., Creede Domestic and international comfort food. Chicken and waffles, Cajun Gumbo, Mediterranean, Indian, etc.

Comfortable dining room. Full bar. Eat in. Take out.

Catering. Grab and Go section.

L, D / a / Y

Blue Creek Lodge & Restaurant 719-658-2479 / 11682 Hwy. 149., South Fork bluecreeklodgecreede.com Offers the utmost in fine vacationing. Enjoy our delicious home-cooked food. Hamburgers, chili, chicken fried steak and the best homemade pie ever.

Reservations recommended for large groups.

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Broadacres Ranch 25671 W. Hwy 149, Creede / broadacresranch.com Dining for Broadacres Ranch guests exclusively. a / zzz / o

Café Ole 719-658-2880 / 103-A Main St., Creede Creede’s hometown place to meet friends and neighbors for breakfast or lunch. Coffee and bakery goodies.

Excellent food, courteous service and reasonable prices.

B, l / y

Cottonwood Cove Lodge 719-658-2242 / 13046 Hwy 149, South Fork cottonwoodcove.com A family resort with cabins, RV sites, restaurant, horses, rafts, jeep rentals and gift store. The restaurant is casual, family style with American cuisine and serving hand dipped ice cream. b, l, d / a / zzz / O

Freemon’s Guest Ranch & General Store 719-658-2454 / 39284 Hwy. 149, Creede Located on Clear Creek we offer clean rustic cabins for singles, couples or families. Horse rides, great views, and mountain ranch atmosphere is what we specialize in. l, d / zzz / o

dining legend B

Breakfast

L

Lunch

D

Dinner

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Adult Beverages

Y

Open Year-round

zzz on-site lodging o outdoor dining e entertainment

Kip’s Grill 719-658-0220 / Fifth and Main St., Creede kipsgrill.com Fresh Baja-style tacos, handmade salsa, cold beer and fresh juice margaritas! Great patio, live music and “Sky BAR”...highest in Creede. l, d / y / a / o / e

the mac mine 111 Wall St., Creede Mac and cheese food truck. Open for lunch and dinner.

Mix-ins, side dishes, ice cream sandwiches - made to order. l, d / o

MJ’s Café 719-658-0340 / 801 La Garita, Creede Dine with the locals at MJ’s Café where the fresh made Chicken Fried Steaks, Chicken strips and homemade Green Chile are a constant. b, l, d / y / a / o

Tommyknocker Tavern & BBQ Bistro 719-658-0138 / 107 Wall St., Creede tommyknockertavern.com Serving great food in the casual setting of a historic Creede building with a spacious back patio. Delicious sandwiches, fresh salads and our famous BBQ Ribs.

Serving locally brewed beers. Lots of live music. Family friendly. l, d / y / a / o / e

Cascada Bar & Grill 719-658-1033 / 981 La Garita St., Creede cascadagrill.com A wide selection of traditional and specialty Mexican dishes and some American standards, too. Plenty of atmosphere, whether dining indoors or out. b, l, d / a / zzz / o / e

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 21

A Love Affair!

Photos: Little Elaine Photography

Creede and Mineral County offers an incredible mountain venue for your next intimate gathering or grand affair! Guest ranches, intimate churches, a regal golf course, or any one of our thousands of acres of public land could serve as the backdrop for the most important day of your life! For our size, Creede has a surprisingly large number of award-winning group lodging establishments and just as many quality restaurants that offer family-style dining and/or catering.

Local concierge services can assist you in coordinating lodging, dining, bakeries, florists, party rental equipment, venues and more. With live theatre, a multitude of museums and historic sites, scenic driving tours, a bustling downtown filled with unique shopping, art galleries and quaint dining options, and a vast outdoor recreation area for hiking, biking, 4x4s, ATVs and fishing, your guests will have plenty to do!

Visit creede.com for more information. t

shops galleries

Photo: Megan Kittredge Abbey Lane Gallery

Downstream Gas & Mercantile

Alamosa Home

Ed Knight Photo

719-658-2736 / 131 N. Main St., Creede 719-589-2030 / 630 Main St., Alamosa alamosahome.com

Antlers Rio Grande Lodge

719-658-2423 / 26222 Hwy 149, Creede

Artspaces by Angela

719-658-2480 / 117 E. 7th St., Creede

719-658-0182 / 635 Rainbow Ct., Creede edknightphoto.com

Freemon’s Guest Ranch & General Store

719-658-2454 / 39284 Hwy 149, Creede

Quiller Gallery

719-658-2741 / 110 N. Main St., Creede quillergallery.com

Rainbow Lodge & Grocery

719-873-5174 / 30359 W, Hwy 160, South Fork / rainbowsouthfork.biz

Ramble House and Creede Guide & Outfitters

719-658-2787 / 23550 Hwy 149, Creede artspacesbyangela.com

The Holy Moses

719-658-2482 / 116 N. Main St., Creede creedeflyfishing.com

Big River Music

J Thompson Gallery

Rare Things Gallery of Treasures

719-658-2100 / 117 N. Main St., Creede bigrivermusiccreede.com

Blue Creek Lodge

719-658-2479 / 11682 Hwy 149, South Fork bluecreeklodgesouthfork.com

Blue Spruce Building mat.

970-944-2581 / 310 Bluff St., Lake City bluesprucelc.com

Bob Seago Photography

719-658-1140 / 619 Starlight Cir. #80, Creede / bobseagophoto.com

Bristol Yarnworks Studio

719-658-2455 / 39542 W. Hwy 149, Creede bristolyarnworks.com

Cottonwood Cove Lodge

719-658-2242 / 13046 Hwy 149, South Fork cottonwoodcove.com

Creede Trading Post

719-658-0625 / 11 S. Main St., Creede

CWaters Gallery

719-588-8484 / 128 N. Main St., Creede

719-658-2848 / 121 N. Main St., Creede 719-658-0880 / 111 N. Main St., Creede

Last Chance Mine

719-238-7959 / 498 USFS 504, Creede lastchancemine.com

Kentucky Belle Market

719-658-2526 / Second and Main, Creede kentuckybellemarket.com

Mines & Memories General Store

719-658-2370 / 708 S. Main St., Creede

Monte Vista Coop

719-658-2376 / 106 S. Main St., Creede rarethingsgallery.com

Rio Grande Angler

719-658-2955 / 13 S. Main St., Creede riograndeangler.com

San Juan Sports

719-658-2359 / 102 S. Main St., Creede www.sanjuansports.com

The Blue Yak Salon & Boutique 719-658-2500 / 107 N. Main St., Creede theblueyaksalon.com

719-852-5181 / 1901 E. Hwy 160, Monte Vista / mvcoop.com

Tomkins Hardware & Lumber

Off Broadway

Underbrush Limited

719-658-0368 / 129 N. Main St., Creede offbroadwaycreede.com

OOH LA Spa & boutique

719-658-3070 / 289 S. Main St., Creede oohlaspacreede.com

719-658-2240 / 127 N. Main St., Creede 719-658-2455 / 39542 Hwy 149, Creede kathykillip.com/underbrush-ltd

Underground Mining Museum

719-658-0811 / #9 Forest Service Rd. 503, Creede / undergroundminingmuseum.com

24 / creede.com

inspired Spotlight: Tomkins Hardware & Lumber

Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

Tomkins Hardware is the only original and oldest business in Creede, Colorado. This year is the 125th anniversary for the business. As pictures reflect, the building was built in 1892 and was considered the “first fire proof building in Creede”.

The building was constructed by the Tomkins brothers and opened as “Tomkins Brothers Bank and Tomkins Brothers Hardware”. The bank was sold in the 1900’s (not sure what year), however the original bank teller cages and safe still adorn the front south portion of the building, which is now used as offices. The original safe is still used and is locked with the same combination dial as it was 125 years ago. The painter painted the name on the safe and misspelled it by adding the letter “P” (Tompkins).

The Tomkins business has long since passed out of the Tomkins family but the name has always remained the same.

The title “Lumber” was added to the name in the late 1900’s and, since then, it has been known as Tomkins Hardware and Lumber.

The business of hardware and lumber remains the constant, and we are dedicated to providing our small town with personal service, building expertise and the material needed for the home and all building projects, including landscaping and yard maintenance. The store is loaded with items for the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and all rooms for

both residential and commercial buildings. Along with a full line of interior and exterior stains and paints, we can provide all material needed to build, and to maintain as well. Expert personnel can work up and provide estimates for any building need and help you pick the right color needed to satisfy the needs of any of your projects. t

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 25

YOUR BASE CAMP FOR

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES!

CREEDE SNOWSHOE LODGE

ATV Rentals Full Service Adventure Motel LOVESNOWSHOELODGE@YAHOO.COM 202 EAST 8TH STREET, CREEDE | 719/658-2315

WWW.CREEDESNOWSHOE.COM

Antlers Lodge / 719-658-2423 blessings inn / 719-658-0215

x

x

x

x

cascada cabins / 719-658-1033

x

x

x

club at the cliffs / 719-658-2415 / 361-813-0926

x

cottonwood cove / 719-658-2242 creede snowshoe lodge / 719-658-2315

x

x

dragonfly flats / 210-861-8882

x

x

sites nt te

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x

x

x

x x

x

x x

x

house on old mill road / 888-305-1233

omes

x

x

x

ites

x

x

x

RV S

x

x

creede mountain huts / 720-878-3799

freemon’s ranch / 719-658-2454

io nh

x

x

broken arrow vacation rentals / 719-658-2533

lo dge in di v. cab in s vacat

l/

x x

blue creek lodge / 719-658-2479 broken arrow ranch / 719-658-2533

ho te

reak fast bed

&B

n

in -to w

el co me w

pets

year

-r ou nd

lodging

x x

x

last chance mine / 719-658-1059

x

x

little squaw resort / 719-658-2434

x

x

mountain views rv resort / 719-658-2710

x

x

oleo ranch / 281-728-0267

x x x

x

rainbow lodge and grocery / 719-873-5174

x

rc guest ranch / 719-658-2253

x x

rincon vacation rentals / 719-658-2900

x

rio grande enterprises / 719-658-0374

x

x x

x

x

rio grande vacation rentals / 877-873-5776

x

san juan ranch / 719-658-2214

x

soprano suite / 719-658-2100

x

soward’s ranch / 719-658-2295

x

x

x

x

x

x

wason ranch / 719-658-2413

x

white bear company / 303-257-3734

x

willow creek vacation rentals / 719-658-2262

x

Windsock acres / 720-550-0388

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

all inclusive ranches 4ur ranch (3 night min. stay) / 719-658-2202

x

Broadacres Ranch / 719-658-2291

x

x x

Websites (if available) can be found on pages 48-49.

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 27

Where in the World Are We? colorado map

distance from creede

fort collins

MILES AIRPORT

Wolf Creek Ski Area 39.8 No Pagosa Springs 63.8 No

denver grand junction colorado springs

Alamosa

68.5 Yes

Gunnison

105.2 Yes

Durango

123.8 Yes

Pueblo

190.5 Yes

Four Corners Monument 207.4 No creede & mineral county durango

Colorado Springs 233.1 Yes Denver

255.8 Yes

Albuquerque, NM 268.2 Yes

City of Creede A Colorado Town Authentic.

Heritage.

home.

Visit Town Hall: 2223 N. Main Creede, CO 81130 www.creedetownhall.com 719.658.2276

maps Silverthread Scenic Byway Length: 117 miles / Drive time: 3 hours

his men - and a quarter of a century later the infamous Alferd Packer cannibalized his companions - in two ill-fated winter expeditions.

The byway was recently extended on the north end from Lake City to Blue Mesa Reservoir, at the intersection of US Highway 50 and State Highway 149. This new section provides access to a diversity of scenic wonders, historical landmarks, and extensive recreational opportunities for hiking, camping and fishing. Additional materials and information is available at the Creede Visitor Center. t

The colorful old mining camps of the Silver Thread offer history, scenic beauty, and a heavy dose of authenticity. The heights around Creede and Lake City remain strewn with abandoned mining structures, most of them accessible via rugged backcountry roads. Between the two towns, Highway 149 shadows the upper reaches of the Rio Grande, serving up a bounty of natural wonders - sparkling North Clear Creek Falls, the Slumgullion earth slide, and the sharklike fin of Uncompahgre Peak. These mountains can be unforgiving: In 1848 explorer John C. Fremont lost a third of

✰

Gunnison Blue Mesa Reservoir

114

Saguache Old Cow Town

285

✰

Lake City

✰

Slumgullion Pass

Lake San Cristobal

285

North Clear Creek Falls

✰ Creede Rio Grande Reservoir

Wagon Wheel Gap

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Center

✰

South Fork

✰

Del Norte

✰

112

✰

Ln 6

✰ Monte Vista

✰

Alamosa

The 100-year-old San Juan Ranch, originally San Juan City, between Creede and Lake City, offers 30 cabins surrounded by fine fishing, hunting and wholesome, scenic family recreation.

San Juan Ranch

DAVID K. & PEGGY STRATE

1001 USFS 520 Creede, Colorado 81130 Ph. (719) 658-2214

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 29

30 / creede.com

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 31

maps The Bachelor Loop Rat Creek

Length: 17 miles / Drive time: 1 hour+

Rat Creek

Rat Creek

enjoy the bachelor loop

Few things capture the interest and imagination like abandoned mining camps, colorful characters of the past, buildings, and old memories. What would it have been like to live here 125 years ago?

The Bachelor Loop Historic Tour is a 17-mile drive, on your own, through the historic mining district above Creede. The tour takes you across mine locations from the 1890s and abandoned ghost towns that once rivaled Creede in size. The road weaves its way up through the canyon north of Creede climbing under the ragged cliff sides.

The main route follows West Willow Creek to top out with the aged forests of Bristle Cone pine trees. A number of interpretive stops and points of interest provide direction along the route.

The entrance station is located at the Creede & Mineral County Visitor Center, and directs tourists north through Creede, to a second kiosk at the junction of East & West Willow Creek. The tour ends just above Creede at stops #15 & 16, the Creede Cemetery and Bob Ford’s gravesite. We suggest picking up a copy of our Bachelor Loop Historic Tour Guidebook at the Visitor Center.

The Guidebook contains maps, stories and high quality photographs for each stop along the tour.

• Allow at least one hour for the tour.

• The loop road has some narrow stretches and steep grades that require caution; check on road conditions during inclement weather.

• Two-wheel drive vehicles might consider completing the tour backwards, in order to descend the Black Pitch, instead of climb it.

• Most of the property along the route is private property. Please respect the posted signs and do not trespass or wander beyond fences or gates.

32 / creede.com

unexpected The Fish of the Rio Grande: A Legend as Old as Creede

by Cole Birdsey and Stacia Rice

T IQ U E

fabulous women’s clothing, C ore Kitchen, yard & garden, home decor & more

AU

NIQ

UE

D EE R C

OU EB

N.L. Roberts and his 13 3/4 pound rainbow trout caught out of the Rio Grande in 1916.

Photo Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

The Rio Grande river helped forge this valley. It has proven resilient and strong, not unlike our very own Creede. Fed by high mountain streams, such as Ute, Pole and Bear creek, the upper Rio flows into the Rio Grande Reservoir, where much of it is stored for the agricultural uses of the San Luis Valley. It’s the tenacious, hardy trout that call the Rio home, though, that have left their mark on Creede history.

Creede Candle, the mining town’s earliest newspaper, boasted many stories about the luck of local anglers on the Rio Grande from the paper’s beginning in 1892. One of the earliest, and grandest, fish tales of the Rio Grande was told by Ben Birdsey, whose notorious ability to exaggerate even the simplest fishing story is still evident in today’s Birdsey Family, some of whom operate Ramble House. Published in Creede

Candle after a fishing trip on the Rio in 1906, Ben colorfully illustrated the scene of him snagging a monster trout, and the beast turning on him in an apparent attempt to drown him.

A broken pole, but certainly no ego blows later, he laid the foundation of legendary trout lurking in the shadows, and for years took eager anglers to his famous spot in hopes of seeing one of these monsters again.

We can’t help but wonder what Ben Birdsey had to say when N.L. Roberts landed a nearly 14 lb Rainbow trout from the Rio Grande in 1916, ten years after Ben’s famous monster trout wrangling. At the time, this was thought to be the largest trout ever taken from a running stream. Robert’s original mounted monster is on display at Ramble House, as well as other large silhouettes of 30-inch plus trout since Ramble House’s opening in 1956.

The Rio Grande simply does not grow fish of these sizes any longer. The Rio Grande River was dammed in 1912 by the Farmers Union Irrigation, whose goal was to regulate water flow for agricultural uses of the San Luis Valley. In turn, this meant the fish of the Rio Grande would have less room to roam, and ultimately, less room to grow into the monsters of the past, especially during winter. Although seeing a trout that may be considered a monster is a rarity today, the Rio Grande boasts large quantities of fervent trout, of which doggedly persevere through every long winter of low water flow to emerge voracious in the spring runoff.

Where giant trout may lack, bugs certainly do not. Albeit caddis hatch all summer long, the salmon fly hatch of June is what many consider the big kick off for dry fly fishing on cont’d >>>

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 35

cont’d >>> the Rio. These large, mouthless insects swarm the willows along the Rio Grande to breed, and their presence proves an exciting time for avid fly fishermen and fish alike. Green and grey drakes encore the June stone flies, followed then by grasshoppers aplenty. Because of the healthy bug habitat in which the Rio holds pride, streamer, nymph and lure fishing is always strong.

Like Creede, the Rio Grande has persevered and changed much over the last 125 years.

Although the mining days have long since passed, the overwhelming sense of community whose foundation was laid by the mining families who first called Creede home, and the generations after who built upon it, remain. The Rio Grande and its tributaries carved through this valley as well the hearts of all who have graced this area.

In 1893, a resident wrote to the Creede Candle with a simple message, “It is to the interest of every resident of the valley to protect the trout in the Rio Grande river and tributary streams.�

This message heeded, the trout of the Rio Grande became the responsibility of all those who loved them, a trait we are proud to say is carried on today. t

36 / creede.com

unexpected

happy trails

Hikes and Solitude

by Linnaea Renz Windsock Acres

Photo: Bob Seago Photography Trail Name / no. elev. elev. elev. difficulty usage length usage start end gain one-way (mi) Deep Creek Trail / 806

8900

10900

2000

Mod. - Diff.

Mod.

9

Farmers Creek Trail / 801

8800

11300

2500

Moderate

Light - Mod.

9

foot/horse

Heart Lake Trail / 823

10400

11600

1200

Moderate

Light - Mod.

1.9

foot/horse foot/horse

foot/horse

Inspiration Point / 789

8900

11200

2300

Difficult

Light

3.5

Ivy Creek Trail / 805

9200

11800

2600

Easy - Mod.

Mod.

8.1

foot/horse

Miners Creek Trail / 803

9000

11500

2500

Moderate

Mod.

7

foot/horse

Shallow Creek Trail / 897

8738

9625

887

Moderate

Light - Mod.

2.25

foot/horse

Squaw Creek Trail / 814

9400

10800

1400

Easy

Mod. - Heavy

9.9

foot/horse

Texas Creek Trail / 816

9040

11640

2600

Most Diff.

Light - Mod.

12.9

foot/horse

Ute Creek Trail / 819

9600

11800

2200

Easy

Heavy

12.1

foot/horse

Weminuche Creek Trail / 818

9400

10600

1200

Easy

Mod. - Heavy

5.5

foot/horse

West Pole Creek Trail / 918

11200

12600

1400

Moderate

Very light

Fern Creek Trail / 815 9200 9800 600 Easy - Diff.

Heavy

3.5 foot 15 OHV 4.7

foot/horse motorcycle/ATV under 50”

Lost Creek Trail / 821 9750 12350 2600 Moderate Light to Mod. 11 motorcycle/ATV under 50” Bachelor Road / 504

Heavy

17 Jeep

Bear Town / 506

5.9

Jeep

10500

12100

1600

Mod. - Diff.

Heavy

Bristol Head Peak / 532

10030

12706

2676

Moderate

Mod.

15.1

Jeep

Pool Table/Wheeler / 600

10800

11040

200

Difficult

Heavy

13.7

Jeep

Regan Lake / 521

9530

10080

550

Easy

Heavy

4.8

Jeep

Stony Pass / 520

9600

12588

2988

Moderate

Extra Heavy

14.6

Jeep

Provided courtesy of Rio Grande National Forest.

Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

Born in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, moving to Creede two years ago was like coming home. I grew up tromping through the woods, fly fishing for trout and experiencing the true solitude and awe of nature. Prior to my move to Creede, I lived in Denver, CO, where a hike down a trail was like a walk through the mall – navigating crowds, tuning out noise and simply unenjoyable. It was then I decided to give up the amenities of a big city for the simple life of Creede.

I quickly fell in love with this place, in part because of the natural beauty that surrounds us. For me, getting outside is about re-connecting to the land quietly and through all of the senses. In minutes, I can be experiencing the wildness of where we live. I want to share with you a few of my favorite hikes, so that you too may experience the wonder of the Rocky Mountains. For this purpose, I specifically chose hikes that are for non-motorized users only – hikers, bikers and sometimes horses. cont’d >>>

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 39

campgrounds

cont’d >>>

The Up & Over/Inspiration Point hikers only

This hike is the most accessible hike in town – you simply pick up the trail at the far east side of 7th Street. This hike gives you great views of town and the valley, but can be strenuous, especially for those coming from a low elevation.

The trail steadily climbs to the top of the cliffs that you can see at the north end of Creede. Just before the cliffs the trail forks – for a shorter hike take the left fork to the cliffs, for a longer hike take the right fork and continue to climb another mile to “Inspiration Point”. From the cliffs, you can then descend down the back side into East Willow canyon and walk back into Creede via the road. Distance: 2-4 miles RT. Time: 1-3 hours

Our public lands are managed by the Rio Grande National Forest Service & San Luis Valley Bureau of Land Management, 719/657-3321 or fs.usda.gov/riogrande. To make a reservation at Marshall Park, River Hill or ThirtyMile visit recreation.gov or call 877/444-6777. PLEASE NOTE: After Labor Day most campgrounds are CLOSED, limited use allowed at some, no water or trash service.

Photo: Eryn Wintz

campground fee no. of reservation elev. mi. from attractions

(single/double) sites req’d? (feet) creede

Deep Creek Trail

Bristol Head / $16 15 No 9500 22.6 South Clear Creek

Deep Creek trailhead is a 5-minute drive from Creede on easy dirt roads. Grab a map from the US Forest Service office or Visitor Center for driving directions. Deep Creek trail is an 8-mile (one-way) out and back trail that follows a lush creek drainage full of raspberries, wildflowers and beaver dams. You can either start at the north end of the trail closest to Creede or, for the more adventurous explorer, start at the south end which takes some experienced trail finding skills (bring a map and compass). Strong mountain bikers can run a car shuttle and have a fun eight mile downhill ride from the south end to the north end. I typically start at the north end either on foot or on my mountain bike. After a short set of switchbacks in the beginning, the trail gradually climbs up the creek drainage.

The further you go the more verdant the forest becomes.

This trail is great for all hiker levels, as you can turn around whenever you like. Distance: 16 miles RT or less. Time: as long as you like!

FREE 4 No 9500 16 Restroom, NO WATER, Fire Grate, Ivy Creek Trailhead, Fishing

hikers, bikers and horses

Lost Trail FREE 7 No 9500 38.2 Restroom, NO WATER, Fire Grate,

Fishing Marshall Park $18/36 16 Yes 8800 6.2

North Clear Creek

$16/32

21

No

9900

24.5

Palisade $18 12 No 8300 12.1

Restroom, NO WATER, Fishing, Easy Access off Hwy 149 Restroom, Water, Fire Grate,Fishing Restroom, Water, Fire Grate, Fishing, Handicap Accessible Easy Access off Hwy 149

Rio Grande FREE 7 No 9300 8.4 Restroom, NO WATER, Fire Grate,

Fishing River Hill

$18/36

20 Yes

9200

29.6

Restroom, Water, Fire Grate, Fishing

Road Canyon FREE 6 No 9300 26 Restroom, Water, Fire Ring, Fishing, Reservoir Wakes Not Allowed, Trolling Motors OK Silver Thread / $18/36 10 No 9500 23 Restroom, Water, Fire Grate, Scenic, South Clear Creek Falls Trailhead, Fishing

Squaw Creek

hikers, horses and fisher-folk

Thirty-Mile $18/36 35 Yes 9300 31.1

Squaw Creek trailhead is a 45 minute drive from Creede at the 30-mile campground near the Rio Grande Reservoir. The trail follows a medium sized stream that has good sized trout throughout, although the best fishing is about a mile in. After climbing through the lush canyon of the stream, the valley opens up into a grand high alpine river meadow with views of the San Juan mountains. One can access the Continental Divide from this trail, but plan on camping overnight or getting an early start if you plan to hike that far. Distance: 20 miles RT or less. Time: as long as you like!

Restroom, Water, Fire Grate, Trailhead, Fishing, Handicap Accessible

Provided courtesy of Rio Grande National Forest. Find campgrounds on Area Map, pages 28-29.

happy camper tips Camp at previously used dispersed camping sites.

Pack out all of your trash and dispose of it properly.

Camp at least 150 feet from water sources.

Dig a pit for your toilet needs at least 200 feet from water and cover the pit before you leave.

Camping is limited to 14 days in a 30 day period.

These are only three of many incredible hikes in our area. If you are interested in exploring more trails, I suggest talking to folks at the Forest Service office, San Juan Sports, the Visitor Center or purchasing a National Geographic Topo map of the area. Now get outside!

40 / creede.com

Restroom, Water, Fire Grate, Scenic, Trailhead, Fishing

Always dump sewage from trailers and motorhomes at designated dump stations, not on the ground.

Dogs must be on a leash.

All vehicles must stay within 300 feet of a designated road.

Motorized travel is allowed only on authorized roads & trails (obtain a motor vehicle use map from any office).

Photo: Bob Seago Photography

Please do not leave campfires unattended and check with the local Forest Service office for current fire restrictions.

All hay must be certified weed free.

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 41

Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

42 / creede.com

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 43

Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

preserved

huge new location

just steps away from creede repertory theatre’s main stage!

Now carryiNg thompsoN haNdmade guitars • drum kits / percussioN / africaN haNd drums • world famous Vault of ViNtage ViNyl • priVate lessoNs for guitar, bass, maNdoliN, baNjo, ukulele

take a tour:

weekly ts coNcer duriNg mmer! the su

5 opeN 9ek e /w s y 7 da after ial day memor

full serVice repair shop

ic acoust ic r t c e l +e s guitar + amps

(719)658-2100 117 N main st, creede find us on facebook!

Soprano •

Willow Creek Restoration Project

s ui t e • •

new, luxury suite right in the heart of creede’s art & shopping district full kitchen with new appliances free private parking, wi-fi, private entrance take a tour:

•

Photo: Bob Seago Photography

The Lower Willow Creek Restoration Project below the town of Creede is a project to transform the 108 acre site from mining impacts to a place for wildlife and human powered recreation. This project began in 2012 with a stream restoration phase to create a more natural channel that would facilitate the ecological functioning of the creek and the floodplain. In 2016, soil was imported to the site to build soil health and create conditions necessary for vegetation to successfully grow. Now, we will continue the project by focusing on developing trails on the site for recreation. This project is a collaborative project between the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee, the Lower Willow Creek Restoration Company, and the City of Creede. These entities have committed to making this a multifunctional space that allow for habitat, wildlife, and passive recreation.

engage with this legacy project

Volunteer with the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee / willowcreede.org Adopt or sponsor an ox-bow with the Lower Willow Creek Restoration Company / lwcrcp.weebly.org Participating in the Runoff Runoff Marathon, Half Marathon and 6 K on June 17, 2017 / runoffrunoff.com

reserve online:

airbnb.com/rooms/17125729

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 47

worship services Baptist Church of Creede 719-658-2312 / La Garita St. creedebaptistchurch.org Regular services Sunday 9:45am - Bible Study 11am - Worship 6pm - Bible Study Wednesday 6pm - Dinner 7pm - Study Creede Community Church 719-658-2209 / Main St. and Fourth St. creedecommunitychurch.org Regular Services Sunday 8am - Service 11am - Sunday School 11am - Service Church of Christ 719-658-2300 / Airport Rd., Creede Regular Services Sunday 10am - Sunday School 11am - Service 6pm - Service (Summer) Wednesday 7pm - Bible study

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 719-852-2673 / Main St. and Third St. Regular services Saturday 4pm - Service St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church 719-658-2394 / Main St. and Fifth St. Regular Services Sunday 1pm - Service

Photo: Avery Augur

3rd St. & Main Creede, Colorado

Weekend Mass Saturday - 4:00 pm ****

For more information, contact

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 425 Batterson, P.O. Box 590 Monte Vista, CO 81144 (719) 852-2673

48 / creede.com

local services INC.

Photo: Bob Seago Photography

Road ConstRuCtion ReseRvoiRs/Ponds RiP RaP • sand & GRavel WateR/seWeR • Foundations demolition RiveR ReClamation

4469 n CR 108 mosCa, Co • 719-378-2520

Blue Spruce Building Materials 970-944-2581 / 310 Bluff Street, Lake City bluesprucelc.com Charles C. Waters Attorney at Law 719-850-2173 / 26222 Hwy 149, Creede ccpowerslaw@gmail.com City of Creede 719-658-2276 / 2223 N. Main St., Creede colorado.gov/creede Creede Parks and Recreation 719-658-2729 / 408 La Garita Ave., Creede Creede Early Learning Center 719-658-2090 / 19841 FS Rd 801A, Creede creedeearlylearningcenter.blogsp

Creede Elks Lodge BPOE #506 719-658-2661 / 104 S. Main St., Creede Creede Historical Society (719) 658-2004 / 719-658-2394 creedehistoricalsociety.com Creede School District 719-658-2220 / 450 Corsair Dr., Creede creedek12.net Debbie Whitmore Computer & Consulting Services 719-658-0888 / 103 W. Wall St., Creede

Downstream Gas & Mercantile 719-658-2480 / 117 E. 7th St., Creede Go to Guide Telephone Directory 719-588-7876 / Gunnison / gotoguide.com John Roberts Motor Works 970-641-0920 / 212 Hwy 50, Gunnison johnrobertsmotorworks.com Kentucky Belle Market 719-658-2526 / 103 W. 2nd Street, Creede site.kentuckybellemarket.com KSLV-KYDN Radio 719-852-3581 / 109 Adams St., Monte Vista kslvradio.com Lake City Auto & Sports 970-944-2311 / 809 N. Hwy 149, Lake City lakecityauto.com Lake City - Hinsdale County Chamber 970-944-2527 / 800 N. Gunnison Ave., Lake City lakecity.com MDS Solid Waste Removal 719-658-3060 / mdssolidwaste.com Mineral County Fairgrounds 719-658-2376 / Airport Rd NE, Creede upperriogrande.org Mineral County Miner/ Valley Publishing 719-852-3531 / Creede

Monte Vista Coop 719-852-5181 / 1901 E. Hwy 160 , Monte Vista mvcoop.com O&V Printing 719-589-9228 / 342 Santa Fe Ave., Alamosa oandvprinting.com Rainbow Grocery 719-873-5545 / 30359 US Hwy 160, South Fork rainbowgroceryandsportinggoods.com Rio Grande Enterprises 719-658-0374 / 28423 Hwy 149, Creede riograndeenterprises.com RoShamBo Marketing & Creative 970-641-3546 / 144 N. Main St., Gunnison go-roshambo.com SLV Rural Electric Cooperative 719-852-3538 / 3625 W Hwy 160, Monte Vista slvrec.com South Fork Chamber of Commerce 719-873-5556 / 29803 W. Hwy 160, South Fork / southforkcolorado.org Tomkins Hardware & Lumber 719-658-2240 / 127 N. Main St., Creede

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member & advertiser directory 4UR Ranch One Goose Creek Rd. Creede / 719-658-2202 4URranch.com Abbey Lane Gallery 131 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2736 Alamosa Home 630 Main St., Alamosa / 719-589-2030 alamosahome.com Antlers Rio Grande Lodge 26222 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2423 antlerslodge.com Arp’s 112 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2777 Artspaces by Angela 23550 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2787 artspacesbyangela.com Aspen Ridge RV Park 700 Hwy 149, South Fork / 719-850-2127 aspenridgerv.com Baptist Church of Creede 600 La Garita St., Creede / 719-658-2312 creedebaptistchurch.org Beau Meyer Realty 203 W Frontage Rd., South Fork / 719-873-5257 BeauMeyer.com Big Country Fun 493 N. Main St., Creede / 719-423-0777 bigcountryrental.com Big River Music 117 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2100 bigrivermusiccreede.com Blessings Inn B&B 466 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-0215 blessingsinncreede.com Blue Creek Lodge 11682 Hwy 149, South Fork / 719-658-2479 bluecreeklodgecreede.com Blue Spruce Building Materials 310 Bluff St., Lake City / 970-944-2581 bluesprucelc.com Bob Seago Photography 619 Starlight Cir #80, Creede / 719-658-1140 bobseagophoto.com Bristol Yarnworks Studio 39542 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-0121 970-218-3675 / info@bristolyarnworks.com Broadacres Ranch 25671 W. Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2291 broadacresranch.com Broken Arrow Ranch & Land Co. 103 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2533 brokenarrowcreede.com C Waters Gallery 128 N. Main St., Creede / 719-588-8484 cherewaters@hotmail.com Café Ole 103-A N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2880 Cathy Ledeker - Artist PO Box 1033, Lawrence, KS 785-842-3296

Cascada Bar & Grill and Cabins 981 La Garita St., Creede / 719-658-1033 cascadagrill.com Charles C. Powers, Attorney at Law 26222 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-850-2173 ccpowerslaw@gmail.com City of Creede 2223 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2276 colorado.gov/creede Club at the Cliffs 206-208 Cliff St., Creede / 719-658-2415 361-813-0926 / clubatcliffs.com Community Banks of Colorado 29889 US Hwy. 160, South Fork / 719-873-5562 cobnks.com Cooley & Sons Excavating, Inc 4469 N CR 108, Mosca / 719-378-2352 cooleyandsons@gmail.com Cottonwood Cove Guest Ranch 13046 Hwy 149, South Fork / 719-658-2242 cottonwoodcove.com Creede America Group 114 N.Main St., Creede / 719-658-0223 creedeamerica.com Creede ATV 981 La Garita St., Creede / 866-982-7333 creedeatv.com Creede Parks and Recreation 408 La Garita Ave., Creede / 719-658-2729 Creede Arts Council 103 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-0312 creedeartscouncil.com Creede Community Church 410 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2209 creedecommunitychurch.org Creede Community Foundation Creede / creedecommunityfoundation.org Creede Early Learning Center 19841 FS Rd 801A, Creede / 719-658-2090 creedeearlylearningcenter.blogspot.com Creede Elks Lodge BPOE #506 104 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2661 Creede Farmers Market South Fork / 719-873-5466 creedefarmersmarket.com Creede Historical Society Creede / 719-658-2004 / 719-658-2394 creedehistoricalsociety.com Creede Ladies Aid Society Creede / 719-937-8978 creedeladiesaidsociety.org Creede Mining Heritage Inc. Creede Creede Mountain Huts 101 E. 5th St., Creede / 720-878-3799 creedemountainhuts.com Creede Repertory Theatre 124 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2540 creederep.org

Creede School District 450 Corsair Dr., Creede / 719-658-2220 creedek12.net Creede Snowshoe Lodge 202 E. 8th St., Creede / 719-658-2315 creedesnowshoe.com Creede Trading Post 11 South Main St., Creede / 719-658-0625 Creede Woodcarvers 432-553-5996 / creedewoodcarvers.com Debbie Whitmore Computer & Consulting Services 103 W. Wall St., Creede / 719-658-0888 Del Norte Bank 106 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-0126 truelocalbank.com Downstream Gas and Mercantile 117 E. 7th St., Creede / 719-658-2480 downstreamgas@gmail.com Dragonfly Flats 493 S. Main St., Creede / 210-861-8882 dragonflyflatscreede.com Ed Knight Photo 635 Rainbow Ct., Creede / 719-658-0182 edknightphoto.com Elk Country Jeep Rentals 664 Aspen Dr., South Fork / 719-873-0275 elkcountryjeeprentals.com Freemon’s Guest Ranch & General Store 39284 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2454 Harding Dental Group 138 Ponderosa Dr., South Fork / 719-873-5846 jameshardingdds.com The Holy Moses 121 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2848 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 3rd St. & Main / Creede / 719-852-2673 J Thompson Gallery 111 N. Main St. / Creede / 719-658-0880 jthompsongallery.com John Roberts Motor Works 212 Hwy 50, Gunnison / 970-641-0920 johnrobertsmotorworks.com Kentucky Belle Market Second & Main, Creede / 719-658-2526 site.kentuckybellemarket.com Kip’s Grill 101 E. Fifth St., Creede / 719-658-0220 kipsgrill.com KSLV-KYDN Radio 109 Adams St., Monte Vista / 719-852-3581 kslvradio.com La Garita Mountain Nursery 0004 El Dorado Ln., South Fork 719-588-1380 Lake City - Hinsdale County Chamber 800 N Gunninson Ave., Lake City / 970-944-2527 lakecity.com Lake City Auto & Sports 809 N. Hwy 149, Lake City / 970-944-2311 lakecityauto.com

creede vacation home

the house on old mill road

local family-owned • newly remodeled & clean • sleeps up to 6 incredible views • walking distance to everything full kitchen, laundry, wifi & tv • no pets, no smoking

Photo: Bob Seago Photography

(888)305-1233 | thehouseonoldmillroad.com

Last Chance Mine Oleo Ranch 498 USFS 504, Creede / 719-238-7959 1001 Hinsdale CR 017, Creede / 281-728-0267 lastchancemine.com oleoranch.com Lindsey Leavell Ooh La Spa 1201 Williams St 7A, Denver / 303-579-2628 289 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-3070 lindsey@lindseyleavell.com oohlaspacreede.com Liquid Ambitions Liquors Quiller Gallery 21315 E US Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2337 110 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2741 Little Elaine Photography quillergallery.com Creede / 719-588-6412 Rainbow Lodge & Grocery littleelainephotography.com 30359 W Hwy 160, South Fork / 719-873-5545 Little Squaw Resort rainbowgroceryandsportinggoods.com 11401 USFS Rd 520, Creede / 719-658-2455 Ramble House & Creede Guide & Outfitters 719-658-2434 / littlesquawresort.com 116 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2482 Longridge Outfitters creedeflyfishing.com 39284 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2454 Rare Things Gallery of Treasures longridgeoutfitters.com 106 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2376 MadLson Corp rarethingsgallery.com 0832 W. Hwy 149, South Fork / 719-873-5417 RC Guest Ranch madlson.com 37531 W Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2253 MDS Waste and Recycle rcguestranch.com 719-658-3060 / mdswasteandrecycle.com Realtors of Central Colorado Mineral County 145 Sabeta Ave., Poncha Springs / 719-539-3381 1201 N Main St., Creede / 719-658-2331 rocc.realtor mineralcountycolorado.com Rincon Real Estate Mineral County Fairgrounds 705 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2900 Airport Rd NE, Creede / 719-658-2376 rinconrealestate.com upperriogrande.org Rio Grande Angler Mineral County Miner/Valley Publishing

13 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2955 Monte Vista / 719-852-3531 riograndeangler.com valleypubs@amigo.net Rio Grande Club & Resort Mines & Memories General Store 0285 Rio Grande Club Trail, South Fork 708 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2370 719-873-1995 / riograndeclubandresort.com MJ’s Café Rio Grande Enterprises 801 La Garita, Creede / 719-658-0340 24263 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-0374 Monte Vista Coop Rio Grande Silver Inc. 1901 E. Hwy 160, Monte Vista / 719-852-5181 719-658-1080 mvcoop.com Rio Grande Vacation Rentals Mountaineer Movie Theater 6723 River Club Dr. Unit D, South Fork 811 N. Gunnison Ave., Lake City / 970-944-2548 877-873-5776 / riograndevacationrentals.com mountaineertheatre.com RoShamBo Marketing + Creative Mountain Man Rafting 144 N. Main St. Ste B, Gunnison / 970-641-3546 30923 W. Hwy 160, South Fork / 719-873-0188 go-roshambo.com mountainmanrafting.com San Juan Ranch Mountain Views at Rivers Edge 1001 USFS Rd 520, Creede / 719-658-2214 539 Airport Rd., Creede / 719-658-2710 San Juan Sports mountainviewsrv.com 102 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2359 Mountain West Insurance - Monte Vista sanjuansports.com 100 E Victory Way, Craig / 719-852-5142 Silver Thread Quilt Guild mtnwst.com mining4treasures@gmail.com Nationwide Payment Solutions SLV Rural Electric Cooperative 92 Sumac Ct., Pagosa Spring / 970-731-2585 3625 W Hwy 160, Monte Vista / 719-852-6630 nationwidepaymentsolutions.com slvrec.com Navajo Development Snow Country Explorers 719-850-8443 / mountainvalleyestates.com Creede / 719-658-2221 O & V Printing South Fork Chamber of Commerce 342 Santa Fe Ave., Alamosa / 719-589-9228 29803 W. Hwy. 160, South Fork / 719-873-5556 oandvprinting.com southforkcolorado.org Off Broadway Soward Ranch 129 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-3050 6164 Middle Creek Rd., Creede / 719-658-2295 abrajewelry.com sowardranch6164@gmail.com

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church 502 S. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2394 staugustinescreede.org Team Murphy Realty 29919 W Hwy 160, South fork / 970-944-5050 teammurphyrealty.com The Blue Yak Salon & Boutique 107 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2500 theblueyaksalon.com The House on Old Mill Road 602 Old Mill Road, Creede / 888-305-1233 thehouseonoldmillroad.com The Mac Mine 111 Wall St Creede / 719-580-4459 themacminecreede@gmail.com The Soprano Suite 117 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2100 airbnb.com/rooms/17125729 Tomkins Hardware & Lumber 127 N. Main St., Creede / 719-658-2240 truevalue.com Tommyknocker Tavern 107 Wall St., Creede / 719-658-0138 tommyknockertavern.com Turning Aspens Massage and Zero Balancing 152 Klondike Rd., Creede / 719-480-2845 turningaspens.com Twin Pine Motor Sports, Inc 29130 W Hwy 160, South Fork / 719-873-9873 twinpinemotorsportsinc.com Underbrush Limited 39542 Hwy. 149, Creede / 719-658-0121 kathykillip.com/underbrush-ltd.html Underground Mining Museum #9 Forest Service Rd 503, Creede 719-658-0811 / undergroundminingmuseum.com Upper Rio Grande Nordic Club A124, PO Box 52, Creede / 719-658-2602 Wason Ranch 19082 Hwy 149, Creede / 719-658-2413 wasonranch.com White Bear Company, LLC 401 Capital Ave., Creede / 303-257-3734 vrbo.com/360577 Windsock Acres PO Box 765, Creede / 720-550-0388 windsockacres.com

When does Creede close?

When do they close the highways?

Actually, Creede doesn’t close. We have great employees on our City, County and State road crews that keep our roads open year round. Our gas station, Downstream Gas & Mercantile, has pumps for 24 hours use. The Kentucky Belle Market can order in just about anything you want if they don’t already carry it. And we have restaurants, shops and supply stores that are open all the year around too! We are ready to cater to the wandering tourist and the locals in need of respite.

FAQs numbers

When do the deer turn into elk?

They don’t. Actually deer and elk are completely different families within the Deer species. A few facts for you: An adult male deer weighs 300 pounds. Elk are huge and they weigh approximately 700 pounds at the time of maturity. The elk communicates more clearly than deer. Deer are browsers while elk are grazing animals.

Where’s the garbage dump?

About 1.5 miles from Creede towards South Fork on Highway 149 you will see a sign on your right noting the Creede Early Learning Center. Just passed this sign on your left, you will see a road cutting off of the highway. Once you turn on this road you will see the sign “dump road”. Follow the road until another branch cuts off to the left – this branch will lead you to the dump. (Dump hours are 10-4pm, Monday, Thursday, Saturday.) If you continue on the main road you will find another branch about a mile down on your left – this branch will eventually dead end but leads to the shooting range and Dry Gulch. The main road will arrive at a dead end a little further on but also leads to the trailhead for Farmer’s Creek Trail.

Where can I get a tire fixed?

The nearest place for tire help is Rio Grande Enterprises about 3 miles southwest of Creede on Hwy. 149, which also boasts a mechanic’s shop and a few cabins for rent by the night, week or month.

Does Creede have an ATM?

Yes, Creede has stepped into the current century, and offers four ATMs for your convenience: inside the Kentucky Belle Market, at the exterior of the “Bank building” at 117 North Main Street, at Downstream Mercantile and at Del Norte Bank.

Photo: Bob Seago Photography

Important Numbers

FOR ANY EMERGENCY DIAL 911 Mineral County Sheriff 719-658-2600 / 1201 N. Main St., Creede Regular hours: Mon-Fri. 8am - Midnight 24/7 dispatch Medical Center 719-658-0929 / 802 Rio Grande Ave., Creede Regular hours: Mon-Fri. 8:30am-5pm Public Health 719-658-2416 / 802 Rio Grande Ave., Creede Regular hours: Mon-Fri. 8am-4pm Closed Noon-1pm for lunch Mineral County Fire Department 719-658-2211 / 24/7 dispatch City of Creede 719-658-2276 / 2223 N. Main St., Creede Regular hours: Mon-Fri. 8am-4pm Mineral County Ambulance 719-658-2600 / 24/7 dispatch

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 57

preserved Spotlight: Underground Mining Museum

Photo Courtesy of Creede Historical Society

2017 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Underground Mining Museum and Community Center.

Construction began in 1990 and we opened for business in 1992. It took just 18 months to blast out the solid rock to include the gift shop, museum and community center.

The Community Center is host to many events throughout the year. Annual events include the Woodcarvers Rendezvous, Rock and Mineral Show, and the Community Thanksgiving dinner. Every other year are the Quilters Show and 4th of July Hamburger cookout.

When you first pull up in front of the Mining Museum, be sure and watch your step. Several chipmunks and squirrels will be there to greet you waiting for their handful of seeds.

Be careful not to try and pick them up, they are after all wild critters. They may not seem wild but they can still bite!!

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One of our favorite questions is: “Are your chipmunks clean?” After several of these type of questions our general response is: “yes, we bathe them every Friday whether they need it or not!”

As you enter the gift shop and look up, you will immediately get the feeling of being underground. The gift shop is filled with unique gifts and some amazing rock collections.

The tour of the museum offers either a self-guided audio tour or a guided tour with guides that can offer personal experiences and can answer questions.

Don’t forget we also offer our Community Center for all your party needs! Lots of people use the facility for Weddings, meetings and community get-to-gathers! We offer a full kitchen, seating for 200 and a full bar. t

creede & mineral county visitors guide / 59

904 S. Main St. | PO Box 580 Creede, CO 81130 creede.com (719) 658-2374

If you enjoy this FREE guide, DONATE at creede.com

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