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The gold mines are still there and still producing, but not in a way that any of the early prospectors would recognize. It's big business now, but probably not as big as the casinos that line the town's main street. Some say you haven't seen Colorado until you've seen Cripple Creek.

Gold was first discovered here in October 1890 by a cowboy named Bob Womack. His find brought thousands here, all stricken with gold fever. This was one of the most successful mining locales in the country, but for all his success, Womack died impoverished. Traces of the old mining camps, headframes, and cabin still dot the landscape, although today more people seek their gold from the casinos.

Quite literally, this is not the same town (known then as Poverty Gulch) that Bob Womack knew. That one burned, twice, and was replaced with brick structures, signifying the enduring spirits of those early pioneers. That spirit lives on today, with auto race hill climbs, art shows, fall aspen tours, casino special events, and nearby nature hikes, rodeos, symphonies, and craft shows.

Although smaller than in its gold-rush heyday, Cripple Creek is still soaring. Come visit and find your own "Rocky Mountain High."