Welcome to
Cripple Creek, Colorado

The Worlds Greatest Gold Camp!

Cripple Creek is located 48 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado at an elevation of 9,591 feet. The town is easily accessed from U.S. Hwy 24 and State Hwy 67. The nearest commercial airports are Colorado Springs and Denver International. Shuttles are available from the Colorado Springs Airport.

Gold fever put Cripple Creek on the map. In October 1890, Bob Womack discovered gold in Poverty Gulch (now Cripple Creek, Colorado). Rumors of "color" on the Womack Ranch, owned by Bob's uncle, were largely ignored until Bob rode to Colorado City (now Colorado Springs) and went on a binge, celebrating his new wealth. He sold his claim for $500, never dreaming that more than $400 million in gold ultimately would come from it and the claims that followed.

By late 1891 the area was crawling with prospectors. In the first year, miners reported about $250,000 taken from the ground. By 1893 miners had dug up $3 million in gold ore and the gold camp was now a town with a population of about 18,000. By 1899 about $59 million in ore was sent out of the area. By the end of the gold rush, area mines had produced $432 million in gold making it the fourth largest gold producing camp in the world. Town buildings were rebuilt with brick after a fire in 1896; most of the present-day structures date from this period. 

Today gold mining is still an influence on the area with the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. operating the largest surface mine and heap leach gold mine in the state of Colorado. 

Cripple Creek Chamber of Commerce: The Cripple Creek Chamber of Commerce serves the town of Cripple Creek and surrounding area. They are an excellent source for information regarding the community and will provide assistance in planning your visit to the area.

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