Hello all, We made a little day trip down to Cripple Creek, Colorado yesterday.
Was a beautiful day to be out even though the mountain views of Pikes Peak and others along our way were a bit hazy from all the wildfires spread around the state.
This was taken from the train ride in Echo Valley. Was pretty cool to hear them sound the train whistle and then hearing it echo back several seconds later.
There are still active Gold mines in the area, here is was viewed from the train ride.
If you view it larger, you can zoom in on one of the old buildings from the 1800's still standing (sort of).
Cripple Creek is at 9,494 feet elevation, and started off as a Gold mining camp
which grew from a population of 500 to over ten thousand in less than three years in the 1890's when one of the largest gold strikes in history (the Independence Lode) was found. The town burned completely during two major fires in the same week in 1896. Afterwards all buildings on the main street and one block either way were required to be built out of brick, giving it the unique appearance it has today. Even though there is still an active gold mine, the town's main attractions are some tourist shops and several gambling casinos.
Here is the narrow gauge train we rode for tour and pictures. The town is also famous for it's views a little later in the fall (Late Sept / early Oct) when the Aspen trees change colors providing fabulous views mixed with the evergreens.
Added to Pinmapple
[//]:# (!pinmapple 38.731941 lat -105.171225 long Cripple Creek, Colorado d3scr)
