Rick Langenberg

Nestled in the shadow of Pikes Peak is the small and remarkable town of Cripple Creek.

During the gold rush of the late 1800s, Cripple Creek became one of the biggest economic hubs in the West, as gold seekers and miners flooded the area. Many of these historic turn- of-the century buildings, the majority of which were constructed following the fires of 1896, still remain.

Local leaders and residents opted for a second gold rush of sorts by trying to revitalize the town and its deteriorating buildings through limited stakes gaming, which began on Oct. 1, 1991. This followed a state-wide campaign and a favorable vote by Colorado voters.

Another pro-gaming vote occurred in late 2008 that paved the way for 24-hour gambling, $100 single-bet wagers and new games such as roulette and craps.

And in the summer of 2015, town leaders upped the ante again by agreeing to establish an official entertainment district, which set the stage for common consumption areas that permit 24/7 cocktail service for gaming and restaurant customers. This is part of an effort to draw more patrons in town and provide a more festive environment.

This pro-gambling trend continued even further as state voters in Nov. 2019 decided they wanted to allow sports betting on professional games inside licensed gaming establishments in Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City, or through the gaming establishments’ related apps. A similar local vote also was approved on the same issue.

Sports betting, which has been in effect for several years, provides more excitement, especially during high showdown sports games for football, basketball and hockey. Most offer this asset through third-party sportsbooks.

The coronavirus epidemic, which hit in March 2020, struck the city and the industry hard, forcing gaming establishments to shut down for three months. The city of Cripple Creek suffered a reduction of $2.3 million in revenue, and was forced to no longer sponsor many popular special events.

Casinos were allowed to reopen in mid-June 2020, but they faced many COVID-19 restrictions, capacity limits and table games were not permitted.

But now, it’s back to business as usual and the local gaming industry has rebounded well. Gaming proceeds this year are quite healthy, both for casino winnings and for overall betting activity.  In fact, the town’s gambling-related market share in Colorado has increased in recent months, which could result in more tax revenue from the state.

Still, the gaming industry offers fewer betting devices since its heyday as casinos definitely reduced their betting inventory following the pandemic. Cripple Creek sports a total device and game count that is significantly lower than earlier times, when the industry sported more than 5,000 games of chance.

However, the town is still showcasing a relatively new patron attraction: no-limit wagering on individual bets and more game types.

This development, approved by the voters of Colorado and in Cripple Creek, officially began in May of 2021 and has upped the ante for card and table games. This completely eliminates the $100 single-bet wager limits and adds new games. This plan was heavily supported by local leaders and casino operators in all three towns and got the okay of Colorado voters in an earlier election.

Destination Mecca

Proponents of no-limit gaming say this has accelerated plans to make Cripple Creek into more of a destination area. This trend has hit a preliminary  jackpot with more than $300 million worth of hotel expansion developments, aimed at giving Cripple Creek more amenities and promoting several-day vacations into the area.

The former Wildwood casino (now rebranded as the Golden Nugget), opened its new 101-room hotel several years ago, marking the first new casino hotel project in Cripple Creek since the mid-1990s, and the reception for this lodging venture has been outstanding.

The Bronco Billy’s mega expansion, the Chamonix Casino & Hotel, has hit the lodging jackpot after months of planning and construction efforts.  This has given the town an additional 300-plus rooms and a spree of amazing amenities, such as a spa, outdoor pool, and award-winning steakhouse, 980 Prime.

This multi-story project, which has been the talk of the town since 2018, is nearing the finish line for nearly all of its enhancements and parking additions. The project has been described as a “game chamber” for Cripple Creek. City officials and community leaders see this as propelling the  drive for making Cripple Creek into a destination area.

Besides the Billy’s expansion, a proposed boutique hotel bid by Triple Crown Casinos, which will be located in the back of the Brass Ass area, previously received the green light by city leaders. This project calls for a general store and a number of non-gaming amenities.

A massive number of improvements have occurred too at the former Wildwood casino, as part of new ownership by a company led by Texas billionaire and restaurant tycoon Tilman Fertitta. The old Wildwood is now part Fertitta Entertainment’s Golden Nugget casino brand.

Many expansion efforts are moving ahead on the non-gaming front like never before. The Gold Camp Café, which opened more than two years ago next to city hall, has gained much popularity, along with The Mercantile retail shop. And the opening of the District Saloon and Kitchen has added another major non-gaming bar/eatery to the local lineup.  Reaction to the  Saloon, which showcases a huge circular bar area, an outdoor patio, and regular events, has been outstanding.

This burgeoning non-gaming effort, which hit first-base in 2021, with the reopening of The Creek restaurant, is much more than what the town has experienced in recent years. Plus, the town has received a growing interest in affordable housing efforts, a trend that hit pay dirt when the city started a heavily popular development-incentive program.  In fact, much more activity is expected in the housing and infrastructure arena in the next year.

And this fall, many town meetings are expected as city leaders engage the community in its first new master plan update since 2009.  This is a $300,000-plus project, with the funds generated through grants, which will include a major focus on economic development and tourism enhancement. Town officials are wagering a few bets on future development and local control, as residents and business owners mull the possibility of becoming a home-rule city and starting a Main Street program.

The future of the town appears quite positive, as the town celebrates the 33rd anniversary of gaming in Cripple Creek, starting this week. Times have advanced significantly from that historic date in 1991, which was capped by a spirit of “Jubilant Chaos” (see related column).