Cripple Creek KOA Holiday Attractions

Town of Cripple Creek, Colorado

There is plenty of family and adult fun in this historic landmark district. From the Narrow Gauge Railway, to fascinating local museums, from fine restaurants and ice cream parlors to arcades and casinos, there is something for everyone in Cripple Creek. View gold mining…from the old to the new "state of the art" gold mine, located between Cripple Creek and Victor.

Website

Cripple Creek Heritage and Information Center

In the late 1800s, thousands of fortune-seekers made their way to Pikes Peak for the country's last great gold rush. Now, more than a century later, you can make your own discoveries at Cripple Creek's newest travel and informational resource center: the Cripple Creek Heritage Center. Overlooking the town of Cripple Creek, the facility is a member of the Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association and your complete source for Cripple Creek information. Stop here before entering the town for a birds-eye view of all there is to see and do in the heart of history.This 11,600-square-foot visitors center is designed in a style reminiscent of the town's heyday; however, the technology is all 21st century. State-of-the-art doesn't begin to describe what awaits you in the area's newest Pikes Peak travel center: multiple hands-on exhibits combine interactive technology with tactile, audio and video techniques, for an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the glory days of the World's Greatest Gold Camp. Other exhibits showcase the area's geology, flora and fauna and regional recreation opportunities. Current exhibits include:Early Explorers
Cripple Creek's First Residents
Faces from the Past
American Indians
Railroads
Business of Mining
Gold Camp Lifestyle
All About Colorado
Pikes Peak Gems and Minerals
Time of the Giants
Colorado's Wildlife
Regional Recreation
Treasures of the Cripple Creek Mining DistrictAdditionally, the Center includes captivating historic photography and materials detailing the area's world-class dinosaur discoveries. You'll learn how gold mining practices have changed over the years and how humans have affected the region. A wall of windows featuring a stunning view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains tops off your visit in a spectacular fashion. From Cripple Creek's humble beginnings as a 15-person gold camp through its gold rush golden age to its renewed present-day glory, the city's colorful history is fully chronicled and documented at the area's newest Cripple Creek travel center. No matter what part of the state you travel to, you won't find another Colorado visitors center as informative and user-friendly as the Cripple Creek Heritage Center.Consider the Cripple Creek Heritage Center for your next company meeting or family wedding. Don't forget to bring Fido, because special dog runs for small and large dogs are available outside. Service animals are welcome inside the Heritage Center.

Website

Cripple Creek District Museum

Since 1953, the Cripple Creek District Museum has worked to preserve the history of Cripple Creek. Visitors can browse through five historic buildings - the 1893 Colorado Trading & Transfer Building, the 1895 Midland Terminal Railroad Depot, and a turn-of-the-century Assay Office. A self-guided tour of the museum includes exhibits of railroad history, mining memorabilia, maps, paintings, glass and china, children's items, furnishings, a photograph gallery, Indian artifacts, mineral displays, two turn of the century cabins and two Victorian apartments. One cabin belonged to French Blanche Le Coq and has been furnished to be historically accurate. The second cabin has been furnished to represent the living space of a miner during the gold rush days.

Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine

Visit the mine that takes you 1,000- ft underground, while you learn, from knowledgeable tour guides, about this old mining operation. This tour is designed for people of all ages. No steps, ladders or climbing. Open daily at 9 a.m.

Cripple Creek Jail Museum

Relive the outlaw days of the Wild West in the unique and popular Cripple Creek Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum, the hottest selfie spot West of the Mississippi.In the late 1800s, the promise of an easy fortune lured people to the gold mines of Cripple Creek; in just ten years, the population grew from 15 to more than 50,000.  Like every Western gold rush town, Cripple Creek had more than our fair share of miscreants and troublemakers. Fortunately, we also had a brave group of men sworn to keep the outlaws in line.  And you can learn their stories in this authentic and fun museum.Housed in a red-brick building that served as the Teller County Jail for nearly 90 years, this historic Cripple Creek museum gives visitors a taste of the shadier side of life in the World's Greatest Gold Camp, along with a glimpse into the lives of the lawmen charged with keeping the peace.As you can imagine, the jail was never short of occupants. Besides holding local burglars, robbers, highwaymen and other minor criminals, in its original incarnation this jail was also used to hold more serious offenders, including Robert Curry (aka Bob Lee), a member of the “Wild Bunch” gang who was captured after lawmen found him hiding in town.The curators of our Cripple Creek Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum have kept the original cells intact, so visitors can experience for themselves what life was like for those on the wrong side of the law. There are also displays highlighting the laws and the lawless, with samples of police logs from the 1890s, copies of early city ordinances and newspaper accounts of crimes both big and small.Be sure to visit the Cripple Creek Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum in historic Cripple Creek. You simply won't find a more authentic Colorado jail museum experience anywhere else.

719-689-6556

Website

Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

In 1976, the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad started taking passengers on a journey back into gold rush history and into the scenic heart of the Rocky Mountains. With its lovingly restored steam locomotives and historic 1894 station house, the railroad is one of the Gold Camp's favorite family attractions.

Butte Theater

Cripple Creek's historical theater.

719-689-6402

Website

Town of Victor, Colorado

An authentic old gold mining community only 7 miles from the campground boasts gift and antique shops, eating establishments and amazing scenery. The American Eagle Overlook, in Victor, has beautiful views of Pikes Peak and an historic view of the old and the new gold mining operation. Trails through several old gold mines are great for hiking and biking. Victor is also the home of Lowell Thomas, famous journalist and broadcaster.

Website

Lowell Thomas Museum

The Lowell Thomas Museum is located in nearby Victor and celebrates one of the country's most revered broadcasters. Thomas made his mark in radio journalism in a career that spanned 50 years and took him throughout the world. The museum is housed in a historic, two-story building filled with artifacts, books, exhibits and photographs that depict life in Victor from its earliest days to the heyday of gold mining.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

A lesson in history, these famous fossil beds are set in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano, which erupted millions of years ago, creating fossils and filling the valley with petrified trees. The park offers hiking and interpretive programs.

719-748-3253

Website

Royal Gorge Attractions

Royal Gorge Route Train: The Royal Gorge Route follows the most famous portion of the old Denver & Rio Grand Western train line, 24 miles round-trip, from Canon City to Parkdale and return. The two hour train ride takes passengers through the "Grand Canyon of the Arkansas" on an unforgettable journey over the famous Hanging Bridge, which clings precariously to the steep granite walls of the Royal Gorge, towering over 1,200 feet above. Ask the Cripple Creek staff to make your reservations.
Royal Gorge Bridge: Colorado is known for its spectacular scenery. And there's no place more spectacular than the famous Royal Gorge...where the world's highest suspension bridge soars 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. A thrilling aerial tram and incline railway add to the experience. In fact, an entire park has grown up around the bridge, combining quality entertainment with unparalleled natural beauty.
Buckskin Joe Park and Scenic Railway: Step back in time in this Old West theme park - an authentically restored 1860's mining town. There's horse and pony rides, street shows daily, food, drinks and souvenirs, western entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, friendly farm animals, gold panning. In all, there are over 40 things to see and do. Board the Royal Gorge Scenic Railway for a 3 mile, 30 minute ride to the rim of the Royal Gorge. Sometimes, a friendly deer or chipmunk will greet you as you wind your way through pinions and pines toward a breathtaking view.
Fun Country Amusement Park: Find this family amusement center off US 50, 1/2 mile south on the road to the Royal Gorge. There are go-karts, a giant slide and miniature golf. It is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day and on Saturdays and Sundays in May and September.
Dinosaur Depot: The Dinosaur Depot is an educational facility located in downtown Canon City, the county seat of Fremont County, which has long been known as the home of Garden Park, location of the largest Jurassic graveyard in the world! Housed in an historic 1930's fire station, it includes a visitor center, a gift shop, and a working preparatory lab, with interpretive display. There are regularly scheduled dinosaur programs for the entire family and tours of the internationally significant Garden Park Fossil area, just north of Cannon City.
Whitewater Rafting: There are several rafting companies to choose from. An exciting day's adventure on the Arkansas River is only an hour away! Ask the Cripple Creek staff to make your reservations.

Colorado Springs Attractions

Pikes Peak Highway: This is the Road to a new adventure! The road is open daily to uphill traffic. From December through March, the road is open at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday. From April through May, it is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. On Memorial Day Weekend, it is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. From June through Labor Day, it is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. From September through November, it is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. (The weather may affect the opening and closing times.)
Cog Railway: Sit back and relax as the world's highest cog railway takes you to the top of America's best-known mountain, Pikes Peak, 14,110 feet! The train departs seven days a week. The round trip takes three hours and ten minutes. It operates from late April through late October (weather permitting). Advance reservations are highly recommended. Ask the Cripple Creek staff to make your reservations.
Garden of the Gods Trading Post and Visitor Center: A free city park, a park for all seasons. Enjoy features like theater presentations, educational exhibits, bus/walking tours, nature talks, dining and refreshments, information on the region and souvenirs and gifts. Hours are summer 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and winter 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
Cave of the Winds: There are three tours to choose from. They are Discovery Tour (stroll through a world millions of years old), Explorer's Trip (spend a day in the dark), Laser Canyon (we're a magic mountain after dark), and Lantern Tour (experience the past, today). Open year round. Cave tours are conducted Labor Day weekend thru Memorial Day weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tour at 5 p.m.) and Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last tour at 8 p.m.). Laser Canyon Shows are conducted Friday and Saturday in May at 9 p.m. and Memorial Day thru Labor Day 9 p.m. nightly.
Flying W Ranch: The Flying W Ranch, located in Colorado Springs, is a working mountain cattle ranch that has specialized in western food and entertainment since 1953. They have beautiful natural surroundings, an authentic old western town and mouth-watering BBQ beef or chicken suppers. When the Flying W Wranglers top the evening off with their outstanding western stage show, they have an offering unsurpassed in Colorado. Supper and show are held outdoors underneath the picturesque Colorado sky if the weather is nice, or inside and heated, if necessary. Their summer operation is open 7 nights a week from the Friday before Memorial Day till the first of October. Reservations are required. Call 719-598-4000 or toll free 1-800-232-3599.
North Pole/Santa's Workshop: "Once upon a time" is alive with Christmas excitement today at the North Pole, home to Santa's Workshop. The legend of Santa Claus and his enchanted northern home comes to life as never before in this extraordinary amusement park. The North Pole recreates the most vivid images of the magic of Christmas; complete with elves, animal friends, magic shows, rides for all ages, and an entire village of colorful cottages brimming with gifts and toys. Best of all, the North Pole has its own post office where all outgoing mail is stamped with the official North Pole, Colorado postmark. Located at the foot of Pikes Peak and just ten miles west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24, the North Pole/Santa's Workshop is open from mid-May through Christmas Eve.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the highest zoo in the country at 6,800', is world famous for its diverse and exotic collection of more than 500 animals. The Zoo features natural settings for many animals, including Wolf Woods, home to 2 of the 75 Mexican wolves alive today; and, Primate World -- an indoor/outdoor complex for great apes and monkeys. Included with the admission to the zoo is the Will Rogers Shrine, featuring stunning murals, breathtaking views, and granite tower. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is located at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Road, just west of Colorado Springs. For information on admission call: 719-633-9925.
United States Air Force Academy:  At the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains, the United States Air Force Academy is Colorado's most frequently visited man-made attraction. The Visitors Center features informative exhibits on cadet life and Academy history, a 250-seat theater and free, self-guided driving tour maps. One-third mile from the Visitors Center, a hilly nature trail leads to the cadet Chapel. The Visitors Center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Labor Day through Memorial Day) and during the summer months from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All attractions are free and open to the public. For more information call 719-333-2025. The Academy may be reached by taking exit 156B (North Gate entrance) off of Interstate 25.
Seven Falls: Often called the "Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado", Seven Falls cascades 181' down a solid cliff of Pikes Peak granite. Located just ten minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, this unique scenic masterpiece is easily accessible. See breathtaking views and abundant wildlife. Take the mountain elevator to Eagle's Nest where the most spectacular view of Seven Falls is experienced. Although open everyday, summer nights come alive as the entire canyon is illuminated in a brilliant display of color. Focus on the Family: Since its opening in June 1994, the Welcome Center has had more than a million guests walk through its doors. Families can enjoy a 170-seat theater ,a kids' play area with a three-story slide, Whit's End Soda Fountain dining area, birthday party room, G. Harvey Art Gallery, Solid Grounds coffee shoppe and 10,000 sq. ft. gift shop and bookstore. In 2001, the Discovery Emporium was added, complete with a puppet stage, reading area and Kids' Radio Studio. Focus on the Family is ready to welcome you! For information on tours, reservations and broadcast tapings, call our 24-hour visitor hotline at (719) 531-3328.

Teller County Area Attractions

Visit Teller County today and begin to enjoy our many historic venues, national monuments, outdoor activities, exciting & interesting attractions for everyone, tempting restaurants & dining spots, unique retail establishments, a variety of family & adult entertainment, and special romantic getaways. Spend the night, a week, or a month at one of the many campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, cabins & lodges, guest & dude ranches, resorts, inns, hotels, or motels located throughout Teller County, Colorado.
Visit Teller County, Colorado and set your wild side free! Teller County, Colorado has been welcoming visitors from around the world for over 100 years. Located at the base of Pikes Peak, the most visited mountain in North America, first time visitors are amazed by the area's natural Colorado Rocky Mountain beauty that simply confirms "Teller County IS Colorado."

Website

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center

Wildlife preserve featuring wolves, coyotes, and foxes. Education for the public about the importance of preservation and conservation of the forests, land, and water that supports wildlife, flora, and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

719-687-9742

Website

Fishing

Skaguay Reservoir, 11 Mile Reservoir

Rita the Rock Planter

We are fortunate to have in our neighborhood one of hundreds of recycled wood sculptures created around the world by Danish artist Thomas Danbo. Rita went down for a nap in the 1800s and when she awoke, she found holes all around from a hundred years of mining operations. She is trying to fill them in so nobody gets hurt.

Website