Cripple Creek: Go for the gambling, stay for the history

I went to Cripple Creek last weekend. I was appearing in a murder mystery (I do side gigs for Madcap Mysteries) at the newly renovated Imperial Hotel.

As always, it was fun getting killed by such a talented group of folks, but I also have to say how impressed I was by Cripple Creek. I've always had the feeling that Cripple Creek was a nice little gambling getaway in search of something larger.

The Thin Air Players at the Butte Opera House, the museums, mine tours and narrow-guage railroad certainly have been fine starts on that road to something bigger.

But spending some time with Gary and Wini Ledford really gave me hope that Cripple Creek could become a much more significant (and fun) tourism destination.

The Ledfords are the folks who've been renovating the Imperial, and so far the results are impressive. The hotel rooms ($66-$235 a night) manage to balance Victorian charm and actual comfort. These are the same folks who converted the old high school into one of the region's most unusual and romantic B&Bs, the Carr Manor, which is a reason to go to Cripple Creek all by itself.

The Ledfords believe that Cripple Creek's future lies beyond slot machines. It's about history and entertainment, and they've been putting their money where their mouths are.

Of course, the fact that I finally ended up winning video poker and leaving that town with more money than I took in made me feel more kindly. It was only $5, but still...