By Jan MacKell
For a little mountain town, the statistics on Cripple Creek’s casinos are actually quite amazing. Only six casinos opened on Oct. 1, 1991, for instance. Over the last 20 years, a total of 49 gambling houses have come and gone. Two of them, the Golden Eagle and the Mother Lode Saloon & Casino, never opened at all. Seven others closed and eventually opened under new ownership. Another six were purchased, enveloped and evolved as part of an existing casino. Those hardy survivors include the 13 gambling halls in town today. Some of them stand alone as testaments to time. Others have grown to incorporate two or even three business licenses. Here is the rundown on each place, complete with some fun facts about how they came to be.
Big Jim’s Gambling Hall & Saloon
279 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-2601, bigjimscasino.com
Big Jim’s origins begin with the Gold Rush Hotel & Casino, which opened at 2nd and Bennett Avenue on May 15, 1992. Southwest Casinos purchased the property in 1999. Earlier this year, the casino relocated to 279 E. Bennett Ave. and changed its name to Big Jim’s Gambling Hall & Saloon. No matter the name, the casino is known for friendly employees and a fun-filled atmosphere. Rockin’ J’s Café serves up excellent food including real baked turkey sandwiches. The new location is in the historic Roseberry Block; during the 1950s a walkway was installed connecting the building to the Imperial Hotel next door. With gambling the building became known as the Imperial Hotel & Casino, which closed 2010. Today the hotel, along with its Midland Depot Restaurant and the historic Gold Bar Room Theater, is owned by former Cripple Creek City Councilman Gary Ledford.
The Brass Ass
256 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-0303, 800-635-LUCK, triplecrowncasinos.com
A former tourist shop, the original Brass Ass opened on Oct. 1, 1991, but closed in 1994. Triple Crown Casinos, which also owns the Midnight Rose and J.P. McGill’s, was able to acquire the property in 1995. The Brass Ass is still known for its comfortable, casual gaming atmosphere and vintage Cripple Creek décor, including a wooden “brass” donkey from the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. The casino has expanded into two other historic buildings, the former Iland Theatre and a gentleman’s clothing store once known as Glauber’s.
Bronco Billy’s, Buffalo Billy’s & Billy’s
233 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-2142 or 877-989-2142, broncobillyscasino.com
Bronco’s opened under its original name, Bronco Billy’s Casino & Sports Bar, on Oct. 1, 1991. As the casino expanded, Buffalo Billy’s Casino was established in 1998 and Billy’s Casino in 2008. The crew has long been known as some of the friendliest staff in town. The casinos have three excellent restaurants: The Steakhouse, Baja Billy’s Restaurant & Cantina and The Home Café. All are housed in eight historic buildings. They include the Tutt Building, erected by Charles Tutt of the Broadmoor Hotel fame; the Turf Club, originally built as an elite gentleman’s club and the Coors Building, purchased by Adolph Coors in 1897.
Century Casinos
200-220 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-0333, cnty.com
Century Casino
Century’s historic buildings are actually made up from several former casinos, including Wild Bill’s (opened 1991), Womack’s and Diamond Lil’s (opened 1992), and the Long Branch at 2nd and Bennett (also opened in 1992). Part of the casino was also once known as Legends and the whole shebang was renamed Century Casinos earlier this year. The casino is known for its modern décor and the excellent Mid-City Grill run by the renowned Chef Paul. Also, the casino generously promotes community events on their marquee at the historic Palace Hotel across the street. Century is housed in some of the most historic buildings of Cripple Creek’s downtown, including the Bi-Metallic Bank once owned by railroad tycoon David Moffat.
Colorado Grande
300 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-3517, 877-244-9469, coloradogrande.com
The Colorado Grande opened on Oct. 10, 1991. These days the casino is still known for its comfortable atmosphere, plus Jack’s that features blackjack and coffee next door. There is also Maggie’s, one of the few restaurants in town where you can eat away from the bells and whistles of the slot machines. The Fairley & Lampman block housing the Grande has been, amongst other things, the city morgue, attorney and doctor’s offices, a drugstore, two barber shops, realtors, several dry good and grocery stores, a hat maker, a music teacher, a dentist, a plumber, a lodge hall and even an “autocycle” shop. In later years the Sarsparilla Saloon was run by longtime building owners Ken and Katherine Hartz.
Double Eagle Hotel & Casino & Gold Creek Casino
442 East Bennett Avenue, 719-689-5000, decasino.com
The Double Eagle was only the second newly built casino in town when it opened on Aug. 29, 1996. The casino also opened Gold Creek Casino opened next door in 2003. Winner of the Colorado Springs’ Gazette’s “Best of the Springs” for best casino six years in a row, the Double Eagle is still known for its beautiful barrel-shaped stained glass ceiling, Lombard’s Friday Seafood Buffet and Winfield’s fine dining restaurant. The historic storefronts between the Double Eagle and Gold Creek are also home to the Parrot Dice Grill, Prospector‘s Perk and Cripple Creek Outfitters. Historically speaking, the Double Eagle was partly designed after a theatre once located on the site. In 2000, the casino buried two time capsules on the property, to be opened in 2500. The company also owns the historic Old Homestead Parlor House Museum on Myers Avenue.
Johnny Nolon’s Casino
301 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-2080, johnnynolons.com
Johnny Nolon’s was amongst the six casinos that originally opened Oct. 1, 1991. The casino is still known for catering to locals in a comfortable, historically decorated atmosphere. Johnny Nolon’s also holds the distinction as the only casino in town to operate under its original name at its original location. Nolon opened his saloon and gambling hall on the site with partner Jacob Becker in 1893. The original building burned during Cripple Creek’s devastating fires of 1896, but was rebuilt as the stately structure we see today.
J.P. McGill’s Hotel & Casino
232 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-0303, 800-635-LUCK, triplecrowncasinos.com
J.P.’s opened Nov. 26, 1997, on the site of the former Phenix House and three other historic buildings. They include The Branch, a former saloon where the Tom Collins cocktail was actually invented. The casino is known for McGill’s Pint & Platter, which features American fare in an Irish pub atmosphere. So who was J.P. McGill? In reality, former Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino icons Bev Carlson and Bobby Cirincon literally picked a name from Cripple Creek’s old city directories and landed their fingers on F.P. McGill. The former pharmacist also owned a saloon in town circa 1896. F.P. doesn’t roll off the tongue so smoothly, however, and so J.P. McGill was created as a pseudo-character and the casino’s namesake.
Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino
256 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-0303, 800-635-LUCK, triplecrowncasinos.com.
The Midnight Rose originally opened Aug. 19, 1992, in a brand new building and has since expanded into the historic Schradsky block next door. Today the casino is still known for its longtime Victorian charm, Dynamite Dick’s for casual dining, the Down Under Steakhouse for more upscale dining and fun, themed hotel suites. Pre-gambling folks will remember the shell of a building that once stood where the new structure was erected.
Wildwood Casino
119 Carbonate St., 719-244-9700, playwildwood.com
Cripple Creek’s newest casino opened May 31, 2008. Four places within the casino offer munchables: Jazzy Java, the Saddlebar, the Fireside Kitchen and Ruby Tuesdays—Cripple Creek’s only chain restaurant. The Wildwood is newly built, but stands out for its beautiful inlaid wood roof in Ruby Tuesdays, and that it was constructed by former Cripple Creek Mayor Dan Baader (before he became mayor, of course).
