Hello from Evergreen, CO
Wednesday evening January 23, 2013 (Third travelogue of this trip).
Wow, two posts in one day – that is a record.
Today we decided to drive home via Central City. You will recall that my links to history of the area were based on Central City. If you blink when you drive towards Central City (from Black Hawk) you will miss the sign that tells you that you have gone from one town to the next. They are essentially the same town (don't tell that to the “natives” as they don't seem to get along all that well {grin}).
We took the back way and then drove around the town a bit. I am glad that I did, since a great deal of the historical buildings are preserved/restored/converted to modern use. Indeed, I could almost picture wandering through the town many years ago (before gambling). I have to admit that I had the wrong impression of what gambling did to the two towns.
Our route from Evergreen to Black Hawk took us through Clear Creek canyon (US 6) to CO 119. I have often talked about how dangerous that road is and advised Linda and Pat not to take that route. However, I wanted to “revisit” the route we used to take when I was young. I thought that driving at mid-day would allow us to avoid the drunks from the casinos and have a safe journey. Well, I was very concerned as we drove the canyon. There is a huge quarry at the junction of I 70 and US 6. We must have passed 50 large gravel trucks on the narrow winding road – each doing the max. speed limit. This morning there was a major crash where an asphalt truck turned over and totaled three cars.
I had already planned a different route home, but I would not have had a choice. They closed US 6 for several hours. Our route home was via the Central City Parkway ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_City_Parkway ). That is a privately funded 8.4 mile multi-lane highway between I 70 and Central City. It is a very easy drive and has great views. If you look at the link provided you will see that there is quite a bit of animosity between Central City and Black Hawk, including a suit and counter suit over routes into their towns.
As a side note, if you look at the pictures I posted this morning you will see that is was a gorgeous day for a walk. The sky was a beautiful blue and the temperature was moderate. Today was supposed to be warm and clear, but it was overcast and not all that warm. Glad that I walked the day that I did.
Now for an update on the gambling debt – there is none {big wide grin}. Pat hit a good jackpot today and came out a few dollars ahead for the trip after being down quite a bit.
That is all for this trip. We have a few trips in the planning process, so either check in occasionally, or better yet, sign up for email delivery.
Showing posts with label Central City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Central City. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Hello from Black Hawk, CO
Hello from Black Hawk, CO
Tuesday Morning January 22, 2013 (First travelogue of this trip).
Black Hawk, CO?????? Yes, Pat and I are at the Ameristar Casino and Resort in Black Hawk (map).
As was the case last week, I (and this time, Pat) are/were close to home (less than 30 miles). Pat and her cousin, Linda, come up here every so often to feed the slot machines. Apparently AMERISTAR is reaching towards the bottom of the membership barrel and offering a free two night stay at their hotel. Who can pass up that offer?
Pat and Linda have stayed up here at least once, using Linda's points. She had told me many times how neat it was. I had to drop the hint that I would like to be her roommate {grin}.
I have long been frustrated at the huge amount of “damage” that the casinos did to this historic area of Colorado. Gold was discovered in 1859 in a gulch between the towns of Black Hawk and Central City. and that created a “gold rush” to the area. It became known as: "The Richest Square Mile On Earth". Reasonably good documentation of the history of this area can be found here: http://www.centralcitycolorado.com/history.php and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_City,_Colorado.
I spent a lot of my younger years touring and being immersed in the amazing history of the area. As a kid, I would drag my folks all over the two towns looking at mechanical relics of the past (mecca for me).
For years I refused to come up here because of the loss of focus on what was a major part of Colorado history. But after 20 plus years, I guess I had better get over it {sheepish smile}
This a fabulous casino/resort. The room is the equivalent of a 4 or 5 star hotel. The casino is huge. The architecture and interior of the building are very well done in what I would call early American. The buffet is among the very best we have been in. With her points, we were able to have dinner last night for less than $5.
This morning, I used our Starbucks cards to get oatmeal and scones. So far, a pretty inexpensive trip.
As I write this, Pat is up a bit less than $100 playing the “penny” slot machines. Me, that is another story. She still has a lot of playing to do and we will see how that all plays out at the end of our stay.
That is all for now.
Tuesday Morning January 22, 2013 (First travelogue of this trip).
Black Hawk, CO?????? Yes, Pat and I are at the Ameristar Casino and Resort in Black Hawk (map).
As was the case last week, I (and this time, Pat) are/were close to home (less than 30 miles). Pat and her cousin, Linda, come up here every so often to feed the slot machines. Apparently AMERISTAR is reaching towards the bottom of the membership barrel and offering a free two night stay at their hotel. Who can pass up that offer?
Pat and Linda have stayed up here at least once, using Linda's points. She had told me many times how neat it was. I had to drop the hint that I would like to be her roommate {grin}.
I have long been frustrated at the huge amount of “damage” that the casinos did to this historic area of Colorado. Gold was discovered in 1859 in a gulch between the towns of Black Hawk and Central City. and that created a “gold rush” to the area. It became known as: "The Richest Square Mile On Earth". Reasonably good documentation of the history of this area can be found here: http://www.centralcitycolorado.com/history.php and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_City,_Colorado.
I spent a lot of my younger years touring and being immersed in the amazing history of the area. As a kid, I would drag my folks all over the two towns looking at mechanical relics of the past (mecca for me).
For years I refused to come up here because of the loss of focus on what was a major part of Colorado history. But after 20 plus years, I guess I had better get over it {sheepish smile}
This a fabulous casino/resort. The room is the equivalent of a 4 or 5 star hotel. The casino is huge. The architecture and interior of the building are very well done in what I would call early American. The buffet is among the very best we have been in. With her points, we were able to have dinner last night for less than $5.
This morning, I used our Starbucks cards to get oatmeal and scones. So far, a pretty inexpensive trip.
As I write this, Pat is up a bit less than $100 playing the “penny” slot machines. Me, that is another story. She still has a lot of playing to do and we will see how that all plays out at the end of our stay.
That is all for now.
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