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Victor Colorado
Downtown Victor, CO.

Victor, Colorado

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Victor is a historic mining town nicknamed the “City of Mines”, located only a few miles from Cripple Creek, together they make up part of the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp”.  It was established in 1894 and was one of the meccas for gold mining in the West.

There are a few restaurants and shops in downtown to explore. In its heyday, Victor was a bustling mining town full of saloons and other staples for rowdy miners. As of 2020, it is home to 426 residents and sits at an elevation of 9,708 feet in Teller County.

History

Entering Downtown Victor Colorado
Entering downtown Victor.

The town was founded in 1891, shortly after gold was discovered. Cripple Creek often overshadowed Victor as that’s where most of the area’s richest residents lived. Today, Victor is remains small compared to its nearby neighbor.

Many settlers of the West had dreams of finding gold and ended up coming to Victor. By 1900, Victor was the fifth largest city in Colorado. At its peak around 1902, Victor had three trains, two trolleys, six churches, twelve labor unions, forty-eight saloons, fifteen attorneys, twenty doctors, and a population around 17,500.

In August of 1899, Victor burned to the ground. It was rebuilt almost overnight in the brick still seen today. Today, there are still also some mining operations and a few running businesses.

Main Attractions

Cripple Creek and Victor Open Pit Gold Mine
Twenty-first century Cripple Creek & Victor open-pit gold mine. Photo by: Plazak

Mining Relics – The main attraction in Victor is the town’s rich mining heritage. The Vindicator Valley Trail is one of the best local hikes and consists of a 2-mile loop around more than a dozen old mines.

Ruins are scattered all along the hillsides around town. Several hikes take you up to many of the old mining camps. Vindicator Valley is located just around the corner. It’s a scenic hike taking you on a tour of the former Independence mining camp.

Read about the top things to do in Victor.

Recreation

Reservoir surrounded by mountains
Skaguay Reservoir near Victor, CO, a great spot to fish and swim. Photo by: Jay Gannett

Biking/Hiking – The Vindicator Valley Trail is a great multi-use trail, open to hikers and bikers in the summer. In the winter cross country skiers and snowshoers make use of the path.

Camping – Mueller State Park offers beautiful wooded campsites about twenty miles from town. Read about the camping near Divide, Cripple Creek and Victor.

Fishing –Skaguay Reservoir is nearby and has great trout fishing that is allowed from the shore or a kayak.

Accommodations

Historic Victor Hotel Colorado
The historic Victor Hotel.



Booking.com

The Black Monarch Hotel – This historic, haunted hotel features a number of oddities and four individually decorated rooms.

Grey Wolf Resort – Located about 10 minutes south of town, this resort features several unique lodging types. Choose to stay in the cottage suites, barn lodge beds, tiny houses, or cedar yurts.

Victor Hotel – Charming historic hotel built in 1899, it features traditionally decorated rooms and an on-site restaurant.

Read about the best hotels in Victor.

Dining

Bakery storefront
Gold Camp Bakery storefront in downtown Victor, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/GoldCampBakery

The Side Door Restaurant & Lounge – Located inside of the Victor Hotel, this classy spot has great drinks and pub fare.

1899 Mining Claim and Saloon – Stop by for friendly service and a delicious burger.

Gold Camp Bakery Cafe & Deli – Homemade pastries, desserts, and other baked goods. They also a menu for lunch featuring chicken pot pie and deli sandwiches.

Special Events

street vendors at a fair
Street vendors at the Gold Rush Days festival in Victor, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/victorgoldrushdays

Jul – Gold Rush Days – Celebrate Victor’s rich past, with a festival held over the weekend in mid-July. Highlights include mine tours and mining games, as well as live music, gold panning and tractor pulls.

Sep – Art Show – With over 50 local artists, awards, and a “brush rush” live painting event, this is a great place to engage with the Victor art scene.

Sep – Victor Pack Burro Race – A classic Western event paying homage to historic transportation by burros.

Sep – Rocky Mountain Rambler Fun-Fest – A unique event that includes picking up trash in the Pikes Peaks area, the Rocky Mountain Rambler Fun-Fest is for those who love strangely put-together vehicles, beer, and helping the environment.

Horses just before downtown.
Downtown consists of a few blocks.
More downtown.
The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum was constructed in 1889 and displays exhibits on the earlier life in Victor.
An old tow truck.
Motherlode Liquors and an odd bike advertising the Victor Downhill Gravity Race.
Victor's City Hall.
History on Victor.
More downtown.
This road in downtown is not even paved.
This road in downtown is not even paved.
Old advertisements for beer and cigars.
More downtown.
The Fortune Club was a famous gambling and whorehouse. The openings are the below the advertisement are for rolling kegs of beer into the basement.
"The Gold Bowl" soccer and football field.
More downtown.
A modern day mine down the road from town.
Old mines line the hill below the modern day mining.
Victor is truly the "City of Mines".
Entering downtown.
Victor Avenue.
Restaurants and shops on the main drag.
Victor Lowell Thomas Museums displays life in town.
Old advertisements for beer and cigars on left.
Fortune Club was a famous gambling hall built in 1899.
Elk across from City Hall.
Dirt road one block from the main street.3
Former City Hall located outside town near Vindicator Valley, probably for the mining camp of Independence.
Modern day mining operations, just down the road from town. Vindicator Valley is on opposite side.

Activities near Victor

Federal Lands:

  • Pike National Forest

Ghost Towns:

  • Goldfield (1mi)
  • Skagway Power Plant (9mi)

Landmarks:

  • Gold Camp Road Tunnels (16mi)

Mine Tours:

  • Mollie Kathleen Mine (2mi)
  • Vindicator Valley Trail (7mi)

Museums:

  • Cripple Creek Heritage Center (8mi)
  • Outlaws & Lawmen Museum (5mi)
  • Victor Lowell Thomas Museum

Public Parks:

  • South Slope Recreation Area (15mi)

Railroads:

  • Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad (5mi)

Scenic Drives:

  • Gold Belt Tour Byway
  • Golden Loop Historic Parkway
  • Phantom Canyon Road (15mi)

State Parks:

  • Eleven Mile State Park (38mi)
  • Mueller State Park (19mi)
  • Spinney Mountain State Park (48mi)

State Wildlife Area:

  • Skaguay Reservoir SWA (6mi)

Towns:

  • Cañon City (55mi)
  • Cripple Creek (5mi)
  • Woodland Park (27mi)

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