VICTOR, COLO. -- Nestled behind the busy mountain town of Cripple Creek is the quiet, historical town of Victor.
Victor also found fame during the gold rush in the late 1800s. Both Bob Womack and Winfield Scott Stratton discovered gold and started the mining operations, and Victor soared to a healthy population and booming town. Then, in 1899, a fire destroyed the town, and all to be rebuilt a few months later. Many of the rebuilt buildings still remain in the town today.
After mining dwindled, Victor's population steadily declined. The town became shadowed by Cripple Creek, and today, the population is just more than 400. However, the town continues to build on its rich history, and they want to attract visitors to experience what mining was like. There are a few mining companies in the area that offer tours, and a web of hiking paths gives a feel for what life was like in the 1800s.
During Victor's heyday, many prominent figures spent significant time in the area, including Jack Dempsey and Lowell Thomas.
The old Victor school building still stands today, but the students have been consolidated to the Cripple Creek-Victor schools. The last graduating class was in the 1950s. Today, the building is home to the Rocky Mountain Soccer Camp, attracting kids from many miles away.
Victor benefits from the legalized gambling in Cripple Creek. Some of the revenue from the casinos has gone to grants that are funding the remodel of the museum.
Check out part of the raw interview with store owner and former miner "Gus" Conley as he explains a little bit about working at the mines.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKXRM