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Creed • Located between Colorado’s majestic San Juan Mountains and the enchanting San Luis Valley. Overlooked by rugged granite walls, this place tells an exaggerated story of the past. It is the place that inspired Cy Warman, the so-called “poet laureate of the Rocky Mountains,” and many other artists whose beautiful scenery still moves us more than a century later.
The sign welcoming you to Creede reads “The LAST Great Place.”
What makes the town that way? We once went around asking questions.
“It’s remote and quiet,” said one local.
You can see it in this town, which in recent years has had fewer than 300 annual residents. Get a feel for the same town where Nicholas Creed rose to prominence in the 1890s. He is credited with starting the silver boom here.
Creed certainly feels trapped in time. But he’s not always quiet.
Just as the town was bustling with people during the mining rush, it returns to life in the summer. No matter how remote the place may be, the words are published in “The LAST Great Place.”
back in time
In 1891, a down-on-his-luck miner named Theodore Renninger is said to have been traded to Creed. He intended to dig one last time before catching the train to leave town, and the story records his last fateful swing of the hammer.
Last Chance Mine is currently offering tours that take guests deep underground into the amethyst veins mined by Renninger. Over the course of 40 minutes, your guide will tell you stories that bring the geology and past to life.
This is not the only tour of its kind. Tour the equipment and exhibits along the tunnels that make up the Creed Underground Mining Museum.
big city luxury
It’s been called a “theater oasis” or “Broadway in the Rockies.” That’s Creed his repertory theater. During the summer, actors from big cities come to perform plays.
You might find a different side of the metropolis at Arp’s, which serves gourmet dining inside the historic Creede Hotel. The rest of the dining scene isn’t fancy, but instead seeks familiar and favorite dishes and atmosphere. Tacos from Kips Grill, BBQ from Tommyknocker Tavern, and hot dogs from the nostalgic Best Little Dog House.
A hardware store doesn’t seem like a good first stop for a shopper, but that’s the case with Tompkins Hardware and Lumber, a time capsule dating back to 1892. Among several gift shops and galleries, Creed Olive Oil Company stands out with its unique atmosphere. Promise: “All to create delicious and exotic meals.” Also notable is Wonder Off His Broadway, a clothing and local merchandise store across the street from the theater.
see the famous places
The Bachelor Loop is a rugged 17-mile drive through the canyon that made Creede famous. This drive is a photographer’s dream, with old mining shafts and structures on display amidst stunning natural surroundings.
Another must-see drive. Follow the Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byway (Colorado 149) about 40 miles west of town to North Clear Creek Falls. The huge waterfall can be seen pouring over the cliff from the observation deck, making it the perfect spot for a picnic.
Additionally, there are efforts that are much more complex and doubly valuable. The U.S. Forest Service calls the 14-mile trek to the Wheeler geological area “extreme.” It requires the right rig and four-wheel drive know-how.
You can also follow the East Bellows Trail, backpacking nearly 11 miles into an otherworldly realm of colorful rock spiers. Camping is permitted just outside the geological area.
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