Coffee in a Beer Mug

Just a few hours from Denver, Cripple Creek, Colorado is one of our state's serendipitous secrets. For those who enjoy gambling in the way that you like it, an environment that is unpretentious and sincere, this is absolutely the place to discover. Colorado boasts only three towns for the gambling-inclined and although the other two are somewhat closer to Denver, their personalities and self-images are remarkably different.

On the last morning in Cripple Creek, a stop at the inevitable casino restaurant afforded the experience of coffee served in a beer mug. This was the ultimate signature statement, both for Cripple Creek and the restaurant that perpetuated the wild west ambiance pervading the facility. Never mind the fact that these were some of the best pancakes I've eaten or the fact that the heated maple syrup was served in a conventional coffee cup. The statement implied by the beer mug was manifestly obvious.

Where does it say that coffee should be served in small quantities, housed in dainty and non-old west mining town apparatus? Fortunately, this eating emporium was sufficiently wise to stay with who they are. Food was plentiful and made from scratch, staff was genuinely attentive and the entire experience at the Wildwood Casino guaranteed that at least two of us would be returning.

Cripple Creek is another of Colorado's mining towns that enjoyed its greatest prosperity as the county seat of Teller County and site of the last great Colorado gold rush in the 1890's. Although gold was mined until 2005, the 2000 census of Cripple Creek was 1115 sturdy citizens who work at the numerous casinos and town businesses. The word is that there's no more gold in Cripple Creek but the tourists seem to be consistent with replacing that mineral with others as well as with paper currency.

So many reasons exist to make time some time to visit Cripple Creek. The drive from anywhere is consistent with Colorado's reputation for magnificent mountain vistas. There is no room here for the snobby, the self-impressed or those seeking the glitz of much larger and more prominent gambling sites. You won't see big name entertainment, stretch limos or million dollar jackpots.

Although there is a lack of big casino bravado -- "Joe Lunchbucket of West Everywhere just won $100,000," it seems likely that some who gamble emerge on the positive end of the financial spectrum. No personal data exists to support this from my standpoint, but the concept of visiting casinos with the intention of leaving a big winner is probably science fiction.

Be sure to include a stop at Cripple Creek when you visit Colorado. The locals are genuinely hospitable, the accommodations are clean yet modest and this may be your only opportunity to have some shucks-by-God great java in a beer mug.