Creede, Colorado
“The Essence of the Rockies”
Top 100 Best Small Arts Town in America
Creede, Colorado is one of the fabled mining towns of the old Wild West, with
a history that runs deep. Though its population today is only 400, at its zenith
in the late eighteen hundreds the number of residents soared to more than 10,000
people as prospectors and miners swarmed in to make their fortunes in gold, zinc
and silver.
The quaint little town is located at the point where Willow Creek joins the
cascading Rio Grande River. This was where Nicholas J. Creede was panning along
a stream when he discovered ore that would give birth to the Holy Moses Mine.
According to legend, upon discovering the ore, Creede cried out: “Holy Moses.”
In the ensuing years gold, silver and zinc all were mined in the area, but
it was silver that made its lasting mark on the community. Of some note in Creede
is the legend of Bob Ford, the man who killed Jesse James. Ford successfully
ran a saloon in Creede until he was shot and killed in 1892.
Creede’s old mines and historical attractions continue to lure thousands of
tourists to the area each year. But the focus in Creede today is on quality of
life and a respect for the area’s natural beauty – both of which are major assets
used by Creede to reinvent it.
The area boasts five major ski resorts. Outdoor activities include world-class
hunting and trout fishing, as well as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sightseeing
and ice fishing.
Visit Creede’s Web site: www.creede.com,
or email: creede@amigo.net
Traveling to Creede:
Below are two images that give an overview of Creede's general location and
terrain. For directions from your location, you can find specific directions
to Creede via Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, or Map Quest.
Driving:
2.5 hours from Santa Fe, NM
4 hours from Albuquerque, NM
4.5 hours from Denver
80 miles from Gunnison, CO, airport
3.5 hours from Colorado Springs airport
