The Central City / Black Hawk area is
a 45 minute drive - Northwest of Denver, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
For decades, Central City was a popular mountain destination for Denverites,
when the
Central City Opera was in season! When Gaming was
introduced in Colorado, the focus changed. Gaming was strong in
Central City, and then the adjoining town of Black Hawk "took
over," mostly because of it's geographic location on the main access
road: You pass through Black Hawk to get to Central City. The
First casinos in the area were Mom and Pop
Victorian storefronts. The Major Players made a move in the 90's and
continue to build into and up the mountain side. Full gaming,
upscale restaurants and shows are now offered. Is it a change for
better or...
Something was lost and something was
gained. The sleepy charm of the quaint Mountain Villages is
gone. Many locals are displeased with this turn of events. On
the other hand, loads of transplants to Colorado are thrilled with the
reality of casinos in their backyard. Central City might, by
default, regain what was lost and return to being an "Opera town," with a
new twist: Wolfgang Puck serving food down the street. For some
of the locals who stayed on, the sound of a dog barking at midnight, being
replaced with the horn honking sound of a BMW or a limousine heading down
the mountain is, I'm sure, disappointing. For some of the
gamblers, restaurant patrons or other customers who might be going to a
show, a great escape from Denver, for a few hours, is greatly welcomed, if
not needed. BC
("You win some, you loose some and the rest get rained out." J.A.)
1.)
Approaching CC Parkway from I-70
2.)
Central City Parkway 3.)
Approach into Central City - Gold mine tailings above right.
Update - March 10, 2005 -
I just tried out the new route to Central City, which is about a
thirty minute drive West on I-70 to the Central City turn off, then
about another eight miles on the new four lane (no-median-strip)
highway which takes you directly into Central City...Black Hawk is just on the other
side of Central City...
It is certainly a
faster drive and the somewhat unnerving (especially when there's snow,)
snaking curves, parallel to the creek are bypassed. The new highway
is on fairly flat land - all the way. All said, I think the new route
is more inviting and will make, at least , some people more inclined to
visit Central City and Black Hawk. In the days and
nights of warmer weather, the old route will still be available for a
longer, more romantic drive.
This drive is approx. 40 miles (45 minutes) from downtown
Denver to Central City.
[The drive is
mostly on divided 4-lane I-70 cutting through the mountains.]
On the Ride Up from Denver - West 6th Avenue to
Colorado 119 to Black Hawk & CC:
From West 6th Avenue & I-25,
it's about a 60 minute drive to Black Hawk and Central City:
Drive west on West 6th Avenue
through Golden where there is a turnoff for US 6 at about the 18 mile mark
(about 25-30 minutes.) Continue on US 6 until you reach Colorado
119, then on to Black Hawk and Central City.
The scenery is beautiful,
however there are not many attractions other than the scenery, here are a
few:
At about the 17.7 mile point
there is a turn off for
Buffalo Bill's Grave - at 19th St.
in Golden, Colorado [Phone:
(303) 526-0747.]
This is a side trip, you'll have to return to this point.
I you bypass Buffalo Bill's
Grave and continue on US 6, you will pass through a series of tunnels that
were bored "right" through the middle of their respective mountains.
RockyMountainRoads.com has photos & information.
Along the drive you'll have
the company of Clear Creek, Mayhem Creek or Indian Creek.
I'ts the same water with
different names at different locations. At the Texas Station Hotel /
Casino in Las Vegas, there is a floor-inlay inscription: "You can't step
into the same river twice." I think this applies.
[This drive - mostly on a two-lane highway
- is more picturesque, skirting
a mountain stream and cutting through fairly rugged wilderness.]
Read all About it: Rivalry between Central City & Blackhawk, history &
more...
"High
stakes in the high country:
A bitter rivalry
between Black Hawk and Central City spills onto the Front
Range"
