70 replies to this topic

[Cyn]

Hi Earth Spirit!

Loved the picture taken by your mom. I adored Cripple Creek and think of it often. I hope to return there someday. I visited there twice, as well as other places in Colorado. I remember the first time I went there (it was in August)...the town was shrouded in mist and rain and the locals were talking about snow. This was my first time out West, so for me, that was unheard of...Snow in August?!. We bought a couple of rain ponchos and went on our merry way. We took a ride on the narrow gauge railroad. That was a hoot because the windows of the train kept frosting over with condensation and they gave us our own individual rags to wipe them down with so we could see the sights. It was a blast. We only spent the day there at that time, but the following year we returned and stayed at the Imperial Hotel..where we encountered the famous "George".

I remember we visited the next town over, Victor, and the mules were running rampant in the streets. We had stopped our car to take a look and the next thing you know there were these huge mule heads in our car. They were so adorable. We fed them some "airline" apples and cheese that we had handy and they were thrilled. The car behind us got a great video of our car...there was the back end of a mule sticking out of the driver's side window and another back end of a mule sticking out of the passenger's side. Their two heads were inside the car with us. It was hysterical. I have some pictures someplace. When I dig them up, I'll post them. My mule looked like Mr. Ed. Great memories of Colorado!!!

[earth_spirit]

Cyn, I have to admit to having a fascination with Cripple Creek myself. Despite the fact that the hair stands up on the back of my neck every time I go there, it's still a lot of fun.

So you met Cripple Creek's most famous residents -- the wandering herd of wild donkeys. These animals are purported to be the descendants of the donkeys that worked in the gold mines before electricity arrived in Cripple Creek. The donkey herd wanders back and forth between Cripple Creek and Victor, eating what they want, whether its your lawn, your flowers or your trash. A local civic organization maintains a feeder for them in the city park, and God help anyone who harms one of them!

As you found out, tourists often make the mistake of rolling down car windows and offering some sort of "goodie" to the donkeys. The next thing the poor tourists know, there are 6 donkey heads inside the car waiting for the food. We used to call this the "Cripple Creek tourist trap." Try to get a donkey's head out of your car after you've just fed it . . . oh, that's right, you have! LOL!

While distressing for the tourists, it's extremely entertaining for the locals

They like to get drunk, too. Often times the "drippings" from all the beer cans tossed in the dumpsters behind the casinos will seep out onto the ground, and the donkeys slurp it up! They tend to get a bit wobbly-legged when they do that for some reason

Edited by earth_spirit, 23 May 2007 - 12:49 PM.

[Cyn]

Hi Earth Spirit,

First of all, let me offer my sincerest condolences on the passing of your wife. I was so sorry to hear that sad news. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one. It takes a long time to mend. I hope that you are doing the best you can under the circumstances. You have a lot of friends and support here at GV and we're always here for you if you need us.

Regarding the Donkey situation at Cripple Creek. I loved it. I wasn't upset at all by it. I thought it was hysterical, and one of my fondest memories. I never knew that they were the actual descendents of the donkeys that worked in the gold mines. That was an interesting fact to learn. Thanks for the info. I also was amused to learn that they like to tipple. Imagine trying to get 6 drunken donkey heads out of your car In all seriousness, they were adorable and I just loved meeting up with them. I seem to have a thing for donkeys. I go camping every October in the Catskill mountains NY, and once in awhile I make a visit to the Game Farm. I go into the "Petting Zoo" like a big kid and mingle with the animals. There was this one donkey that followed me around wherever I went. I fell in love with him, he was the sweetest thing. If I ever owned a farm, I would love to have a donkey. I doubt that will ever happen...but I can dream.

I understand what you mean about being in love with Cripple Creek, yet at the same time feeling spooked. It is a fascinating place where you feel the history and energy all around you...negative and positive.

Anyway, I hope to return there in the future. This June I am heading back to Vegas for 6 days, so Cripple Creek is not on the menu for this year. Maybe next year.

Take care Earth Spirit & Stay Well.

Talk to you soon,

Cyn

[earth_spirit]

Quote

First of all, let me offer my sincerest condolences on the passing of your wife. I was so sorry to hear that sad news. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one. It takes a long time to mend. I hope that you are doing the best you can under the circumstances. You have a lot of friends and support here at GV and we're always here for you if you need us.

Thanks, Cyn

Well, you'll be happy to know that I recently made a quick trip to Colorado, and I knew I couldn't leave without zipping through Cripple Creek to take a few pictures and to spend at least one night at the Imperial Hotel. I will admit though that I was a big chicken. Before going to bed, I announced to one Mr. George Long that I was tired, and I was not going to put up with any of his paranormal nonsense Then I went to bed--with the lights and TV on!!! Even still, I somehow managed to wake up every hour on the hour between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM when finally decided it was time to get up and tour the town.

Anyhow, I shot quite a few pictures which I'll post on other boards. But for right now, here are few pictures of the Imperial Hotel:
(click on the thumbnails to view a larger picture)
The Imperial Hotel - March 2006
My Room (Pretty ritzy for $40 a night!)


More of my room
The second floor
The staircase to the third floor
The third floor
The heater

No, it's not a headless ghost

[earth_spirit]

Here's another picture I wanted to share with you:



This is a picture of George and Ursela Long in the Imperial's lobby circa 1910


Here's a shot taken from just about the spot in 2006.

Can you see the wooden call box just below the Exit sign in the bottom picture? Did you notice that it's in the top picture, as well? Guests would pull a lever in their rooms, and it would cause a little tab with their room number to pop up in the call box. The desk clerk would then dispatch someone to the room. Pretty hi-tech stuff for the 1890's, huh?

[Medicus]

Wow That is amazeing that the Auther of a book i just bought in on these fourms. GREAT BOOK!

[Mist]

This is interesting! Craig Nelson hasn't changed much.

[earth_spirit]

It seems that Cyn and I aren't the only ones who've had strange experiences at the Imperial Hotel. I received an e-mail today with this rather interesting story from a lady who visited my website:

Quote

I stayed in the Imperial last year with my mother. I was lying in bed and watching television. I know I was wide awake. All of a sudden, a shadow that appeared to be the silhouette of a man went across the television screen, briefly blocking parts of the picture. A few minutes later, the same thing happened. Strange.

So what did I tell you? George still likes the ladies

[Haunted Colorado]

earth_spirit, on Sep 8 2004, 10:55 AM, said:

Here's my first update for you, Jeff. This is a postcard from the Imperial Hotel circa 1950 showing the bar in the Gold Bar Room. It's the spot where Steve Mackin said the ghost of George Long was standing when the actor, Pat Sawyer, saw him.

You may also remember from my web site that Nick, one of the night porters, might have seen an apparition in this very same spot. The cabinet where the porters stored their cleaning supplies was located directly across from the bar behind that pillar on the right.

Also, I believe the bartender on the right is Wayne Mackin, Steve Mackin's father and owner of the Imperial Hotel from 1946 to 1991.

Great post and fascinating info about the Imperial Casino in Cripple Creek!

I went on a fantastic ghost tour in Cripple Creek- hosted by Rick Wood of the Last Dollar Inn:

((( Cripple Creek )))

I have been on a lot of ghost walks- but this one was one of the best that I have ever experienced.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

There are SO many haunted places in Cripple Creek. (Many more that are not listed on my website.)

Also, Author Kathi Mac Iver has written many excellent books on lots of haunted old places in town~ and she also gives lectures sometimes on the local hauntings.


Happy Hauntings!
Lindy

HAUNTED COLORADO

[earth_spirit]

Thanks for posting the info on the Cripple Creek ghost walks, Lindy. If I'm not mistaken, they normally run until October 31st every year. After that, it's just too darned cold!!!

Also, Rick Wood was one of the many people that Jeff Belanger interviewed while he was writing The World's Most Haunted Places, and his Last Dollar Inn (just across the street from the Imperial Hotel) was formerly the home of the famous astrologer, Linda Goodman. I've heard that the place has a paranormal history of its own . . . and it's for sale, too!

Yep, you can be owner/operator of your very own haunted B&B for a cool $700K

http://www.bbonline....amp;refstate=co

[earth_spirit]

I always enjoy hearing from people who visit my website about the Imperial Hotel. <--Click here

Here's part of an e-mail I got from a recent visitor:

Rich,

I worked Security at the Imperial from about April 1996 to around October 1996 and pulled that graveyard shift (by myself) on several occasions. I heard the story about George and one night while I was taking meter readings, one slot machine played by itself. I definitely felt being watched. Now, I am a Godly man but that freaked me.

On several other nights, I was taking meter readings and smelt the aroma of coconuts. Kind of like the smell in a pina colada. I worked day shifts and swing shifts, and never smelt that before. Only on the graveyard would I smell that.

The other place that I really didn't like being in was the surveillance room. I always felt being watched in there.

I heard of the stories of the stairwell and how George died in there but never had the opportunity to venture into the basement.

It's never a dull moment in beautiful downtown Cripple Creek

[RustyBeerCan]

Sorry, But the strange coconut smell is probably just the can of coconut air freshener in the count room.

I'm on the Imperial Casino drop team 4 nights a week and work the graveyard security shift 2 nights a week every third week.

There was a hotel guest that change a lot of light bulbs around, rearrange all the furniture in his room, plugged up toilets and sinks and flooded the upstairs, took pictures off the wall and stacked them up,
Moved furniture from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor and vise versa.
What a weirdo

Would anybody like to see a picture of the staircase where George got hit on the head?

[earth_spirit]

Quote

Sorry, But the strange coconut smell is probably just the can of coconut air freshener in the count room.

Yea, I figured if it was George, the room would smell like scotch By all accounts, Mr. Long liked to have a "wee drap" every now and then


I'm glad to hear that things haven't changed any at the Imperial. The place always did seem to attract the "eccentric" types. I'd be more than happy to share some of my stories with you

Of course, we'd like to see a picture of the staircase where George met his demise! When I stayed there back in March, I asked the night auditor if I could take some pictures in the dining room, and she got all bent out of shape and told me I had to stand in the doorway. Any additional pictures you'd like to contribute would be appreciated.

Welcome to GV, RustyBeerCan, and thanks for the update. Hope to hear more from you. I've been hoping that sooner or later someone from CC or the surrounding area would login so I could have a "Cripple Creek connection" who could verify some of experiences and perhaps add a few more tales. I have quite a few books on Cripple Creek lore, as well as a rather extensive collection of memorabilia from the Melodrama.

[RustyBeerCan]

Hi earth_spirit
I Loved reading the stories about George on your website

Working there last night and got a few pictures to share with you all.
the first couple are from a calender that was lying around that shows a glimps into the past.

Republic mine on Mary McKinney property cira 1900


4th of july on Bennett Ave back in 1898


Creekers Casino across Bennet Ave, photo from the breakroom window


The Colorado Grand Casino across Bennet Ave
They have a ghost over there and name is Maggie
I'm told Maggies resturant in the basement over there was a mortuary at one time

[Laurie Ann]

~Thank you, Rusty!!!! I especially loved the pictures from the calenders...I have this thing with old pictures! Welcome to GV by the way! My Grandma's name was Mary McKinney also...