Isle of Capri Casino

Black Hawk

by Tableaux1

"Ameristar Casino"

This scenic town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is expanding rapidly due to legalized gaming. You'll find everything you would expect in a Las Vegas Casino on a smaller scale. Some fairly nice hotels have opened here for those who don't want to make the 35 minute drive back to Denver after a long evening of gaming.

"Ameristar Casino"

Construction at Ameristar.

Blackhawk/Central City

by Lyn_2

These are the twin mining towns west of Denver which had a rich mining history during the Gold Rush. Today, they have been converted into low stakes gambling towns. This is the view of the entrance to the Central City Opera House.

**** For more photos of Blackhawk and neighboring Central City....click on my travelogue!!! ****

Blackhawk

by Lyn_2

Jazz Alley Casino is one of the old victorians which has been converted into a gambling hall.

The Richman Casino....sure! You may be rich when you go inside, but you probably won't leave feeling very rich. :)

The face of Blackhawk has changed recently (unfortunately) with the building of big modern casinos...such as this one (The Lodge). I guess if I struck it rich in here, I'd like it a lot better.

One of many abandoned cabins in Blackhawk.

Lovely abandoned Victorian style home and a very dubious bridge to go with it.

"Central City"

Historic Central City was a booming Gold Rush town in it's hey day. Then it was a touristy attraction for many years. The shops and restaurants/bars, were popular for Denverites. In recent years, it's been transformed into a gambling town. With the competition from nearby Blackhawk, Central City has fallen into hard times. Many of the small casinos have gone bankrupt, but the rest are hanging on. There is one casino (The Teller House) which is famous for the painting of a woman's face on the barroom floor.

These are the gates to the "Old Cemetery" outside Central City. It's not fancy, nor is it groomed, but it's interesting to see the old gravesites. Many are dated to the 1800's.

The man who is buried here died when he was only 21 yrs. old in the mid 1800's. It makes me curious to know more. There are quite a few grave markers for infants, too. If you look at the dates, you can tell that there must have been terrible illnesses that ravaged the community at certain times.

A Central City casino which is inside an old western building on the main street.

One of the gift shops which is housed in an old original Central City building.

A little artwork in one of the shop windows.