For some time now, i’ve been wanting to get back up to Black Hawk & Central City. Growing up, my Brother and I would visit Mom on the weekend when she lived up there. First in the Gilpin Hotel, then other parts of the towns after the fire. It was some wonderful memories not only of the Gilpin Hotel, but of Black Hawk and Central City. Remember there would be live music on the weekends ( Ron Berg was my Brothers favorite musician) at the hotel and my Brother and I had the run of the mill of the place. I had never been back to the Gilpin Hotel after it burned down (we were there the night of the fire) and after Mom left town, I never really spent much time in either towns. Sure, the Snow Pizza Run we have with the club is in the hills above Central City, but we always seem to cruse on through town and never stop.
Ever since Mom passed, the urge to get back up to these towns for a visit has seem to get stronger. Earlier in the year I thought it might be fun to go up to Black Hawk for a night with friends from the club for old times sake. Then Covid hit.
But thanks to a good pal from the club, I was able to get up there Friday for a fun day visit to both towns. We first stopped at the Gilpin Hotel for Lunch, then, through his efforts, got a tour of the Hotel. It has changed a lot since I was there last, main floor filled with slot machines and the hotel rooms on the second and third floors now a restaurant and office rooms for the staff. But I was glad to here that Lucille, the resident Ghost was still there (I tried to have a personal moment with Lucille and give her an update on Moms passing but the place was just to busy to do so).
After the tour of the Hotel, we drove up to Central City, as my friend had it set for us to meet the current Mayor of the town. It was fun to remissness about the time growing up in Black Hawk and Central City over a few beers with the Mayor. After, he gave us a personal tour of some of the vacant building in town. A real special treat for me and flattered my pal from the club took all the time to put this together.
Some absolute wonderful memories of the Gilpin Hotel as kids. Even the night it burned down is a strong memory- never did get to thank the fire fighter for saving our cat Bob.
Didn’t even now this existed, but a Submarine came out of these towns. A pretty cool story.
An absolute wonderful museum in Central City. Worth the visit.
A fun time hanging out with the Mayor of Central City while talking about the time spent growing up in both towns.
Getting a personal tour from the mayor of some of the vacant buildings. The red square in the roof was known as a “Glory Hole”. These two buldings were pretty dang awesome.
Apparently, per the Mayor, Bob Dylan played his first payed gig outside of the Twin Cities on this stage.
