Casino expansion in Cripple Creek has neighboring shops concerned over the new design
When you drive through the historic mining town of Cripple Creek, you notice every building has the same brick and mortar design. One casino is trying to change that.
Bronco Billy’s Casino is moving forward on a $100 million expansion that will add a new hotel, event center, parking garage and more. General manager Marc Murphy says it’s time for something different, “It was time for a change in Cripple Creek. We believe the new amenities will attract new clientele that will grow the market.” The Cripple Creek city council has approved the plans and Murphy says everything should be up and running by the summer of 2020.
The expansion will tear down some buildings, including the wooden amphitheater behind the casino, as well as part of 2nd street. However, that’s not what neighboring businesses are concerned about. Many say the glass panels and steel beams being used as part of the casino’s design goes against the historic look of the town. Tim Braun is one of the local business owners against the design says, the new design takes away part of the heart and soul of Cripple Creek, “What I’m opposed to is the non-historic part of the expansion.” Adding the current architecture of the town is what brings people to it. “We want to keep the historic preservation here in Cripple Creek because that is what brings people here.”
The concern now for local shops is that this could be the beginning of a new trend. That if other casinos do the same thing, then Cripple Creek could go from old west to new Vegas.
