Print
E-mail
Comment
New road to scenic overlook opens in 2009
Special to the Courier
Visitors seeking a top-of-the-world view will have a new route through historic mining country starting this month.
The road to the American Eagles Scenic Overlook near Victor has been rerouted to accommodate an expansion of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company operations. The relocation of the road to keep open the overlook, which is a popular tourist destination in southern Teller County, was negotiated in 1998 as part of the plans for mine expansion. CC&V has worked with Teller County, who leases the site as a county park, and the Southern Teller County Focus Group who maintains the interpretive signs and markets the site, to keep the site open by rerouting the access. Access will revert back to Victor once mining operations have been completed, an estimated five years.
The old access, from Victor’s Diamond Avenue, will close this month when the new route opens. The old American Eagles Road will continue to be open to just past the Independence Mine and Battle Mtn. Trail, providing access to those trails and historic sites.
The new access begins on Bull Hill about one mile north of Victor. County Road 831, which once was open through the town of Independence, will be partially reopened and connect to the existing upper American Eagles Road. Signs with maps for the new route will be placed at the intersection of the old road and Diamond Avenue and at the new intersection with County Road 81 and County Road 831, which has for the past few years been used as access to the Vindicator Valley Trail and Mine. New brochures and flyers will also be provided locally to guide visitors.
CC&V has been dedicated to keeping the overlook open throughout the expansion process. “CC&V is pleased to be able to keep the American Eagles overlook open during the mining operations. This is such a unique site, giving visitors a first hand look at modern and historic mining operations that they don't have the chance to see anywhere else,” said Larry Newcomer, general manager of CC&V.
“We thank CC&V for their efforts to preserve the 1890s American Eagles Mine site and for their willingness to maintain access to this important heritage tourism site,” said Ruth Zalewski, president of the focus group. “This new route will also help us showcase the Vindicator Mine site which is located along the American Eagles access road.”
The Vindicator Mine is an 1890’s mine along the Trails of Gold, a Southern Teller County Focus Group and CC&V project that includes six hiking trails through historic mining country. The Vindicator Mine is also a trailhead for the 2-mile loop Vindicator Valley Trail.
For information, call Jane Mannon at 719-689-4044 or to download a map of the new access road, visit victorcolorado.com.
Visitors seeking a top-of-the-world view will have a new route through historic mining country starting this month.
The road to the American Eagles Scenic Overlook near Victor has been rerouted to accommodate an expansion of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company operations. The relocation of the road to keep open the overlook, which is a popular tourist destination in southern Teller County, was negotiated in 1998 as part of the plans for mine expansion. CC&V has worked with Teller County, who leases the site as a county park, and the Southern Teller County Focus Group who maintains the interpretive signs and markets the site, to keep the site open by rerouting the access. Access will revert back to Victor once mining operations have been completed, an estimated five years.
The old access, from Victor’s Diamond Avenue, will close this month when the new route opens. The old American Eagles Road will continue to be open to just past the Independence Mine and Battle Mtn. Trail, providing access to those trails and historic sites.
The new access begins on Bull Hill about one mile north of Victor. County Road 831, which once was open through the town of Independence, will be partially reopened and connect to the existing upper American Eagles Road. Signs with maps for the new route will be placed at the intersection of the old road and Diamond Avenue and at the new intersection with County Road 81 and County Road 831, which has for the past few years been used as access to the Vindicator Valley Trail and Mine. New brochures and flyers will also be provided locally to guide visitors.
CC&V has been dedicated to keeping the overlook open throughout the expansion process. “CC&V is pleased to be able to keep the American Eagles overlook open during the mining operations. This is such a unique site, giving visitors a first hand look at modern and historic mining operations that they don't have the chance to see anywhere else,” said Larry Newcomer, general manager of CC&V.
“We thank CC&V for their efforts to preserve the 1890s American Eagles Mine site and for their willingness to maintain access to this important heritage tourism site,” said Ruth Zalewski, president of the focus group. “This new route will also help us showcase the Vindicator Mine site which is located along the American Eagles access road.”
The Vindicator Mine is an 1890’s mine along the Trails of Gold, a Southern Teller County Focus Group and CC&V project that includes six hiking trails through historic mining country. The Vindicator Mine is also a trailhead for the 2-mile loop Vindicator Valley Trail.
For information, call Jane Mannon at 719-689-4044 or to download a map of the new access road, visit victorcolorado.com.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
