Gillett, Colorado emerged in 1894 during the Cripple Creek gold rush as a strategic railway hub with a population exceeding 1,000. You’ll find it gained notoriety as the “Monte Carlo of the West” with 24-hour saloons and hosted Colorado’s only authentic bullfight in 1895. The town declined rapidly after 1900, with only 30 residents by 1908 before being completely abandoned. A 1965 flood washed away most remaining structures, leaving scattered ruins and a neglected cemetery today.
Key Takeaways
- Gillett was a booming gold rush town established in 1894 near Cripple Creek, Colorado, with a peak population exceeding 1,000.
- Known as the “Monte Carlo of the West,” the town featured 24-hour saloons and hosted Colorado’s only authentic bullfight in 1895.
- The settlement served as a strategic railway transfer hub that facilitated ore processing and regional commerce.
- Gillett declined rapidly, collapsing from 1,800 residents in 1896 to just 30 by 1908, with its post office closing in 1913.
- A devastating 1965 flood destroyed remaining structures, leaving only scattered rubble and a neglected cemetery with up to 52 graves.
Gold Rush Origins: The Birth of Gillett in 1890s Colorado
When the Cripple Creek gold rush transformed the Colorado landscape in the 1890s, Gillett emerged as one of its supporting communities, officially platted on January 19, 1894.
You’ll find its location strategically placed about four miles from Cripple Creek—close enough to serve the booming mining district yet distinct from the central operations.
Gillett History reveals that founders selected the site for both its picturesque setting and practical proximity to mining activities.
The town quickly developed a thriving business district with a population exceeding 1,000 residents at its height.
The town gained national attention when it hosted the only bullfight in America in 1895, drawing curious spectators from surrounding communities.
The Mining Impact on Gillett was paradoxical—while the town existed specifically to support the gold extraction economy, its slight distance from the primary mines ultimately contributed to its vulnerability when the boom inevitably slowed. Like many Colorado mining settlements, Gillett experienced the boom and bust cycles that characterized the region’s gold rush era.
The Monte Carlo of the West: Gambling and Entertainment
You’d find Gillett’s saloons operating around the clock, serving miners and travelers with a constant stream of liquor, gambling, and social diversions.
The ambitious Monte Carlo Casino, though short-lived before being converted into a school, exemplified the town’s aspiration to become Colorado’s premier gambling destination.
Joe Wolfe, a prominent Cripple Creek businessman, played a significant role in Gillett’s casino scene, organizing controversial entertainment like the attempted 1895 bullfight—the only known event of its kind planned in the United States. His promotional schemes ultimately failed when the Colorado Humane Society issued an injunction against the bullfight, forcing organizers to use local farm bulls instead of fighting bulls.
The massive amphitheater built for the bullfighting spectacle was designed to accommodate 5,000 spectators, demonstrating the grand scale of entertainment ventures attempted in this small mining town.
24-Hour Saloon Culture
The nine saloons that dotted Gillette in 1896 formed the beating heart of this mining community, serving not merely as drinking establishments but as extensive social hubs for a population of approximately 1,500 residents.
You’d find these establishments clustered near main streets and mines, their simple interiors featuring wooden floors, bar counters, and billiards tables.
These saloons acted as informal courts, news centers, and venues for community gatherings where miners, gamblers, and locals converged. The Carissa Saloon earned recognition for its storytellers, while others hosted saloon entertainment ranging from card games to lively discussions. Many establishments featured the characteristic long wooden bars with ornate designs and large mirrors that were typical of Western saloons.
Beyond mere socializing, these establishments provided employment and economic support for the town.
The excessive criminal activity in these establishments contributed to the town’s notorious reputation throughout Colorado’s gold rush era.
When mining declined and gambling venues closed, Gillette’s social fabric quickly unraveled—proof of how central saloon culture was to frontier life.
Notorious Casino Operations
While saloons shaped Gillette’s daily social rhythm, the town’s ambitious gambling establishments defined its larger aspirations. The Woods brothers constructed the Monte Carlo Casino on a hill east of town, envisioning Gillette as the “Monte Carlo of the West.”
Despite grand ambitions for 20,000 residents, the remote location limited the town’s gambling culture and appeal to high rollers.
This failed western gambling mecca reveals:
- The casino’s impressive architecture quickly devolved into a repurposed schoolhouse
- Games like faro, brag, and three-card-monte dominated tables but failed to generate lasting wealth
- The economic freedom promised by gambling enterprises collapsed under Cripple Creek’s competition
- No documented gambling scandals exist, suggesting operations were legitimate if short-lived
The infamous Soapy Smith operated gambling operations outside the 1895 bullfight event, causing financial losses for many attendees.
Among the notable establishments was a hotel and casino owned by Joseph H. Wolfe, who was also involved in organizing the town’s historic bullfight.
The Monte Carlo Casino exemplified frontier optimism but ultimately couldn’t sustain Gillette’s dreams against the harsh realities of boom-bust economics.
The Infamous 1895 Bullfight: Colorado’s Only Matador Spectacle
In late August 1895, Gillette’s dusty mining landscape became the unlikely stage for what historians consider Colorado’s only authentic Mexican-style bullfight—an audacious three-day spectacle that would ultimately end in controversy, financial ruin, and arrests.
Promoter Joe Wolfe, self-appointed “El Presidenté,” constructed an arena seating thousands and imported Mexican matadors for the event. The bullfight controversy erupted when spectators realized ordinary Hereford cattle—not trained Spanish bulls—were facing traditional weapons like spears and rapiers.
Matador challenges mounted as the confused American bulls failed to behave like their Spanish counterparts. The Colorado Humane Society, led by Secretary Francis Hill, actively protested against the event through editorials and letters to authorities. Despite the steep five-dollar admission, thousands attended, though many forged tickets significantly reduced the expected revenue. The event drew approximately 5,000 spectators who were largely appalled by the mistreatment of the bulls.
Sheriff Bowers eventually halted the event after two days, arresting Wolfe and the matadors. You can still find ruins of this cultural clash that recovered merely $1,800 of Wolfe’s substantial investment.
Economic Boom: Railway, Commerce, and Mining Connections
When you stand at the site of Gillett today, you’re witnessing the remains of what was once an essential railway hub where the Midland Terminal first penetrated the Cripple Creek mining district on July 4, 1894.
The town quickly developed into a commercial center with plans for a $150,000 railway hotel station, multiple businesses serving travelers, and strategic connections to the mining operations through stagecoach services to Victor and Cripple Creek.
Gillett’s economic significance extended beyond passenger transport to include ore processing, with a dedicated railway spur built to an ore reduction plant and the Co-Operative Brick Company supplying construction materials throughout the region.
Railway Prosperity Hub
Three critical railroad developments transformed Gillette into a thriving economic center during the late 19th century mining boom.
The 1894 connection from Divide to Cripple Creek positioned Gillette as a strategic transfer hub, while the standard gauge Midland Terminal Railway eliminated costly gauge changes, revolutionizing transportation efficiency.
W.K. Gillett’s partnership in creating this essential spur line directly facilitated railway expansion throughout the region.
You’ll understand Gillette’s economic significance when considering:
- The dramatic reduction in ore transport costs that increased mining profitability
- The rush of land purchases as investors capitalized on railroad-driven commerce
- The seamless connection between mines and processing facilities that overcame mountain terrain
- The competitive railway environment that continuously improved freight services
Gold-Fueled Business District
Gillette’s railway prominence quickly generated a vibrant business district fueled by the region’s extraordinary gold wealth. The town thrived as a crucial transfer hub between rail lines and stagecoach routes to Cripple Creek, where gold-telluride ores catalyzed unprecedented economic impact across the area.
You’ll find that local commerce extended beyond mining operations to include shops servicing the Midland Terminal Railway, the Lincoln Mine, and the King of Diamonds mines.
The Beaver Park Stamp Mill and Gillett Reduction Works created essential employment while processing ore transported via the strategic rail spur.
Commercial infrastructure expanded with the establishment of a post office in 1894, entertainment venues including a racetrack and casino, and various service businesses catering to miners and travelers.
This gold mining ecosystem supported Gillette’s prosperity until declining yields and global conflicts ultimately undermined its economic foundation.
Daily Life in a Wild West Boomtown
Although established with grand aspirations during the Colorado gold rush, Gillette exemplified the quintessential Wild West boomtown experience, where daily life unfolded amid a chaotic blend of opportunity and hardship.
Daily routines revolved around the railroad schedule, with the Midland Terminal Railway connecting residents to supplies and ore transport at milepost 041.3. Social dynamics flourished across eighteen saloons and three dance halls, while basic amenities like the post office and newspapers kept this isolated community connected.
- You’d rise with the mining shifts, traversing unpaved streets from simple log cabins to the bustling business district.
- Your evenings might include rowdy entertainment at the Monte Carlo gambling club or Sportsman’s Park.
- You’d witness the stark class divisions between transient miners and wealthy entrepreneurs.
- Your security remained tenuous with the boomtown’s limited law enforcement.
From Prosperity to Decline: The Slow Exodus
The boom times that fueled Gillette’s vibrant social scene eventually gave way to a protracted decline that emptied the once-promising settlement.
By 1908, the population had collapsed from its 1896 peak of nearly 1,800 residents to just 30 souls, illustrating the rapid population migration away from failing opportunities.
The town’s unfortunate location—four miles from Cripple Creek’s richer mines—sealed its fate. As mining operations dwindled, an economic transformation swept through the area.
Geography became destiny as Gillette languished in the shadow of Cripple Creek’s more profitable goldfields.
In 1911, the Vetter family purchased much of Gillette’s land for ranching, plowing under streets and burning structures to clear pastureland.
The federal government acknowledged the town’s demise when it closed the post office in 1913. Former residents even relocated graves, a poignant sign that the exodus was permanent.
Natural Disasters and Final Abandonment
While human activity had steadily diminished Gillette’s presence in the early 1900s, nature delivered the final blow to this once-thriving mining settlement. The 1965 flood, triggered by a dam break, washed away most remaining structures, completing the physical erasure of the town.
This catastrophic event followed decades of gradual deterioration, including the 1952 St. Dimas Chapel fire and the Catholic Church burning in 1949.
- The Midland Terminal Railway’s 1948 abandonment severed the town’s last crucial connection
- Environmental forces reclaimed the landscape as the valley was plowed under for pasture
- By the 1960s, complete abandonment transformed the area into “Gillett Flats”
- Today, only scattered rubble and foundations remain where a community once thrived
These natural disasters and final abandonment effectively erased Gillette from the landscape, leaving behind only faint traces of its existence.
What Remains Today: Cemetery and Lost Structures
Despite Gillette’s near-complete erasure from the Colorado landscape, faint whispers of its existence endure for those who know where to look.
The cemetery, visible from Highway 67 near Gillette Flats, contains up to 52 interments but suffers from severe neglect. Cattle have trampled most graves, with only Mable Collins Bassard‘s wooden marker from 1896 remaining intact.
Structural remnants are equally sparse. You’ll find just the Burfind Hotel foundation and brick columns from the Catholic church whose pews relocated to Cripple Creek.
St. Dimas Chapel, once the last standing structure, burned in 1952, leaving only rubble. The 1911 conversion to ranchland and 1965 flooding eliminated most evidence of the town’s existence.
Cemetery preservation remains challenging as the site sits on private property, requiring landowner permission for access.
Legacy of a Colorado Ghost Town: Historical Perspectives
Once a vibrant hub of mining activity and frontier entertainment, Gillette now exists primarily through historical documentation rather than physical presence on Colorado’s landscape.
From boomtown to historical footnote, Gillette’s vivid frontier legacy survives only in yellowed records and fading memories.
The town’s cultural impact and historical significance resonate through academic research and ghost town studies, particularly in Jan MacKell Collins’s detailed chronicles.
You’ll find Gillette’s legacy preserved through:
- Accounts of its notorious 1895 “bullfight” debacle that exemplifies frontier entertainment gone wrong
- Documentation of its economic rise and fall tied directly to gold mining’s boom-bust cycle
- Records of its unusually concentrated entertainment venues (25 saloons, gambling halls) for a small population
- Analysis of its strategic positioning as a rail terminal that temporarily fostered economic prosperity before ultimately failing to sustain the community
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Any Famous Outlaws Known to Frequent Gillett?
Like sand through history’s sieve, outlaw sightings in Gillett remain scarce. You won’t find famous outlaws documented there—only Soapy Smith, Joe Wolfe, and Arizona Charlie, historical figures known for cons rather than traditional outlawry.
What Caused the Initial Population Decline Before the Floods?
You’ll find mining’s decline drove Gillett’s initial exodus—gold became uneconomical to extract, creating ripple effects. Geographic isolation, paired with the town’s rowdy social reputation, accelerated your freedom-loving predecessors’ departure by 1908.
Are There Any Haunting Legends Associated With Gillett?
Like whispers through abandoned streets, Gillett harbors rich ghostly sightings. You’ll find local folklore mentioning apparitions near the cemetery, church ruins, and stories of Mable Bassard’s haunted grave marker after the 1895 bullfight tragedy.
Did Gillett Ever Attempt to Incorporate as an Official City?
No evidence exists of any incorporation attempts. Historical records show Gillett remained an unincorporated mining settlement, prioritizing commerce and entertainment over formal city governance throughout its short-lived incorporation history.
What Happened to the Town’s Gold Mining Equipment?
Like gold dust in the wind, Gillette’s mining equipment vanished through systematic relocation, salvage operations, and scrapping. You’ll find most valuable machinery was sold or transferred to more productive mining sites when operations ceased.
References
- https://kekbfm.com/colorado-ghost-towns-gillett-gilman/
- https://www.coloradocentralmagazine.com/gillett-colorado-not-such-a-sharp-idea/
- http://mr_sedivy.tripod.com/colorado48.html
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/gillett/
- https://janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/category/gillett-colorado/
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/gillett.html
- https://www.coloradopast.com/index.php?category=ghosttowns&subcategory=central&selection=Gillette
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyQRFlXhwTk
- https://www.tellercounty.gov/395/Teller-County-History
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cripple_Creek_Gold_Rush
