Victor is a small Colorado town with a rich history and some unexpected gems

Photo byAuthor

(Colorado) Victor, Colorado, also known as the City of Mines, was once a bustling gold camp. Situated near Battle Mountain, it was home to some of the largest and wealthiest gold mines in the Cripple Creek Mining District.

Today, Victor is a historical gem.

The small town, with a population of about 359 people in 2024, is a well-preserved gold mining camp. Victor has no stoplights, very little traffic, and a rich history with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

Historic mining site along Vindicator Valley TrailPhoto byAuthor

The first gem is the Vindicator Valley Trail.

The trailhead is off of County Road 81, just outside town. The 2-mile loop passes numerous historic mining sites, and the ruins and relics are visible from the path.

The scenic trail is a well-maintained, loose gravel path with interpretive signs about mining history, Victor, and the Gold Rush.

After the short hike, drive to Victor to explore the historic downtown area.

At one time, there were close to 8,000 residents in the town. Victor had three railroad lines with about 58 trains departing a day.

It was a bustling town with a hospital, schools, churches, restaurants, saloons, and even an opera house.

Today, many of the historic buildings are still in use, and it feels like stepping back in time to walk through the downtown district. There are free maps with a self-guided walking tour at the Visitor Center (500 Victor Avenue) or outside the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum (298 Victor Avenue).

Victor Hotel in Victor, ColoradoPhoto byAuthor

On the tour, you will go past the Victor Hotel.

The original Victor Hotel and Restaurant was in a wood frame building destroyed during the 1899 fire. Across the street from the original structure, a large 4-story brick building was constructed - the first floor was First National Bank and the top three floors became the “new” Victor Hotel.

The hotel is still in operation today.

A unique feature of this turn-of-the-century building is an Otis elevator. The elevator was helpful when the fourth floor of the Victor Hotel became the town morgue.

In the winter months, when the ground was frozen, bodies were stored on the fourth floor until the ground thawed enough to dig the graves.

According to a staff member, the hotel basement has tunnels that go to other buildings in Victor. These tunnels allowed bodies to be transported underground.

Some say the hotel is haunted.

After checking out the hotel, head to Gold Camp Bakery (112 S. 3rd Street).

Cookies from Gold Camp Bakery in Victor, ColoradoPhoto byAuthor

Gold Camp Bakery is a bit of a hidden gem because there is not a lot of signage. The German-American bakery has been a Victor staple since 2012.

The cafe and deli serve breakfast and lunch, and the menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, and a large selection of baked goods. It is worth a stop.

The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum is up the street from the bakery. It is a well-curated history museum and another town gem.

Nikola Tesla Mural in Victor, ColoradoPhoto byAuthor

In addition to Victor's historic treasures, the town has some beautiful art, including a fantastic Nikola Tesla mural by Chad Bolsinger, a Colorado-based artist. The Tesla mural is on the back of The Black Monarch Hotel.

Victor is a small town with a rich history and some unexpected gems. It is a lesser-known Colorado treasure worth discovering, especially during the vibrant colors of fall.