Aug. 29, 2007 - 16:38 MDT

JELLIN�

Heather and I are used to roaming the ghost towns in our nearby hills, some of which have been turned into places of gaming establishments. In fact I think I heard that Blackhawk, Colorado had a sort of landslide the other day, seems like they were in the process of digesting a hill to make more flatland room for dollars to roll in.

In late June of 1943 we hiked down to Central City from where we were honeymooning in Apex and did the town up brown. The only thing we found open for business was the filling station grocery store at the edge of the highway in Blackhawk. Over the years it changed a bit, the old empty buildings gradually became occupied and Central City turned into a touristy place to spend money on gimcrack geegaws and such as well as eatin� and drinkin' stuff.

Then gambling fever hit and the citizens voted for it. Central City once again became a rip roaring place to squander cash. Funny thing happened on the way to the forum though - - most of the citizens who voted gambling in found that with taxes and expenses they couldn�t afford to live there any longer.

Blackhawk seemed to get the most of the traffic because Highway 119 fed by I-70 and US-6 goes right by it. Money talks and big money talks louder so the Central City biggies built a highway to Central City just the other side of Idaho Springs. A fantastic piece of engineering it was, too. Makes me wonder though if the town realized enough profit to pay for the highway ?

Anyhow, Heather and I have seen the resurrection of ghost towns here and there, Cripple Creek for one and it seeems to follow suit, take an oldie, wire it modern, gut the interior and put modern fixtures in and Open For Business.

We have been observing something a bit in the other direction near here. Somewhere in the mid seventies a place in our foothills opened up, a biggie it was, many buildings of Victorian style, had a big theater that featured old fashioned melodrama, had good food and good drinks as well. And all the tourist things one could think of were in shops there. As time went on a train up there came into being, and then a chair lift to the top of the hill feeding a downhill glide, makes a stomach turn to look at it as we drive up.

Last time we were up there it looked a bit seedy, but we had hopes that it could keep going as it was such a good place to take kids for their enjoyment.

In our peregrinations we went up there today. It is still open and some shops are doing business, the railroad is running, the Ferris wheel goes round and round - - - - yet - - - - we noted so very many shops no longer open and it seems to be seedier yet. School has started so about the only kids we saw having fun were little ones who were there with their folks. I saw one little boy full of the joy of life do something that touched my heart, wide open, happy faced he put his all in skipping across the parking lot, wholly enjoying himself and his new found skill. At least that is the way it looked to me.

What a wondrous location, with scenery along the Hogback (where the Red Rocks Ampitheater is) far to the south, views of the mountains and plains.

Perhaps some big name entertainer (Paging Dolly Parton) can hopefully buy the place out and make it once again a happy prosperous place to go. I do so hope there is something big Jellin� . . . . . . . . . . . .

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