Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour

Great tour! Over the years I’ve done most of the mines and caves in Colorado and this is one of my favorites! The ride down was a bit motion sickness –inducing, but the mine is nice and open!
Learned about mining back in the day and had an awesome guide. Definitely worth the money!

Great one hour tour. A little pricey ($ 20 per person) but definitely worth it.
You ride down a thousand feet in a tiny hydraulic mining elevator and get a mine tour of a portion of the original mine including demonstrations of various equipment that was and still is being used in mines.
Your tour guide is a minor and ours had a ton of experience and this is a way for them to continue imparting their knowledge. The bad part is that they are considered similar to waiters and servers and get paid less than minimum wage so if your tour guide is good (ours was!) remember to tip.

I went on this tour with my sisters and our stepmom and we had so much fun. Everything was really fun and educational; it was awesome. The only reason I am giving this review 4 stars is because of the snooty lazy looking girls they have working in their gift shop.
As a joke, and to get revenge on me having already played the prank, my sisters tossed a couple pebbles on top of a port-​a-​potty they had sitting out back (which by the way were DISGUSTING and to the point of overflowing. Gross.) while I was in it because of what our clever father taught us: «If you’re ever at a port-​a-​potty with some friends, pick up some pebbles and just toss it right on top, it won’t seem like much to you but to the person inside, it’ll sound like World War 3 just started and scare the crap right out of them.» (go ahead and try it, it’s actually really fun lol). Anyways, this lady saw us from the window while we were busting up laughing and I noticed her stare but I ignored it. Until one of the guys, yes she had to get someone else do her dirty work for her (I know this because as we tried to explain ourselves he clearly said «Look, I don’t know what happened, I’m just relaying the message»), came up to tell us to stop «damaging the property». This really pissed us off, they were very small pebbles, not boulders, and no one threw anything at their building. Whatever, we were done anyways. So as we had to wait for our tour for another 40 minutes or so, we got some snacks and ate outside, unfortunately in view of her window. She stared us down so hard! Stink eye and all. She stared dead on, from the corner of her eyes, she watched us walk around. Honestly, it was the worst and absolutely ridiculous! So when she went to use the port-​a-​potty you could imagine what we had planned for her. (jokes, jokes, people) We obviously behaved ourselves though, we didn’t want to end up «accidentally trapped» 1,000 ft. underground. I had it in mind to ask if she had a problem (after we took our tour to avoid the possibility of getting kicked out or anything) but once the tour was finished I was in such a good mood again I didn’t care and waved goodbye as stink eye watched us leave. I’m glad their tour guides have better attitudes than their general staff, that’s all I’m saying.

One of the highlights of our trip. Our tour guide was a third-​generation miner so it was not like having just a guide telling you about it but rather someone who’s been working in the mines his whole life showing you what it’s really like.
You ride a small elevator down 1000 feet with several people packed into it so it might be slightly claustrophobic for some. But it only lasted about a minute and a half and once you were down in the mine it was very open and well lit. You spent about half the one hour tour doing some light walking and the other half riding a little tram they have.
The mine is located just as you start coming into the town of Cripple Creek. Definitely worth the trip!

Really enjoyed an educational and fun tour. Excellent mining techniques thru different time periods (chisels to nitro…) was very good perspective for the kids.

I really enjoyed the tour to this mine. I am not new to mines and have visited several around the world. I always manage to find something unique to each one of them. The scariest part in this visit was the descent to the mine itself. The ride down the elevator was interesting to say the least. I am only going to mention that I was glad that the person behind me who was pressing his ‘below the belt items’ to me was the same person I am married to o_​O
That’s a bit too close for comfort. I am not sure what I would think if I was to be in such close quarters with a stranger. Ummm. Weird.
Anyways, besides the mode of entry everything else was VERY ENJOYABLE. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed our tour very much.
Will be back.

Came here for a tour last month. $ 20 adult admission, the next tour wasn’t going to start for an hour so we had time to check out the Pike’s Peak Heritage Center. We got the safety brief and were issued hard hats. The mine shaft elevator ride is a trip– descending nearly 1000 feet in near total darkness (some floors are lit and briefly streak by) in a 4′ x 4′ cage. We were then taken on a mostly walking tour (some riding) of one floor that had representative stations of the equipment and mining processes you would have seen in a 19^th century mine. It was amazing to think about how: the hand drilling processes were performed in near total darkness (carbonite lamps weren’t too bright); how noisy the steam-​powered drills were; and how the right placement of explosives were the difference between a successful excavation and a serious accident. At the final stop was a vault area with actual gold nuggets and an explanation of the area mines. We got to pick out a few rocks with some gold ore in them as a souvenier. Excellent visit and one I would recommend to someone who wants to learn something about 19^th century gold mining.

Far beyond my expectations! The tour starts with getting hard hats and miner jackets on, and then getting sardined (no joke) into the mine shaft elevator that drops down 1000 feet underground. That was an experience all in itself! Then, if you get the right guide (we did), you’ll get an educated and safe tour through a part of this vast mine, see what gold ore looks like (there’s still millions of dollars worth of gold ore veins there), and get a ride through a dark tunnel. We brought our young kids, and they loved it. They even got a piece of gold ore as a souvenir!
Don’t pass up the diner. It was seriously the best fish and chips we have ever had… and that’s after a lot of world traveling. Even my grilled chicken sandwich was among the best I’ve eaten. It looks a little podunk, but that’s part of its charm. I’d give it five stars of its own if Unilocal had it listed as restaurant! It takes a little while for the food to get prepped, so plan about an hour to order, wait, and eat.

A must do if you can! An amazing experience and awesome tour guide. A little scary descending 1000 ft below… But I’d do it again and again! Thanks Tim for a great time!

This was a great tour. Very knowledgeable guides and lots of interesting information. As for the comment about the 5 year old, maybe it would have been better not to take her down there. My 15 year old boys loved the tour and it was older adolescent friendly. Also it is interested you posted this on 2÷5÷2015 when the mine is closed so obviously it was an after thought. The machinery was loud and the mine was authentic. Definitely would recommend it but I would not take a young child under the age of 8 into the mine… parents need to use their common sense. Much better than the Cave of the Winds Tour and the Wind Cave tour in South Dakota,

Went there with my wife and 5 year old daughter. Not child friendly. Very loud machinery. Tour guide was a jerk, he had my daughter bawling because she dared to touch something. If you have things that you don’t want a 5 year old to touch, either put it behind a rope or say something BEFORE the tour. It seems that their solution is to yell at a poor little girl in front of a group of people, very unprofessional.
Might be a good tour for adults, not kid friendly.

We paid $ 48 for 3 people to enter. When they gave the speech about how far down we’d go, my 6 year old became terrified and started crying. I asked the guide if they’d give us a refund and he said to go check. We miss our tour and she says no they won’t refund it. I ask for a manager and she refused to give me a name. I asked for a phone number and she rudely told me I could google it and find it in a website. She proceeds to lie to me about being able to sell those tickets to someone else and when I say that nobody else has entered she denies having said that (my mom and I both heard her) and then she goes on to say how she’s been told by the owners to never give out their information. So should someone get injured here good luck finding a manager or owner! They flat out don’t care. They must have many unhappy customers if they’re no longer willing to take phone calls from customers. I own a business and I WANT to hear from my unhappy customers, especially if my employees are being rude to people! That fact that these owners have instructed their employees to never give out their name of number shows they do not care about their customers at all.
I will be filing complaints with the BBB. This place is absolutely horrible. Between the employees who are not only incredibly rude but also lie to you, the owners who don’t care if their customers are unhappy and in fact don’t even want feedback from the customers, and the policy of not refunding a tour or offering tickets for another day to parents of small children, I would consider this place to be a terribly run business. Don’t support them and give them your money. They don’t deserve it. Give it to a company who actually cares if their customers are happy.

The Mollie Kathleen Mine tour was really awesome. You take the «man elevator» down 1,000 feet underground, and the tour guide (we had a miner named Tim), explains the mining processes that were used back in the 1800s, and in current times. The guide will also fire up some of the equipment to show you how it functions and how loud it is.
When you’re down there in the mine you probably won’t even think about how far you are underground. It is quite remarkable the job miners had/​have. The tour lasts about an hour, and you even get to ride on a mine train.
*** If you’re claustrophobic this probably ISN’T the tour for you! That elevator ride is in the dark and you’re wedged in the cage like sardines. ***

Awesome mine tour!!! It was so great to see all of the equipment operate 1000 feet below ground. It is the only vertical mine shaft tour in the USA. Please go and support this mine because it is one of my favorites. If you get Lisha the tour guide, she is the best. Always ask for her. It is voted as the best mine tour in America.

This place is the cat’s meow. I would have to name it a MUST see attraction in the Colorado Springs area. The drive from town to the mine is breath taking. I almost recommend it for the drive alone.
The mine tour itself was so cool. From the ride down in the (very cramped and tiny) elevator to the ride back up it was entirely enjoyable. Our tour guide (Shane — be sure to ask for him) was awesome. He knew so much and was able to answer any questions and even told a few jokes.
This tour blows Cave of the Winds out of the water and makes those tour guides look like amateurs.
The tour is 18 bucks and worth every penny. Do yourself a favor and add the mine tour to your itinerary.
If you are claustrophobic or scared of elevators this probably isn’t the tour for you.

This is an incredible tour. The tour is interactive so you get to see how the old mining tools were used. You get to ride in the rail cars miners used underground and you get the cool 1000′ vertical elevator ride down under the ground. A little pricey but to me worth it as it will probably be a long time before I go again. Highly recommended for families!

Took a tour here last October. My husband and I wandered over to Cripple Creek while driving around to see the fall foliage. Thanks to Unilocal we decided to take this tour. We had never been on a mine tour, so it was all very interesting and new to us. I had thought the price of $ 18/​adult was a little high but after taking the tour I think it’s justified. The tour lasts about an hour and starts off in a tiny elevator that takes you 1000 feet underground. It is VERY tight, so if you’re claustrophobic be aware of that. The tour guides are knowledgeable and get through a lot of information quickly and cover the basic history of mining in the area, with many real examples of the tools and machines used. Somewhere in the middle of the tour you get to ride a little tram through the mine and at the end you get your very own piece of gold ore! I would definitely recommend this as something unique and relevant to the area.

This was a great place and tour.
We actually came here as a plan b since going up to pikes peak was not allowed due to bad weather. Instead we came here and did the tour. Overall it was a fun fun experience.
If you are claustrophobic this came be an issue bc you get into a tiny tiny elevator down to the mine. Then in the mine it isn’t very large. That being said… I enjoyed it. The ride down was fun while being squished. The tour guide, Bill, was professional and does his job well.
We got to see lots of old equipment. Newer models used now and the routes they took following the gold. Apparently they made a crap load of money down there and it’s nice to at least see where it was.
Don’t miss this if you’re in the area.

Do NOT miss out on this attraction. This was an amazing one hour tour with a VERY knowledgable tour guide!
First, you will be directed to squeeze onto a small elevator with about 5 other people (uncomfortable, but it’s over soon) and descend down 1,000 feet into the mine. This may seem a little scary, but there is light on the way down, it moves quickly (it only takes 2 minutes) and and you can feel the air rushing so you don’t get hot and freaked out. When you get down there, an amazing, friendly guide who will take you through the mine and show you the progression of the mine technology as well as how the mining is actually performed.
This tour is mainly walking, except there is a part where you get to ride the mine train through a tunnel and it is such a neat experience
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CLAUSTROPHOBIC: I had a buddy with me that is EXTREMELY prone to panic attacks in close spaces and she did absolutely fine :) She got very nervous on the way into the elevator (as it is close quarters), but said she was fine since there was light and cool air. Once we got down there, the passages are open and well lit. So, the initial getting into the elevator will probably be difficult, but if you breathe through it, you will be just fine once you hit the bottom.

My husband, my brother, and I visited this mine in mid June 2012.
If you are claustrophobic, however, this is not the tour for you.
During your tour, you will descend down 1,000 feet in a very tight fit elevator. I’ve been in some packed elevators in Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles… This compares nothing to it. You are literally snuggled up against others so make sure you go with people you like. Hold on because this elevator goes fast! I think it took around a minute to go down and another minute going back up. Just relax & keep your fingers inside.
Also during your tour, your guide will briefly explain the history of this magnificent mine and how the equipment evolved over time. They will even demonstrate how the drills were used, pointing out precious minerals along the way. Towards the end of the tour, we rode on an air-​powered mini train. Additionally, we were given a gold ore souvenir. ;) Don’t get your hopes up, though. It’s not worth processing.
Hard hats are required. Bring your walking shoes and a jacket, but if you don’t have one there are some stinky, heavy ones that you can borrow along with the hard hats. Our tour last a full hour and it is pretty chilly down there.
Our tickets were $ 18 apiece, but overall we felt it was worth it because very few people we know have gone that far below ground. Bragging rights. Plus it is a trip back in time. Mollie Kathleen was a remarkable businesswoman particularly for her time. If you like history, this is a great experience.
TIP: Your tour guide volunteers for their role & will surely deserve their tip by the time you get out of the elevator… especially when you reach oxygen at the top. ;)
Review #109