The Cripple Creek High School (now Carr Manor) was one of 17 school sites in the Mining District and today is one of only two
original schools still standing. The other is the
VictorHigh School located
6 miles away in the
City of Victor.
The Cripple Creek High School was built in two phases; the southern 90 feet of the school was built in 1897; the northern portion containing
the Gym and Auditorium was started in 1901 and completed in 1905. It served as one of two Cripple Creek schools for over 70
years. A pool was added in the late 1940s.
The school was always a high school for its entire life; however in 1926, it became the only school in
Cripple Creek with
grades 1 – 12, as the enrollment dropped to less than 100 students. It remained the only school until about 1966, when it
went back to just the High School until 1977 when it was closed.
Its peak enrollment was around 350 students. As you stroll the hallways you can imagine how the sound of 300 footsteps might have
sounded.
In 1982 the school was purchased and converted to a small hotel in 1983 by Ted Heiliger and his family.
Twenty years later Gary and Wini Ledford purchased the property and completed the process of a full restoration and
reconstruction of the 14 rooms and suites, a conference center and a
Grand Ballroom. Many of the
rooms in the Manor have theme
names and historic reflections of times gone by.
Are you a Former Student or Teacher at
Cripple Creek High? Help us make this the most memorable Manor House in
Cripple Creek, by
loaning us your annuals or contributing photo’s or other memorabilia for us to display in the Inn.
