Spruced-up Main Street a real gem for Central City

Central City’s extreme makeover is nearly complete.

After three seasons and more than $1 million, the project to beautify and rejuvenate the former gold-mining town’s 150-plus year-old Main Street will wrap up as soon as the end of this month.

The historic street, the same one that President Ulysses S. Grant teetered down (according to lore, Grant was often in his cups), along with visits by Buffalo Bill Cody, actress Lillian Gish and, in more recent days, Goldie Hawn, Bill Cosby and the annual Yellow Rose Ball, Denver’s oldest debutante event, will be open to the public later this month.

Central’s Main Street looks almost exactly as it did 150 years ago with the street lined by historic builds housing gift shops, Colorado’s oldest licensed saloon The Gold Coin, along with other pubs of interest including award-winning Dostal Alley Brewhouse.

Annually, the city hosts events that utilize the landmark street including the popular Father’s Day event and Lou Bunch Day, which celebrates Central City’s famous madam. CC is planning even more events and parties this summer to make use of their new buffed-out gem of a street.

Central can boast something no other town in Colorado can lay claim to: The history of a city that once had over 15,000 residents and was also considered for the capital of Colorado.

Keep reading The Deal for the skinny on the upcoming happenings planned for The Richest Square Mile on Earth.

Truckin’. How does Colorado’s largest commercially producing gold mine end up in a Ford truck commercial? The car manufacturer just asked.

Ford approached Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. about staging a commercial featuring its heavy duty trucks along with Ford brand personality Mike Rowe (the “Dirty Jobs” guy) with the rough-and-tumble industrial look of the town as a backdrop.

The shoot took place Sept. 27 when a 25-person crew from Luminary Films of Detroit arrived at the mine near Victor in Teller County. Rowe did his intros as mining production went on behind him. The web commercial, the start of a Ford campaign called “We Own Work,” debuted online last week. You can see it at ford.com/trucks/superduty/weownwork.

“Luminary Films offered to pay CC&V a site fee, which we respectfully declined,” said Jane Mannon, the mine’s community affairs manager. “Then they expressed an interest in Victor and asked if they could make a donation to a nonprofit in the area on behalf of CC&V. We recommended a donation to the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum in town for which the production company made a $3,000 donation.”

Wine time. Master Sommelier Kenneth Chaffee will be pouring wines from regions all over the world during a tasting and silent auction from 6 to 9 tonight (Nov. 18) at Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk Event Center (lower level), 340 Main St.

All of the proceeds from the evening will go to the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado. Cash or check only for the silent auction that closes at 8 p.m. Must be 21 to attend; $10 at the door.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.