Yes, Cripple Creek is open for Thanksgiving. Double Eagle Hotel & Casino, at 442 E Bennett Ave in historic Cripple Creek, Colorado, serves a full Thanksgiving dinner at Lombard's Restaurant from noon to close on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the hotel and gaming floor stay open all weekend. Saturday, November 28 brings the Cripple Creek Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday downtown.
What this post covers:
- What's open in Cripple Creek on Thanksgiving Day
- Thanksgiving dinner at Lombard's, plus weekend dining specials
- Where to stay, and how Play. Earn. Stay. works on Thanksgiving night
- Events happening Thanksgiving weekend, from the Tree Lighting to Hot Seat CasinoPlay
- What to know about the late-November drive and the 9,494-foot elevation
- What the town offers for guests under 21
What's Open in Cripple Creek on Thanksgiving Day?
Double Eagle's hotel, gaming floor and Lombard's Restaurant are all open on Thanksgiving Day. Shops, museums and other businesses in town set their own holiday hours, so call ahead before you plan around them.
Cripple Creek is a historic gold-rush town in Teller County, Colorado, sitting at 9,494 feet on the southwest flank of Pikes Peak. Late November is one of the quieter, cozier stretches of the year here. Summer crowds are long gone, the aspens have dropped their gold, and the town settles into its holiday rhythm.
A few honest notes before you go: the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad has wrapped its season by Thanksgiving, so plan on that one next summer. The Cripple Creek Heritage Center on Highway 67 is a great first stop for mining history and big valley views, but holiday hours can differ, so check before you drive over.
Where Can You Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Cripple Creek?
Lombard's Restaurant at Double Eagle serves a full Thanksgiving dinner from noon to close on Thursday, November 26, for $24.99. It's a traditional plate, no dishes to wash.
Thursday: Lombard's Thanksgiving Special
- Oven roasted turkey with sage stuffing
- Mashed potatoes and turkey gravy
- Green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll
- Your choice of pumpkin or pecan pie
Questions about seating for your group? Call us at 719-689-5000.
Friday through Sunday: Weekend Wings
One pound of wings for $13.99, noon to close. Choose Plain, Buffalo Style, Teriyaki, Whiskey Honey Sriracha or Carolina Gold BBQ, and enjoy one $2 beer with your wings (Lombard's customers only).
Saturday: Prime Rib Night
Prime rib cooked your way with two sides, 4 p.m. to close. It's $27.99 regular price, or $14.99 when you use your Premier Club Card Meal Rewards.
Every Day: All-Day Breakfast
The All American Breakfast (two eggs any style, Old Time Pit Ham, bacon or sausage patties, and hash browns) is $14 and served all day during Lombard's open hours. Perfect for the morning after a big turkey dinner. Need coffee first? Prospector's Perk Coffee House is right on property.
Meal Rewards tip: Premier Club members can turn 100 Base Points into a $10 meal credit at the Premier Club, up to 5 times per day (up to 10 times for Platinum and Platinum Elite players). Learn more about the Premier Club.
Where to Stay in Cripple Creek Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Double Eagle Hotel & Casino offers 158 hotel rooms in the heart of historic Cripple Creek, with suites ranging from executive and junior suites to presidential suites. Staying on property means dinner, the gaming floor and your room are all under one roof, with no icy parking lot in between.
The rooms were recently upgraded with new furniture and new beds, and many look out over the mountain ranges, the railroad or the town itself. Our General Manager, Amy Witt, has watched guests return for years to spend their holidays with us, and as she puts it, "We know that people are spending their time here with us." We don't take that lightly.
Play. Earn. Stay. on Thanksgiving Night
Play. Earn. Stay. runs Sunday through Thursday, and Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday. Here's how it works:
- Earn 250 points on your Premier Club Card (same day play) and redeem them at the Hotel Front Desk for a complimentary standard room that night.
- Earn 400 points (same day play) for a complimentary suite that night.
- Points must be earned the same day and redeemed by midnight. Based on availability. Presidential Suites are not included.
Play. Earn. Stay. does not apply Friday or Saturday night, so if you're staying the full weekend, book your room ahead. Holiday weekends fill up. See our rooms and suites.
What's Happening in Cripple Creek Thanksgiving Weekend?
Thanksgiving weekend in Cripple Creek includes the Cripple Creek Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday on November 28, plus Hot Seat CasinoPlay giveaways at Double Eagle Friday through Sunday.
Friday, November 27: Black Friday VIP Hot Seat
Exclusive Hot Seat CasinoPlay giveaways for Platinum Elite and Platinum level players, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with $500 in CasinoPlay each hour.
Saturday, November 28: Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday
The Cripple Creek Tree Lighting takes place at the Cripple Creek Pocket Park, and Small Business Saturday runs throughout downtown Cripple Creek. It's a good day to walk Bennett Avenue, shop local and start your holiday list. Watch the Visit Cripple Creek calendar for the lighting start time.
Back at Double Eagle, Saturday Hot Seat CasinoPlay giveaways run 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with $100 in CasinoPlay each hour.
Sunday, November 29: Sunday Hot Seat
Sunday Hot Seat CasinoPlay giveaways run noon to 5 p.m., with $100 in CasinoPlay each hour.
For every Hot Seat drawing, winners are chosen electronically, and players must be seated at a slot machine with their Premier Club Card inserted and actively playing at the time of the drawing. See all current promotions.
The Holiday Headframe Lighting
Each holiday season, historic gold mine headframes around Cripple Creek and Victor are lit up with large holiday light displays, best seen on an evening drive through the District. Check the Southern Teller County Focus Group for this year's schedule and tour map.
Military Appreciation, Every Day
Active or retired military personnel can present their military ID and Premier Club Card at the Premier Club for $5 in free CasinoPlay, once per day.
Planning the Drive to Cripple Creek in Late November
From Colorado Springs, the drive to Cripple Creek takes about an hour: west on US 24 to Divide, then south on Highway 67. From Denver, plan on roughly two hours.
Highway 67 is a beautiful, winding mountain road, and by late November snow and ice are always possible. Check road conditions on COtrip.org before you leave, make sure your tires are ready for winter, and give yourself extra time. There's no reason to rush when the turkey is waiting.
The elevation is real, too. At 9,494 feet, visitors coming up from lower elevations can feel it. Drink plenty of water, take it easy the first few hours, and remember that alcohol tends to hit harder at altitude.
Is Cripple Creek Good for Families at Thanksgiving?
The Double Eagle gaming floor is 21+, but the town of Cripple Creek has plenty for the whole family over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Saturday Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday are easy family outings, and the holiday headframe lights make a fun evening drive. The Heritage Center is another good stop when it's open. If you're traveling with anyone under 21, call our front desk at 719-689-5000 and we'll help you plan the best way to enjoy the hotel and dining with your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Double Eagle Hotel & Casino open on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Double Eagle Hotel & Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado is open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026. The hotel and gaming floor are open, and Lombard's Restaurant serves a full Thanksgiving dinner from noon to close for $24.99. Other businesses in Cripple Creek set their own holiday hours, so call ahead before planning around them.
What is included in the Lombard's Thanksgiving dinner?
Lombard's Thanksgiving Special includes oven roasted turkey, sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll, with your choice of pumpkin or pecan pie. It's served from noon to close on Thursday, November 26, 2026, for $24.99 at Double Eagle Hotel & Casino in Cripple Creek.
When is the Cripple Creek Tree Lighting in 2026?
The Cripple Creek Tree Lighting is on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at the Cripple Creek Pocket Park. The same day is Small Business Saturday in downtown Cripple Creek, which makes it a natural day to shop local on Bennett Avenue. Check the Visit Cripple Creek calendar for the exact lighting start time.
Can I use Play. Earn. Stay. on Thanksgiving weekend?
Play. Earn. Stay. runs Sunday through Thursday, so it applies on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 26, and again Sunday, November 29. Earn 250 points same day for a complimentary standard room, or 400 points for a suite, redeemed at the Hotel Front Desk by midnight. Based on availability; Presidential Suites are excluded.
How long is the drive from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek in November?
The drive from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek takes about an hour via US 24 west to Divide and Highway 67 south. In late November, snow and ice are possible on the winding mountain road, so check COtrip.org for conditions before you leave and allow extra time. From Denver, plan on roughly two hours.
Plan Your Thanksgiving in Cripple Creek
Skip the dishes this year. Come up the mountain for turkey at Lombard's, catch the Tree Lighting on Saturday and stay the weekend in historic Cripple Creek. We'd love to have you at our table!
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