1 dead, 23 rescued at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek after Elevator door was ‘broken’

The tragic incident at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, underscores the inherent risks associated with underground tourism. On October 11, 2024, an elevator malfunction resulted in the death of a tour guide and injuries to four others while leaving twelve tourists trapped for six hours at a depth of 1,000 feet . The malfunction occurred as the elevator was descending during a guided tour, prompting the operator to halt due to an unusual sensation. This decision ultimately led to a catastrophic failure when it was found that the elevator door was broken .

By 7:15 p.m., the 12 who had remained trapped for more than six hours at the bottom of the tourist mine on the east side of town wrapped up their 1,000-foot ascent to the surface after workers fixed a broken elevator. Eleven others were rescued shortly after the issue happened at 500 feet. 

What Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell called a “very tragic accident” occurred as an elevator was about 500 feet down the 1,000-foot deep shaft at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek at around noon Thursday.

The man killed was identified as Patrick Weier, who worked as a tour guide at the mine. Weier had a 7-year-old son and lived in Victor, a community of less than 400 in the area, officials said.

“Currently, we don’t know exactly what happened at 500 feet to cause this,” Mikesell said. “That’s something we’re working through.”

Changes to the elevator were made in 1988 after the mine came under new ownership, according to the mine’s website. A second car that could carry nine people was suspended below the existing elevator, and a new motor was installed to accommodate the increased weight, the website says.

The sheriff said the broken door was on the topmost car. He did not know which one the victim was in.

Weier was a “phenomenal” guide and told visitors that he was an experienced miner, said Jennifer Nolan of Zanesville, Ohio, who toured the mine in August.

Revenue from the tours is used to maintain the mine and ensure it is in “safe operable mining condition,” according to the website.

This was not the first mishap at the mine.

Officials on Thursday night referenced an unspecified incident in 1986. Also, according to Gazette archives from the Pikes Peak Library District's digital collection, the elevator failed twice in the summer of 1994 and left visitors stranded for hours.

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Sarah H

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