A man whose legacy is in the historic buildings and the hearts of people in Cripple Creek, Gary Ledford died May 9 at the age of 79.

Ledford enhanced tourism in Cripple Creek when he and his wife Wini bought the old high school on Carr Avenue and launched one of the first bed and breakfasts in a place once considered remote.

The Ledfords remodeled the interior of the historic building and brought art, elegance and style to a kind of lodging that since then has been chiefly replaced by Airbnbs.  

“We started baking and cooking at 4 a.m.,” she said. “We were proud of the manor.”

Over the years, the Ledfords deepened their stake in Cripple Creek with purchases of the Imperial Hotel, Midland Depot restaurant, Red Rooster bar, Gold Bar Theater, Bobby’s Ice Cream and the Antique Emporium.

“He was an entrepreneur,” Wini said. “He called himself a dreamer.”

Ledford loved art and appreciated the work of painters, sculptors and other people who created objects of beauty, said Reed Grainger, friend and owner of Grainger Realty in Cripple Creek.

As a Cripple Creek city councilor, Ledford was committed to the economic future of the area, Grainger said.

Ledford expanded his local projects to Nepal in 2015, where he worked with local pastor, John Merwyn, to design and construct small units to provide housing to earthquake victims.

“When he encountered roadblocks to constructing the units in this country, the two entered a process to have them built in another nation,” Grainger said.

As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Ledford commanded a unit in the Vietnam War and remained committed to veterans’ issues in Cripple Creek.

“He used a lot of space in the Imperial Hotel to display and explain memorabilia from the war he served in as well as other conflicts,” Grainger said.  

When Ledford sold the hotel, he donated the museum artifacts to the Victor-Cripple Creek American Legion Post 171 including an old 8′ x 12′ neon American Flag.

“The Post refurbished the flag with his financial support and created a military museum with the artifacts,” said Legion member Rich Ingold.

Ledford did many things behind the scenes.

“Gary’s greatest quality was his commitment to helping people in various conditions of adversity,” Grainger said. “This was most often done very quietly and sometimes those he helped were unaware of all that he did to benefit them.”

Mary Bielz, chair of Community of Caring Foundation, which broke ground last year on a “It’s a Place for Kids” childcare facility in Cripple Creek, noted Ledford’s interest in providing a place for kids.  

“He was a benefactor and cheerleader for the project,” Bielz said.

In fact, Wini Ledford has asked that donations in her husband’s name be given to the foundation for the facility

“Gary was a man of great faith, determination and vision, persistent in times of challenge and steadfast in hope,” Bielz said.  

A celebration of life for Ledford is at 11 a.m. June 19 at Community Fellowship of Christians in Lake George.