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Cripple Creek, Colorado, has a historic connection to root beer floats.
A Different Kind of
Float Trip
Born in Colorado, celebrated in Iowa and Wisconsin, and served at events and old-fashioned drug store counters around the country, the root beer float offers a fizzy, frosty taste of American summer.
by Amity Moore Joyce
Before it became a staple of soda counters, the root beer float began with a mountain view. According to legend and family lore passed down generations, Illinois businessman Frank J. Wisner was in Cripple Creek, Colorado, at his gold-mining operations. The story goes that in 1893 he was looking at snowcapped Cow Mountain, site of his claims, and saw something more than scenery: vanilla ice cream floating in dark soda. Perhaps he needed refreshment or had a pang in his sweet tooth, but he reportedly went to the local bar and scooped ice cream into root beer. The “Black Cow Mountain” he created became a sweet American standard, likely spreading from the gold camp via word of mouth and railroads linking to Chicago. Today, travelers can still follow the blend, now shortened to “black cow” and more commonly known as a root beer float, through Colorado soda fountains and Midwestern summer festivals.
Cripple Creek, Colorado
Rocky Mountain Origins
Although Cripple Creek no longer has a soda fountain serving “black cows,” you can get one at The Creek, a restaurant with nostalgic charm that becomes the Old West mining town. Here, red-brick Victorian-era buildings, housing boutiques, restaurants, cafes and a general store, line the streets. Visitors dig into area history at the Old Homestead House Museum, the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum, and aboard the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. The 4-mile rail journey includes an informative, entertaining narration of the town’s gold rush. What’s one of the most unique aspects of town? Look no further than the freely roaming donkeys that remind visitors of their role in mining. Oh, and travelers can still strike it rich here, thanks to the several casinos in town.
Where to stay: Step back in time at Carr Manor Hotel, a boutique historic property nestled in the heart of Cripple Creek's historic district. Part of Bronco Billy's Casino, this charming hotel offers 14 uniquely themed rooms, each inspired by the legends and lore of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush.
Order a root beer float at End of the Line in Georgetown, Colorado.
Now, if you’ve got a hankering for a root beer float and a penchant for nostalgia that you must satisfy, head to Georgetown, another Colorado mining town. It’s about two-and-a-half hours away from Cripple Creek and has no historical ties to Wisner or his “black cow,” but it does boast an old-fashioned soda counter. Step into End of the Line and order a root beer float from its restored 1901 soda fountain.
Where to stay: The Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham at Georgetown Lake is a modern, affordable retreat that offers a complimentary continental breakfast each morning. The hotel is a five-minute drive from the Georgetown Loop Railroad and the End of the Line ice cream and soda fountain, in the heart of Georgetown, Colorado.
Georgetown, Colorado
Midwest Celebrations
It’s hard to track definitively how, when and where the concept of the root beer float spread, but it definitely made it to the Midwest (and eventually nationwide—A&W, anyone?). There’s lots of proof, but two festivals celebrate it. The 6th Annual Root Beer Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, kicks off June 20, 2026, at The History Center. The first 750 people paying the admission fee of $5 receive a free event souvenir stadium cup, choice of a free root beer or root beer float, and complimentary admission to the museum. But why a root beer festival? According to The History Center’s Facebook posts, during Prohibition, local breweries, like many throughout the U.S., pivoted to brewing root beer. Thus, Cedar Rapids had several root beer and soda bottling companies. Local artifacts from the 1920s-1930s further reveal that Hutchison’s Ice Cream was also part of the mix, so root beer floats were likely part of the menu as well.
Where to stay: The stylish DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is about a ten-minute walk from the History Center, home of the Annual Root Beer Festival. Its rooftop restaurant overlooks the Cedar River—the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring. AAA Members save up to 10% and earn Hilton Honors points when booking AAA rates.
Visitor’s to the root beer festival in Door County, Wisconsin, enjoy classic root beer floats, root beer cookies and more.
On July 11, 2026, the Door County Historical Society in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, intends to keep the fizz going with its Annual Root Beer Festival at Heritage Village. It’s a time for visitors and the community to learn about the history of root beer, observe how it’s brewed, taste different varieties and, of course, try the pop with ice cream. Historical games, polka lessons and more add to the fun.
Where to stay: Consider a stay at AmericInn by Wyndham Sturgeon Bay, the hotel property has a lobby fireplace, is a seven minute drive from Heritage Village and includes a free homestyle breakfast of eggs, waffles, coffee and more.
A Taste of Americana
The root beer float is a small, but enduring American tradition, which is available year-round but seems to peak in summer. Perhaps it’s because National Root Beer Float Day is August 6—a perfect day to pour a mug of chilled root beer and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s nostalgia in a glass, borne from imagination and inspired by a Rocky Mountain peak, and a fun reason for a weekend road trip.
Plan your route to a root beer festival or root beer destination by visiting AAA.com/TripCanvas—browse destination guides, view maps, make hotel reservations, book a car rental and much more.
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