Ten-year-old Mary Haskins and her family catch the "gold fever" and head to Cripple Creek, Colorado in 1895. Mary has many adventures while living in the small but booming mining town, such as riding a "wild burro," witnessing two big fires that threaten to burn down the entire town, and exploring railroad cars filled with all kinds of surprises. Mary’s life in Cripple Creek is not all fun. Her father unfortunately loses the family savings to a dishonest man, but Mary saves the day by learning to pan for gold.