REGIONAL GOLD PROSPECTING SITES AND POINTS OF INTEREST

Crisson Gold Mine offers gold panning, gem mining, self-guided walkthrough tours of historic equipment, and knowledgeable instructors, as well as being the largest stock dealer of mining equipment in the southeast. They are also the largest rock & mineral shop in North Georgia. High-Grade gold ore available for purchase.

The museum is housed inside the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, one of the oldest courthouse buildings in Georgia. Visitors can also explore the courthouse features, including beautiful wooden chapel seats from 1889 and the judge’s chambers. The museum features a 17 minute film, gold nuggets and coins, a gift shop, and more.

Travel 200 feet underground and 100 years back in time! Visitors will enjoy a 40 minute underground adventure of the mine with one of their friendly and knowledgeable miners. After your tour, you will receive gold panning instructions with the chance to try if for yourself and hopefully strike it rich! While you are at the mine, don’t forget to try their “Gemstone Grubbin’” for a great family experience.

LDMA Loud Mine is Georgia's premier prospecting destination! This haven beckons families to relish the joys of the great outdoors with a plethora of activities to indulge in. Immerse yourself in the charm of organized events and multi-day outings, making cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Discover the perfect campground that exudes a warm and family-friendly ambiance, catering to all your desires.

The GPAA Buchanan property (also known as “The Farm”) is located in Tallapoosa, Georgia near the Georgia/Alabama border. Tallapoosa is located about one hour west of Atlanta. Beech Creek runs through this claim. Those looking to pan, sluice, high-bank, and/or dredge will not have any issues locating an area to prospect on the creek. Camping is primitive and no electricity or water is available at the site. There are portable toilets are available. Bring all the supplies you will need.

Step back into time at the starting point of the 1852 Dorn Gold Mine. Explore the original features of the 1850’s mine including the open trench, several pits and vertical shafts, dewatering piping, and a horizontal tunnel. Guided or self-guided tours available. Learn how to pan for gold just like the old-timers did, and you keep what you find. Or if you prefer, screen for

gemstones. Group tours available by appointment.

Martin Prospecting is South Carolina’s only prospecting store. Offering a variety of gold prospecting equipment and accessories, Matin Prospecting is located in Inman, South Carolina. They also offer metal detecting supplies. Looking for coins and currency? M&J Coins have you covered with their selection of coins and related ephemera.

The hidden treasures of Oconee Camp, where precious gold awaits. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of this rustic retreat and indulge in the thrill of a few extra pounds-after all, gold is known to be heavy!

Reed Gold Mine is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States. From this discovery, gold mining spread gradually to nearby counties and eventually into other southern states. A visitor center, trails, and self-guided mine tour are available for free. Daily guided tours of the mine and gold panning are available for a small fee.

Carolina Prospectors has all the prospecting tools and gear you need to find the gold with over 900 products specifically chosen to help you find more gold. Plus Coins, Currency, Rocks, Minerals, Rock Hounding and supplies for all. Carolina Prospectors is located in the heart of North Carolina gold country.

This area boasts deep layers of alluvial gravels, with dense clay layers in between. Soft bedrock overlays the region, both within LDMA Vein Mountain and its surroundings. The property is dotted with numerous goldbearing quartz veins, making it an ideal destination for a family weekend getaway.

Emerald Village is a group of gem, mining, and historical attractions nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and within an hour's drive of Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock. Located in a spectacular mountain setting, Emerald Village is home to 12 historic real mines and has been featured on National Geographic TV, the Travel Channel, and more. Tour the Bon Ami Mine (home of the NC Mining Museum) and pan for gold.

Lucky Strike, a gold and gem mine that also boasts a campground, where they strive to provide their visitors with a memorable and enjoyable outing. Step back in time to the days of oldfashioned gold mining by taking a pan or sluice box into the stream. Popular methods of prospecting in the river include gold panning, sluicing, and crevicing. Spend the day outdoors with your family and friends, sharing in the excitement of recreational gold mining. 

Thermal City Gold Mine is the perfect find for great family fun, gem mining, gold panning, camping, mining and much more. Thermal City Gold Mine offers a unique experience hosted by people who are real prospectors. They are dedicated to keeping the tradition and history of Gold Mining in North Carolina alive. Anyone who wants to pan or prospect for gold is welcome. Prospecting supplies are available for purchase.

The mountains near Spruce Pine, North Carolina are among the richest in minerals and gems in the United States. More than 300 varieties are showcased in the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Museum of North Carolina Minerals features

interactive displays about the minerals and gems found in the region as well as the historical importance of the mining industry to the local economy. A gift shop is located in the museum.

Mountain Creek Gold Mine & Campground offers visitors both prospecting and camping opportunities. Prospectors can pan, sluice, high-bank, and/or dredge for gold with their own equipment or by renting equipment. Mountain Creek also offers daily rentals for dredges, highbankers,

and sluice boxes. Looking to camp? They offer spaces for primitive camping and campers or have a cabin for rent as well. Ask about discounts for GPAA Members.

Visit our gold mine located in Nash County NC! Camp, prospect for gold, hunt for fossils, and check out our very own buried 1906 Robinson Gold Dredge. They were featured on the History Channel’s Beyond Oak Island: Season 3, Episode 7 “North Carolina Gold.”

Portis Gold Mine offers a "prospectors" experience where you can dig anywhere you wish on their 20 acres. Loaner pans and panning lessons are always free of charge. Special pricing for groups. Educational tours for groups also available. As seen on Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy and Juan.

Located in the heart of Alabama’s gold belt, with miles of creek to pan, sluice, dredge, highbank, and metal detect. They also offer camping, hot showers, a covered meeting area, and a fully stocked general store. Not looking for gold? Come enjoy a day of picnicking and hiking one of their many trails.