Plenty of gold was found in Central Virginia in the 1800s! In fact, until 1849, Buckingham County was the number one gold producing county in the country. Of course, back then, Buckingham County included parts of present-day Appomattox, Cumberland, and Prince Edward Counties. Around 1849, the California gold rush was going on and that outdid the gold mines in Central Virginia.
The area around Holliday Lake included at least two working gold mines belonging to William Jones in the mid-1800s. These gold mines were prosperous and Mr. Jones and his family lived a good life along the banks of Holliday Creek. During this gold panning workshop, we'll pan for gold in the area where those gold mines were.
Because this workshop at Holliday Lake State Parkwas so popular last year, we are offering it twice in 2011! The dates are Saturday April 23, and Saturday April 30. Each Workshop will be from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The cost is $6.00 per person and includes the use of canoes and all the special equipment necessary to pan for gold. The focus will be on the historical process of panning for gold and the rich history of gold panning in this area.
As a bonus, Dr. Jim Jordan, Park Naturalist will share some of the rich history of the area with workshop participants. He's collected "nuggets" from prehistoric times, early 1800s, the American Civil Warand modern history that he will share along the way. This will surely keep the group entertained.
Advance registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, contact Holliday Lake State Park at 434-248-6308 or via email: [email protected].
NOTE: each participant MUST be able to canoe about 1 mile and hike a short distance to get to the gold panning site. Gold panning is not for the faint of heart!