Gold Country—site of the Mother Lode, where gold fever started in 1849—lies along the appropriately named Highway 49 and covers parts of 10 California counties, including Sacramento.
Just two hours from San Francisco and a short distance from several Northern California communities, this pretty and historically rich area makes an interesting and accessible day trip or a unique site for group events and activities, with old mining towns; charming locales with antique shops, art galleries, Gold Rush museums, and historic architecture; wineries; and plenty of opportunities to become a ’49er for a day.
California Gold allows visitors to pan for naturally occurring gold. The company runs group gold panning tours in Marble Quarry Campground in the Gold Rush town of Columbia. The three-hour tours, which take place in a beautiful creek setting, include an educational talk with Joshua Vick, geologist, gold expert and California Gold owner, who appeared on The Learning Channel’s Hunt for Amazing Treasures. Vick’s grandfather originally purchased the land during the Gold Rush. Participants should work up their curiosity during the question-and-answer portion of the presentation; good questions are rewarded with gold nuggets. The maximum group size is approximately 90 people.
In historic Jamestown, Gold Prospecting Adventures runs the 1849 Gold Mining Camp, an exact replica of the original camp that existed in the mid-19th century. The camp features more than 25 attractions, and attendees can pan for gold (keeping all they find) or just watch the action, with guides dressed in period costume.
At the Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, which features a museum and gold samples from local mines, planners can arrange a luncheon for groups of up to 25 people.
Groups can take in-depth tours spotlighting mining techniques as well as pan for gold at Gold Bug Park and Mine in Placerville and at the Sutter Gold Mine in Amador County.
Since 1948, the family-owned Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys has been devoted to producing top-quality wines and welcoming guests interested in tasting them. The property features extensive gardens, where visitors can pan for gold, and a Heritage Museum that presents a tribute to the Gold Rush and features the largest crystalline gold leaf specimen in the world, which weighs 44 pounds and was discovered near Ironstone in 1992. Ironstone also has a tasting room and gourmet delicatessen with an antique tasting bar crafted in 1907 and a 16-foot-wide limestone fireplace; a five-tier amphitheater where concerts are held in the summer; a 1,560-square-foot culinary center; and 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space as well as outdoor space with eye-catching views. The vineyard can accommodate groups as large as 400 people.
An ideal option for groups wishing to stay in Gold Country is Saddle Creek Resort, nestled in the Sierra Foothills near the former copper mines of Copperopolis in Calaveras County. The property, which accommodates groups of up to 40 people, features luxury bungalow accommodations, 2,900 square feet of meeting space and an 18-hole golf course.
For More Info
California Gold 209.984.4914 www.goldfun.com
Empire Mine State Historic Park 530.273.8522 www.empiremine.org
Gold Bug Park and Mine 530.642.5238 www.goldbugpark.org
Gold Prospecting Adventures 209.984.4653 www.goldprospecting.com
Ironstone Vineyards 209.728.1251 www.ironstonevineyards.com
Saddle Creek Resort 866.785.7829
www.saddlecreek.com
Sutter Gold Mine 209.736.2708
www.caverntours.com
