Gold Mine Tours and Goldpanning
Black
Hills, South Dakota
When we went to the Black Hills, we were hoping we would have an opportunity to do some gold panning. Everywhere we went we asked about it, and were told, "They don't do that anymore." We were very disappointed.
All we could find was some advertised Gold Mine Tours and gold panning for the kids. So here is the list I compiled for gold mines in the Black Hills.
Of course, everywhere there are small shops that advertise discounted Black Hills Gold, and it is beautiful stuff, but the hubby says, it's not the gold, it's the designer that makes it beautiful."
Gold Mine Tours and Goldpanning
-Custer - Custer's Last Pan - Located 3 miles East on Hwy. 16A on the left side of the road. Phone (605)673-4020
-Deadwood - Broken Boot Gold Mine - Located on upper Main Street. Underground tours every 30 minutes. Pan for gold. Open Daily, mid-May to mid-Sept. Phone (605)578-1876... Deadwood page
-Hill City - Wades Gold Mill - Go up the hill by the Super 8 Motel on Deerfield Rd. Follow the road 3/4 of a mile and the Gold Mill is on the left. Gold panning lessons, guided tour of mining equipment (605)574-2680... See Wades brochure front, and brochure back
-Keystone - Big Thunder Gold Mine - guides lead you underground where you receive a sample of gold ore. Gold panning by a stream, not in a stream. Phone (605)666-4847... See Big Thunder brochure outside, and brochure inside
-Lead - Homestake Gold Mine - 4 miles southwest of Lead/Deadwood on Hwy. 85 - Has gold panning and a guided surface tour.
-Lead - Black Hills Mining Museum - Located on Main Street in Lead, has gold panning and a guided simulated underground tour.
-Rapid City -Thunderhead Falls - Located 10 miles west of Rapid City on Hwy. 44. Thunderhead Falls is located 600 feet inside the oldest gold mine open to the public, in the Black Hills dating back to 1878. Self guided, no waiting, no gold.
-Also See the 11foot gold panner advertising by Dakota Designs Direct... See brochure front, and brochure back
Of course you can always join the GPAA, Gold Prospectors of America Association, which we just might do. It seems they have a Chapter in Rapid City.
Some Newspaper Articles
-First
Gold Discovered in Dakota Territory
-1882
Billiard Rules
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New Pages 2011
South Dakota Badlands - 2011 pictures
taken during a storm!
1880 Town Attraction - Located on I 90, exit
170
Pease Creek Campground - a cute
campground with a horse camp.
North Wheeler Campground - a
great place to go fishing!
New
and Updated Pages 2009
South
Dakota Hotels - An easy site to check for SD hotels and make reservations
Badlands Wilderness Camping - We did some wilderness camping in the Badlands.
Platte Creek Campground - Tent camping on the Missouri River, Southern SD.
Buryanek Campground - A nice campground recommended by our friends.
Added a page on Pollock SD March 2008
