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Lumpkin County
Visiting Dahlonega all the way from from Switzerland are Michael Fox and his daughters, from right, Lily and Lorne and wife Silke. They were panning for gold for the first time during a visit to Crisson Gold Mine. “In Switzerland, we keep our gold in the bank instead,” Michael commented. Photo/John Bynum
ers blasted with dynamite to extract gold-bearing quartz over a century ago. Once your adventure leads you above ground, try out your skills as a gold panner, or let the kids or grownups) mine for semi-precious and precious gemstones. Consolidated is open seven days a week and is located in town near the Walmart shopping center. 706-864-8473. Crisson G old Mine If you want to learn what it’s like to crush your own rock and discover gold, check out Crisson Gold Mine’s 131-year-old stamp mill. It’s the only one in operation in the state, according to owner Tammy Ray. We are still digging out quartz and crushing it with the stamp mill, she said. Visitors can see working original equipment dating from the 1800s all the way to the 1980s, Ray added. When it’s time to strike it rich, you can grab a gold pan and dive in. Or more serious miners can use a trommel for a couple hours of mining a larger quantity of ore. Crisson is located two miles north of Dahlonega on state Route 60. 706-864-6363. ■ Hannah Peacock strikes it rich while panning for gold at Crisson Gold Mine. Hannah, her brother Houston and mother Michelle visited Dahlonega from Mobile, Ala. Photo/John Bynum
The Mountain Traveler • Summer 2014