As featured in the 2019 Sep/Oct Gold Prospectors Magazine

 

Announcing the GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows 2020 Schedule

 

The 2020 GPAA Gold & Treasure Show circuit is shaping up to be the best run yet! With more than 33 ounces of gold, $110,000 in prizes including prospecting trips and equipment, several dozen vendors, new equipment releases, local prospecting clubs and top-notch seminars from industry leaders, you’re sure to feed your love for gold at one of our 11 planned shows from Vancouver, Washington, to Concord, North Carolina.

 

Each show will feature close to 100 feet of panning troughs loaded with more than 3 ounces of gold. The panning zone is a show favorite and a great experience for kids ages 4 to 94 to learn and refine proper panning skills from some of the best gold miners around. The best part — keep everything you find!

 

The fun doesn’t stop there! Every show day wraps up with the Major Prize Raffle where we give away around $5,000 in prizes ranging from metal detectors to prospecting adventures. A raffle ticket is included with every paid admission, and more are available for purchase at the prize booth. All raffle ticket proceeds go to benefit local GPAA chapters.

 

Got your eye on a new piece of mining equipment? The GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows are the best place to pick up that new dredge, high banker, sluice box, gold pan, you name it. Learn everything there is to know about mining equipment straight from the manufacturer. Plus, you’ll find some “can’t be beat” show pricing, not available anywhere else.

 

Also included with admission is the Gold & Treasure Show Seminar Series. From basic to advanced prospecting and mining techniques, the seminar series is hosted by some of the most knowledgeable prospectors and geologists in the country.

 

Advance tickets to the GPAA Gold & Treasure Show are available for only $5. Check out the Gold & Treasure Shows event pages on Facebook @GPAAGoldShows for more information, event updates and additional prize giveaway opportunities!

 

General Show Info

 

Show hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

 

Ticket information: Adults pre-sale $5, adults general admission $10, kids 12 and younger free, active-duty military and veterans free. Purchase by visiting the event page on Facebook @GPAAGoldShows, search GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows on Eventbrite.com, or call 1-800-551-9707

 

Event type: Open to the Public

 

Raffle info: Must be present to win. Raffle begins one hour before closing each day. Prizes TBA

 

Who can pan for gold in the Panning Zone: Everyone who attends the show! And, you keep what you find!

 

Vendor info: To sign up as a vendor, contact goldshows@goldprospectors.org or call 1-800-551-9707. Space is limited.

 

Pre-show giveaways: Follow the event of your choice on Facebook @GPAAGoldShows for giveaways leading up the event courtesy of your favorite prospecting vendor!

 

Learn more about the Gold & Treasure Shows: Facebook: @GPAAGoldShows;  Instagram: @GPAAGoldShows;  YouTube, search GPAA Gold Shows

 

Schedule and Information

 

1. Pomona, CA – Feb. 15-16
   1. Location: Fairplex Pomona
   2. Address: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
   3. Weather averages: 70° high / 45° low
   4. Returning to the Fairplex in Pomona, California, the GPAA is thrilled to be bringing back its staple Gold & Treasure Show to the heart of Southern California. With several local area chapters of the GPAA and hundreds of acres of nearby claims, begin your spring 2020 prospecting season at the Pomona Gold & Treasure Show!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/SOCALGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. PLACER PETE
         40 acres in SAN BERNARDINO, CA
      2. HEY BUDEE 9
         40 acres in SAN BERNARDINO, CA
      3. SB ABLE 30L
         20 acres in SAN BERNARDINO, CA

 

2. Albuquerque, NM – Feb. 29-March 1
   1. Location: EXPO New Mexico
   2. Address: 300 San Pedro Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
   3. Weather averages: 55° high / 30° low
   4. The New Mexico landscape affords prospectors the opportunity to mine using a wide variety of methods, including dry washing, metal detecting and even dredging! With so many options available, the seminar series at the Albuquerque  Gold & Treasure Show is one you won’t want to miss. Pick up valuable tips and tricks from the experts to help you be more successful in recovering gold of all sizes, including the super fine flour gold.
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/NMGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. GOLD SKEYE SEVEN
         80 acres in LINCOLN, NM
      2. GREYBACK GROUP
         160 acres in SIERRA, NM
      3. PLACER CREEK, 2 & 3
         280 acres in RIO ARRIBA, NM

 

3. Phoenix, AZ – March 7-8
   1. Location: Arizona State Fairgrounds
   2. Address: 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85007
   3. Weather averages: 77° high / 52° low
   4. With more than 6,800 acres of GPAA claims in the state of Arizona, figuring out the best places to find gold and the right tools to use can seem like a daunting task. Well, fret not, prospector! The Phoenix Gold & Treasure Show at the Arizona State Fairgrounds has you covered. Learn from local prospecting and geology experts on how and where to be successful when searching for gold in the Arizona desert. You might even get lucky and win a top-of-the-line metal detector!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/AZGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. LUCKY LINDA AGAIN
         160 acres in YAVAPAI, AZ
      2. Redemption #1
         20 acres in Maricopa, AZ
      3. DICKINSON 2
         15.51 acres in YAVAPAI, AZ

 

4. Sacramento, CA – March 14-15
   1. Location: McClellan Conference Center
   2. Address: 5411 Luce Ave., McClellan Park, CA 95652
   3. Weather averages: 68° high / 47° low
   4. Located less than an hour from the gold discovery site in California (Sutter’s Mill, Coloma), the GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows chose the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento for its centralized location to some major gold-producing areas, including Oroville, Placerville and Columbia. Come learn how the old-timers mined for gold back in the 1800s, and more importantly why they left so much gold behind! At the GPAA Gold & Treasure Show, you’ll be able to get your hands on the most cutting-edge prospecting equipment, sure to improve your gold recovery skills tenfold.
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/SACGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. NUGGET TRAP 2
         40 acres in PLUMAS, CA
      2. GOLD QUEST
         40 acres in EL DORADO, CA
      3. DEER CREEK #5, CAT LADY
         100 acres in TUOLUMNE, CA

 

5. Vancouver, WA – March 21-22
   1. Location: Clark County Fairgrounds
   2. Address: 9474, 17402 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield, WA 98642
   3. Weather averages: 56° high / 38° low
   4. Just a short drive over the bridge from Portland, Oregon, the Vancouver Gold & Treasure Show at the Clark County Fairgrounds is an opportunity for prospectors in Oregon and Washington to come together to check out the best in gold-mining equipment, learn mining techniques from local experts and take home a share of the gold from the panning zone. There may even be a surprise guest or two from some fan-favorite gold mining television shows.
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/NWGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. DIRECT #1
         40 acres in SKAMANIA, WA
      2. YELLOW JACKE CREEK & EASY DIGGINS
         60 acres in LEWIS, WA
      3. HARD WAGES
         160 acres in YAKIMA, WA

 

6. Butte, MT – April 4-5
   1. Location: Butte Civic Center
   2. Address: 1340 Harrison Ave., Butte, MT 59701
   3. Weather averages: 54° high / 27° low
   4. It’s been years since the GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows have made a stop in Butte, Montana, and we’ve missed all you Montanans dearly! We’re so very excited to announce that we’re coming back! It’s time to kick the dust off the old gold pan and bring it on down to the panning zone where you’ll show off your skills for your share of more than 3 ounces of gold. This is a great opportunity to get the next generation involved in that little thing we like to call Gold Fever!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/MTGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. HOPELESS #1
         140 acres in BROADWATER, MT
      2. BESSIE HENRY
         19 acres in LEWIS AND CLARK, MT
      3. BACON AND BEANS
         60 acres in SWEET GRASS, MT

 

7. Rapid City, SD – April 18-19
   1. Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
   2. Address: 444 N. Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57701
   3. Weather averages: 55° high / 34° low
   4. As the Gold & Treasure Shows work their way east, a stop outside the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota is a must! Rich in golden history, South Dakota has produced more than 40,000,000 troy ounces of gold, with plenty more to be found. Begin your search by learning some tips and tricks from some of the best prospectors around during the GPAA Seminar Series. Then head on out to find your share of the gold!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/SDGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. HUSKER #1
         27.5 acres in LAWRENCE, SD
      2. MARYANN
         20 acres in PENNINGTON, SD
      3. EAGLE EYE #1
         80 acres in LAWRENCE, SD

 

8. Concord, NC – April 25-26
   1. Location: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
   2. Address: 4751 NC-49, Concord, NC 28025
   3. Weather averages: 73° high / 46° low
   4. Zigzagging our way across the country, our first stop in the East is just minutes away from the first discovery of gold in the United States. The GPAA Gold & Treasure Shows are happy to announce the return to the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina. This show is about more than gold prospecting (although that is a big part of it); it’s also about gemstones, coins and relics and so much more. Join us as we explore all avenues of treasure hunting!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/CAROLGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. Vein Mountain Camp (LDMA)
         Nebo, North Carolina

 

9. Columbus, OH – May 2-3
   1. Location: Ohio Expo Center & State Fair
   2. Address: 717 E 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211
   3. Weather averages: 74° high / 50° low
   4. Home to some of the most active and well-represented chapters of the GPAA, the Gold & Treasure Show circuit wouldn’t be the same without a weekend spent in Ohio! With more than $10,000 in prizes and more than 3 ounces of gold up for grabs, come on out and show your support for prospecting and mining with your fellow Buckeyes!
   5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/OHIOGS2020
   6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
      1. SPRIGGS
         62 acres in SCIOTO, OH
      2. FRAZEE
         21 acres in KNOX, OH
      3. SWANK EAST + WEST
         30 + 74 acres in RICHLAND, OH

 

10. Milwaukee, WI – May 16-17
    1. Location: Wisconsin State Fair Park
    2. Address: 640 S 84th St., West Allis, WI 53214
    3. Weather averages: 60° high / 47° low
    4. Making a Milwaukee debut, the Gold & Treasure Shows are looking forward to sharing the passion and excitement for gold prospecting in the heart of the Midwest. Yes, there are known gold deposits in Wisconsin along with several neighboring states. Learn the techniques needed for extracting glacial gold, and the places to go to find it. You can also get your hands on some new mining tools to give you an edge as a prospector, all while refining your skills in the Panning Zone.
    5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/MWGS2020
    6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
       1. Athens Camp (LDMA)
          Athens, Michigan

 

11. Columbus, GA – May 23-24
    1. Location: Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center
    2. Address: 801 Front Ave., Columbus, GA 31901
    3. Weather averages: 84° high / 62° low
    4. Only a couple of hours from three GPAA leased properties, including our newest addition, the Adkison AU-Prospectors Lease in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, we couldn’t think of a better location to wrap up an 11-show run than in the Southeast at the Columbus, Georgia, Convention & Trade Center. More details to come, but this show is sure to be an incredible celebration of gold!
    5. Facebook event link: http://bit.ly/SEGS2020
    6. GPAA gold-bearing properties nearby:
       1. Vein Mountain Camp (LDMA)
          Nebo, North Carolina
       2. BUCHANAN LEASE
          10.54 acres in HEATHERINGTON / BUCHANAN, GA