Upcoming Events:

GPAA
June/ 13-17> Gold Outing>Vein Mountain, NC

Lucky Strike Mine Celebration

Starts: Jul 4 7:00 PM

Ends: Jul 4 10:00 PM

Celebrate Independence Day with a large BBQ followed by a fantastic fireworks display. $8 fee includes BBQ plate, fireworks display, music and activities. Please call for reservations; all day; Lucky Strike Gold Mine, Marion. 828-738-4893.

Area Restaurants 
Click On Link Above To Be Transferred To "Country Side BBQ" Website...

Hook and Anchor Family Seafood

950 Rutherford Rd
Marion, NC 28752

Phone: 828-652-9467

Featuring a large variety of seafood favorites, broiled or fried. Rutherford Rd., Marion

FATZ

Phone: 828-659-1364

390 U.S. 70
Marion, NC 28752

MiPueblito 1897 Rutherford Rd, Marion, NC 28752

The Flood of 1916 "McDowell County" History

If you’ve ever taken a drive up Highway 221 North from Marion toward Linville Falls, you’ve probably noticed the large rocks and boulders that dot the fields and pastures on both sides of the road. All those tons of rock tumbled down the mountainside and to their current resting place during the cataclysmic flood of 1916.

One of the many homes to be ruined by the flood. Others totally washed away, leaving hardly a trace that they had ever stood at all. (Photo from the Carson House Library)

Much of western North Carolina was devastated by the event, especially along the McDowell and Mitchell County line and down into North Cove.  The Orchard at Altapass sits almost astride the continental divide, which was ground zero for this disaster.

Other Things To Visit While In McDowell County:

Lake Tahoma Casino Snowy Morning

Early morning view of the Lake Tahoma Casino, McDowell County, North Carolina. Photographed by R. Keith Clontz. blueridgepics.smugmug.com

Andrews Geyser "Old Fort" 

Round Knob Hotel and "the fountain"

In the late 1800s when the railroad from Old Fort to Ridgecrest was completed, passengers were treated to a very impressive sight as their train climbed the 13 miles of switchbacks and seven tunnels to the top of the mountain. Several times during their ascent they were treated with a view of “the fountain” at Round Knob Hotel, with gravity-powered water shooting nearly 100 feet into the air. The fountain would later become known as Andrews Geyser and, after a period of neglect in the mid-20th century, has become one of the most recognizable and visted landmarks in McDowell County. It has come to symbolize the achievement of bringing the railroad across the rugged mountains of McDowell County.

Freezing weather sometimes transforms the geyser into an ice cone.

Steve Little, now Mayor of Marion, has always harbored a keen interest in the railroad and played a central role in bringing the geyser back from disrepair and neglect  in the mid 1970s.

Vein Mountain Road Tunnel

Vein Mountain is located in the South Mountain belt which covers an area about 300 square miles. Rich placer deposits are found along the major streams
Brackettown also has several quartz veins and gold is also panned in the streams. Hydraulic mining was also introduced in the 1850s. A scientific method of operation was also introduced at Brackettown. 
During the Civil War, Union Troops looted homesites in McDowell County. What could not be placed underground was hidden in the woods or a deserted cabin.
The Cherokee Indians roamed through the fields and mountains of McDowell County. They are known for their hand carved wooden statues and clay bowls.
The Catawba Indians are well known for their pottery making
  

Feature Name:	Vein Mountain
County:	McDowell County
Latitude:	35.555958
Longitude:	-81.9559367

Gold is a naturally occurring element (element symbol Au, atomic number 79), that is created in nature e.g. during supernovae explosions of type II (see link "supernovae nucleosynthesis").

It also has been created in amounts of a several atoms by nuclear transmutation (see respective link), but it cannot be "created" or "destroyed" in the classical sense of chemistry.
On earth, gold is found mostly in solid form in veins in siliceous rocks. By alteration, it can be eroded and placed in form of powder, granules or nuggets in the riverbeds. Low concentrations of dissolved gold can also be found in the sea.Occurrence in nature
Gold occurs in nature in both its native state and in compounds. The native state of an element is its free state. It is not combined with any other element. The most common compounds of gold are the tellurides. A telluride is a compound of the element tellurium and one or more other elements.
At one time, gold was found in chunks or nuggets large enough to see. People mined gold by picking it out of streams and rivers. In fact, gold was once very common in some parts of the world. People valued it not because it was rare, but because it was so beautiful.
The abundance of gold in the Earth's crust is estimated to be about 0.005 parts per million. That makes it one of the ten rarest elements in the Earth's crust. Gold is thought to be much more common in the oceans. Some people believe as much as 70 million tons of gold are dissolved in seawater. They also think there may be another 10 billion tons on the bottom of the oceans. So far, however, no one has found a way to mine this gold.
About a quarter of the world's gold comes from South Africa. Other leading producers of the metal are the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Russia. In the United States, about two-thirds of its gold is mined in Nevada. California, Montana, Alaska, and South Dakota also produce gold.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_does_gold_come_from#ixzz1wTOd8BMe

Motel's Near Vein Mountain:
Days Inn Marion

4248 Highway 221 South I 40 - Marion, NC 28752

Days Inn near Vein Mountain Gold and Gem Mine
Phone:1-828-659-2567

Hampton Inn Marion

3560 US 221 South - Marion, NC 28752

Hampton Inn near Vein Mountain Gold and Gem Mine
Phone: 1-828-652-5100

Camp Grimes - Mecklenburg County Council

Camp Grimes Map & Directions

From Charlotte

Take I-85 through Gastonia to exit 10B, US 74 West toward Kings Mountain / Shelby. Go 18 miles on US 74 West through Shelby. Turn right on NC 226. Go 31 miles to Vein Mountain Road. Turn left, go 0.3 miles to the camp entrance on the left.

Northern Mecklenburg County

Take I-77 North to exit 51B, I-40 at Statesville. Take I-40 west to Exit 103, US 64 toward Morganton / Rutherfordton. Turn left at US 64. Go 12.7 miles to Fortune Road. Turn right and go 1 mile to NC 226. Turn right and go 1.3 miles to Vein Mountain Road. Turn left and go 0.3 miles to the camp entrance on the left.

Eastern North Carolina

Take I-40 west to Exit 103, US 64 toward Morganton / Rutherfordton. Turn left at US 64. Go 12.7 miles to Fortune Road. Turn right and go 1 mile to NC 226. Turn right and go 1.3 miles to Vein Mountain Road. Turn left and go 0.3 miles to the camp entrance on the left.

Western North Carolina, Tennessee

Take I-40 east to Exit 86, NC 226 South, at Marion. Go south approximately 8 miles to Club House Road. Turn right and then turn slight right on to Vein Mountain Road, and go 0.3 miles to the camp entrance on the left.

Address:
Mecklenburg Scout Reservation
383 Vein Mountain Rd
Nebo, North Carolina 28761

Telephone: 828-652-3923

Camp Grimes is My Camp!   36 years of Boy Scout Camping   1976 to 2012

During the Carolina Gold Rush period of the early 19th century, the south county area was known for its gold production. The banks of the Muddy Creek and mines at Vein Mountain were productive areas. Many mines and thriving gold rush towns such as Brackettown no longer exist, although scattered ruins and cemeteries mark many locations of the gold rush period.

Two of the four gold mining locations in the area.


                                                    Thermal City Gold Mine

The best known recreational gold mining camp on the East Coast and a great place where to find gold in north carolina   The western part of NC is rich in many commercial minerals and gem stones, and you can dig for emerald, citrine, rose quartz, rubies, Aventine, moonstone, smoky quartz, tourmaline and many more.
Thermal City is easily reachable by car. Located on Highway 221 it is halfway between Marion and Rutherford, right at the Rutherford– McDowell county lane. Coming from the Rutherfordton/Marion exit on I-40, head south towards Rutherfordton for around 8 or 8.5 miles and keep an eye for the road sign on the left hand side. Follow then the directions to the mine.
Accommodation at Thermal City is affordable and fits everyone’s budget. You can camp on the riverside for as little as $15.00 per night or get a cabin with double beds, a bath and a kitchenette with a microwave for $50.00.
You may bring your own mining gear and supplies or buy it from Thermal City. They are authorized resellers of Keene Engineering equipment and can provide you with pumps, hi-bankers/dredges, prospecting and mining supplies, gold pans, a wide range of prospecting books, sluice boxes and many more.

                               The Lucky Strike Recreational Gold and Gem Mine

 Lucky Strike is another recreational facility in North Carolina. The campground is located in Vein Mountain in the Marion County, quite close to Thermal City Gold mine, and is open to the public, all year round, from 8am to 7pm.
Next to the regular mining and prospecting activities, Lucky Strike offers the Miner’s Diner – a restaurant for those who would rather be spending the whole day digging for gold than cooking – and, of course, accommodation at affordable rates.

How To Get To Vein Mountain

I-40 EAST "Going toward Charlotte" WEST "Going toward Asheville".
221 Exit "South" Left off exit ramp if coming from Charlotte.
                           Right off exit ramp if coming from Asheville.
Go Approx. 4.5 Miles to Pollyspouts Road,Turn LEFT.
Then go Approx. 2.5 Miles to Vein Mountain Road, Turn LEFT.
Once you make the left onto Vein Mountain Road, You will see the tunnel straight in front of you.
Along the way on Pollyspouts Road, you will pass 2 GOLD mining sites that offer all kinds of enjoyment.

Not many people know of this tunnel but it is located on Vein Mountain Road near all the Gold Mining sites.

As you can see it is prone to flooding during heavy rains that have been persistent FOR DAYS ONLY.

It is a one lane tunnel with a small creek that runs through it.
There is a stop light on both sides of tunnel.
It was built in 1907.

As you can also tell it sometimes endures graffiti. And the state department from time to time will try and cover most of it up with black tar.