Memories of the Cotton Patch

10-14-2025

Fifteen years ago, my wife and I traveled across North Carolina to New London, a small town in Stanly County. Our destination was The Cotton Patch Gold Mine & Campground: http://www.cottonpatchgoldmine.com/. Sadly, in 2016, the property closed its mine operation. Visitors were never allowed inside the mine itself, but they offered gold panning and sluicing stations. You could buy material by the bucket or even by the loader bucket full.

I’ll admit, my wife has always been supportive of my gold fever. She loves her garden and digging in the soil. I, on the other hand, prefer dirt with a bit of gold sparkle mixed in. She humored me when I wanted to pan, sluice, and even dream about using a trommel. Her patience has always been part of the adventure, and that day was no exception.

For those who enjoy geo-tracking, the coordinates were Longitude 80.1874 and Latitude 35.4358. That would place you right at The Cotton Patch. Before closing to prospectors, Jeff and Tina Picket owned and managed the property. They really transformed the site into a family-friendly destination. A covered shelter gave visitors space to dip their pans into long water troughs. Beginners received free lessons, while tired arms could rent a Gold Magic Spiral Wheel. The machine automatically separated gold while you fed in the material.

The absolute joy, however, came from the rhythm of scooping, shaking, and slowly spotting flecks of gold in the pan. Fifteen years ago, prices were a bargain. Adults paid $15 for five two-gallon buckets. Children under 12 could enjoy three buckets for just $9. Additional buckets were available, and you could even buy gold-rich dirt to take home. A five-gallon bucket then just cost $20. Sluicing and high banking added another layer of fun. Instead of creek water, a holding pond circulated flow for sluice boxes. Rentals were $10 per day, or you could bring your own.

For those who were young, ambitious, with a strong back, and didn’t mind using a shovel all day, they would let you buy your material, and they would bring it using a front-end bucket loader. A quarter load back then cost only $50, a half load $85, and a whole load $160. GPAA (Gold Prospectors Association of America) members even received a 10% discount on mining supplies. That little perk made the adventure a touch more rewarding.

Today, gold prices are pushing over $100 for just a gram of gold! No one fifteen years ago would have likely believed that would be possible. But time has a way of doing that, it seems.

The Cotton Patch was also designed with families in mind. A playground gave kids a break from panning, and the main store was always well-stocked. They had a wide range of supplies, including gold pans and even gold nuggets on display, which made the experience exciting. You could even arrange to have your finds melted into your very own nugget. Facilities like restrooms, laundry, and ice for coolers made staying for the day or weekend convenient.

All in all, the Cotton Patch Gold Mine & Campground was an enjoyable getaway. Today, it’s only a campground. That’s a little sad, because with the rising price of gold, very few places remain where you can legitimately pan without stumbling into a tourist trap.

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