Thermal City Gold Mine
Union Mills, North Carolina
placer goldgarnetrubysapphiremoonstonequartz
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal
Thermal City Gold Mine
Gold was found on this stretch of the Second Broad River in 1830, and the current owners run it as a working recreational placer operation rather than a tourist flume — you can pan by hand, rent a sluice, or book time on a trommel or highbanker. The on-site campground means you can settle in for a week. Bring your own classifiers if you have them; the river gravel rewards people who know how to work a pan.
The card catalog
| What you can find | placer gold, garnet, ruby, sapphire, moonstone, quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | Rates are not published on the operator's site — call 828-286-3016 during office hours. Hand panning has historically been among the cheapest in the Southeast (roughly $10 per person per day), with sluice rental, trommel and highbanker sessions, gem buckets and camping priced separately; treat those figures as unconfirmed until you phone. |
| Season & hours | Open March 15 - October 31, seven days a week, 8:30am-4:30pm. Gold recovery machines run two shifts, 9am and 1pm, and no machine is started after 2:30pm — reserve machine time in advance. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Panning in the Second Broad River is shallow and shaded, fine for grade-schoolers; the trommel and highbanker sessions are adult-paced work. |
| Official source | Thermal City Gold Mine (operator) |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Thermal City Gold Mine cost?
Rates are not published on the operator's site — call 828-286-3016 during office hours. Hand panning has historically been among the cheapest in the Southeast (roughly $10 per person per day), with sluice rental, trommel and highbanker sessions, gem buckets and camping priced separately; treat those figures as unconfirmed until you phone. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Thermal City Gold Mine open?
Open March 15 - October 31, seven days a week, 8:30am-4:30pm. Gold recovery machines run two shifts, 9am and 1pm, and no machine is started after 2:30pm — reserve machine time in advance. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Thermal City Gold Mine good for kids?
Yes — Thermal City Gold Mine works for families. Panning in the Second Broad River is shallow and shaded, fine for grade-schoolers; the trommel and highbanker sessions are adult-paced work.