Can you imagine splashing around in a creek, finding a shiny rock, bringing it home and using it as a doorstop for three years… only to later discover it was worth more than a half a million dollars? There’s a story there. One we’re learning here at Reed’s Gold Mine.

The year was 1799. And young Conrad was fishing in Little Meadow Creek. The son of a Hessian soldier who was paid by the British to fight in the Revolutionary War, young Conrad spotted something shiny in the water one Sunday afternoon. And he brought it home to show mom and dad.

Dad was Johannes Reith – Americanized to John Reed. And while he didn’t know what this 17 pound rock was for sure, he figured it might be valuable. So, he hung onto it for 3 years using it as a doorstop at the family homestead.

Eventually he took it with him to a jeweler in Fayetteville. This shady character knew exactly what he was looking at and asked German John what he wanted for it. The farmer thought for a minute and came up with $3.50 – what he’d make in a week. The jeweler jumped at the chance and for $3.50 bought a gold nugget worth (in those days) $3,600. In today’s money? More than half a million.

Word soon spread about the precious nugget from Cabarrus County, and the first gold rush ever to hit the fledgling United States was off to the races.

Today Reed’s Gold Mine is still attracting visitors from far and wide – although this time folks are mining for history. While you’re here you can explore the underground tunnels that were dug nearly 200 years ago, and learn all about the stories of those prospectors who came seeking their fortune.

You can even try your own hand at panning for gold in hopes of striking it rich. And if you do, we hope you consider remembering a certain travel show that put your feet on that golden path.

Reed’s Gold Mine is a fun, informative, and interactive destination for a great day out. You can bring that Ingles picnic along and revel in those fun fantasies of everything you’ll do when you hit the motherload.