Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
(and Professional Travelers)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
||
![]() |
|||
|
![]() |
![]() |
El Dorado Gold Mine - Fox, Alaska |
| Your adventure at El Dorado Gold Mine begins with a ride on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad near some of the original rail routes. You'll board at the train station and enjoy a short narrated journey to the mine. Your regular conductor and commentator is Earl Hughes, who provides lively commentary as you learn about mining from actual working hands at sites along the way. The journey takes you through a permafrost tunnel where a miner with a head lamp and pick-axe gives an explanation of underground mining in days gone by. While inside the tunnel, you'll see the kinds of mineral and rock formations that tend to produce the most gold. The original Tanana Valley Railroad served over two dozen gold camps scattered throughout Interior Alaska in the early 1900s. Supplies arrived in Alaska on vessels that traveled from Seattle to the mouth of the Yukon River. Freight was then transferred to sternwheelers, which hauled it up the Yukon and Tanana Rivers to Interior Alaska. From there the Tanana Valley Railroad carried supplies to the gold camps. |
|
| The two RV Gypsies did not have a camera with them on this tour, but will be bringing their daughter and grandchildren here in August - photos will be posted then. In the meantime, enjoy reading about the El Dorado Gold Mine. Sorry about the wait. |
![]() |
| After a short course in gold mining, grab your own "poke" filled with pay dirt right out of a sluice box and try your hand at panning for gold. Everyone finds gold. It is guaranteed! Once you have panned your gold, enter the Cook Shack to have your gold weighed and find out the dollar value based on the current market price of gold. Then choose and purchase the perfect keepsake locket for your gold - 14k gold necklace or earring lockets can be made with your gold while you wait-it only takes a moment. | |
| home to the Alaskaland Civic Center and Theatre, and the Farthest North Square and Round Dance Center, which are both open year round, plus a big playground, a train ride, the only surviving wooden one sternwheeler paddleship and more |