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| - Like (I suspect) many others, I have passed the road to Reed Gold Mine many times while driving along the road and just never had the chance to visit. In fact, the last couple of years, I had intended to visit their Christmas event, but since they only do it one day a year, it seemed that we would just miss out - invariably we would have plans on that day, and never be able to make it. As luck would have it, things finally worked out.
The cost to visit for the Christmas "candlelit" tour is only $4 per person - plus you get a hayride to the "manor hill" included, so it could be worth the visit. Even if you think it isn't, you aren't out a lot and you get to check the site of the first find of gold, so give them a look-see.
The tour isn't long, and involves a quick tour of the mine - at least the part that is currently open (there are apparently lots of other tunnels that are flooded or are generally unsafe for people to get into), and gives you a good idea of what is out there. The visitor center itself also has lots of great information within.
As to the ride to manor hill? Not terribly interesting - it's a decent enough ride, but there isn't much there - just a clearing, really - though you do get to see the graves of the Reeds and some other stones that could just be stones or other unmarked graves. This would probably make for a great Halloween hayride, but in the daytime, it isn't much.
For the Christmas candlelit event, it also isn't much - probably because of rules, several of the regular lights are still lights, and just turned down a bit, while others are replace with candles (or lookalikes, perhaps LEDs). And the tour guides are simply your regular tour guides. This doesn't make it bad - just not themed or anything.
At certain times a year, they also have panning, so you can check that out. Definitely a worthwhile trip and very inexpensive, so give it a try if you are looking for some history in the area.
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