Gold Hill, North Carolina was a gold-mining boomtown in the 1840s with 16 merchants, 23 saloons, 6 bordellos, a 20-room hotel and a two-story mining office.
Gold Hill was producing gold ten years before the California Gold Rush and the Carolinas lead the nation in gold production until the Civil War.
Many of the of the early 1800s buildings have been restored and are linked along the main street by boardwalks. Most are quaint shops with a few cool houses spread among them giving the town an old-west feel.
Saturday (9-22-18) we joined in celebrating Gold Hill Founder’s Day and arrived just in time for the Parade. I liked the guy who decided to ride opposite the procession.
There was no nonsense marching the wrong way for these troops.
Civil War demonstrations took place in the 70-acre, Gold Hill Mines Historic Park. Standing nearby when the cannon boomed was startling. Dozens of them firing during an actual battle would have made me soil my pantaloons.
These ladies seemed less than impressed by the men’s artillery and went about solving the world’s problems as if the explosions never happened.
The park also hosted Arts & Crafts, Historic Hayrides, Down-home Foods, Hiking Trails, and Entertainment at the amphitheater.
Bar-B-Q always tastes better if you get to know the cook. We sampled some of the tasty meats he prepared in that old, oil drum.
It’s not a party in the North Carolina hills without some Bluegrass Music. Six bands played, changing every hour, starting at 11:00am. We had cool seats in the shade at the top of the amphitheater’s bowl.
There was something for everyone in Gold Hill. I’m sure we’ll be mining for more fun here in the future.