Panning for gold with a lifelong miner. One-on-one attention—no big groups. And of course, plenty of gold. That’s what you’ll get at Gold Rush Peck, in the town of Hope. This is the real deal and it's worth taking the time to visit if you're in the area. You won’t find a more authentic gold panning attraction.
When you arrive at the rustic tent next to the Hope Mining Museum you’ll choose from three different bucket sizes – $20, $40, or $60 – and start searching for gold! Locals claim that there’s more gold in Peck’s buckets than any other operation in the state, so you’re guaranteed to find flakes.
And you’ll get to know Gold Rush Peck—an expert whose grandfather started him mining when he was just 10 years old. He came to Alaska nearly two decades ago to seek his fortune and has become a local legend. His speech is now slurred from a stroke he had some years back, but that only seems to add more character to his stories from the good ol’ days. Warm and engaging, he rides around town with his dog on a 4-wheeler that sports dozens of license plates, and everybody in the area knows him. And before you leave, mark your home town on Peck’s wall map; he likes to remember everyone who stops in.