Gold Rush renewed in Virginia after 150 Year Absence

Jan. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- The Company is focusing research efforts in the state of Virginia and is actively searching for the perfect historically rich property to support this unique and challenging recreational gold finding competition.  

“We’ve decided to commit our resources in the state of Virginia for multiple reasons”, reports David Shackleton, President of The Race For Gold LLC.  “Virginia played a crucial role in early American gold production.  The narrow gold belt in Virginia is littered with fabulous stories of early American miners, Senators, millionaires and entrepreneurs who dreamed of striking it rich.  Some went from rags to riches, and some went from riches to rags.  This state has an incredible story to tell, and we intend on telling it while revisiting one of the most exciting times recorded in early American history.”

“When people hear the words GOLD RUSH, they naturally think of the Great California Gold Rush”, says Robin Adair, the Historical Expert for The Race For Gold LLC.  “Dreams of riches which led to the race across the country were fed by seasoned gold prospectors from the East Coast who had been running well established gold mining operations for 50 years.  Many of the men who went west during the gold rush frenzy were experienced gold miners from the East Coast.”  

Adair points out that from the years 1800 to 1825, gold mining operations sprung up all over the Eastern United States, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina.   “These mines opened in the very heart of Virginia within the gold belt that was discovered in Orange, Culpeper and Spotsylvania Counties.  Farmers learned that they could find naturally deposited gold by washing the gravels in the creeks and streams located directly on their own farms.  As word spread of the rich deposits, well funded engineers and businessmen came in to lease and work the land.  With them came the heavy equipment and other mining resources needed to open legitimate and profitable mining operations.  By 1825, the race for gold was in full swing.”

The Race For Gold LLC plans on executing the team-based gold discovery and recovery competition in these same regions.  Miners of past generations used massive machines to process gold bearing material.  In “The Race For Gold”, diverse teams of men and women from all walks of life will only utilize only hand-carried recreational gold prospecting gear as required by state recreational gold prospecting laws.  “If they can’t carry it in by hand, they can’t use it” say Shackleton.  Each team will rely heavily on their own seasoned and experienced Team Leader.  They’ve got the difficult task of discovering the gold that was ignored or simply missed by the old miners.  

“We’re very excited about this opportunity” reports Shackleton, who says the Company is already in discussions with land owners within the Virginia gold belt.  “It is an ironic honor to execute this competition in the shadows of our nation’s capital once you understand the history of the region.  Robin Adair is an amazing wealth of knowledge in this area, and he is helping us understand the dynamics of this region and why it was so critical to the early American mining industry and commerce.  He’s going to play a critical role in telling the story of the first gold rush in the United States.  It’s an amazing tale of American perseverance and ingenuity.”  

Shackleton emphasizes that “our competition teams will face very tough mental and physical challenges.  They will endure hardships, personal differences, varying work ethics and leadership styles, just like the miners of old.  When you add real history to intense competition, the results will be undeniably exciting.”

More information can be found on the Company’s website at www.theraceforgold.com

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Millions of worldwide viewers will follow teams of ordinary men and women as they race to discover and recover the most powerful and influential substance known to mankind. This intense team-based competition produces unscripted drama, gut-busting humor, team dividing hate and discontent, unruly strategic deception, and an unmatched rush of golden adrenaline. This incredible adventure reminds every society of its past while revealing the incredibly competitive spirit embedded deep within our being: The Race For Gold.