About the GPAA

History & heritage

The Gold Prospectors Association of America was established in 1968 to, in the words often used by the organization, preserve and promote the great heritage of the North American prospector. Prospector George Massie—often remembered by the nickname Buzzard—is widely credited with launching the association; the family has continued to shape GPAA's direction for generations. From the beginning, the focus has been on hands-on, small-scale prospecting—panning, sluicing, and working ground in the tradition of independent miners rather than industrial operations.

The association grew around a simple idea: give ordinary people legal access to gold-bearing ground, practical education, and a community of fellow prospectors. Over decades that idea became a network of member claims, local chapters, and publications recognized across the U.S. GPAA-related initiatives have also included the Lost Dutchman's Mining Association (LDMA), founded in 1976, which serves members with additional claim access and outings—alongside the wider GPAA mission.

Today the organization is widely described as one of the largest prospecting communities in the world, with headquarters in Temecula, California, and activities concentrated in the United States. Program updates, field stories, and resources are published on this site as the full GPAA web presence continues to grow.

Mission, education & stewardship

GPAA promotes responsible prospecting: learning how to read ground, use equipment safely, and respect both private rights and public-land rules. The association has long spoken against practices that needlessly harm the environment and has advocated for reasonable access for hobbyist and small-scale miners—balancing conservation with the right to enjoy America's mineral heritage.

Whether you're brand new or returning to the hobby after years away, the emphasis is on education and community—chapters, magazines, online discussion, and field events that shorten the learning curve and connect you with people who share the obsession of chasing color in the pan.

What membership typically includes

Offerings change with the season and the promotion; your join screen is the source of truth for what's included. In general, GPAA membership has centered on:

Access to GPAA mining claims and prospecting sites on public land, leases, public-use areas, and pay-to-digs nationwide—often described as 200+ prospecting areas spanning tens of thousands of acres, where eligible members keep what they find according to published site and membership terms.
Gold Prospectors Magazine—print and digital content—covering how-tos, field stories, geology, and gear.
Local chapters and outings: organized digs, training, and camaraderie close to home.
Welcome materials such as a pan, mining guide or directory, and introductory paydirt offers on many sign-up promotions—see current membership options when you join.

The Gold Standard and other membership products—including pricing and renewals—are available through our membership flow on this site (checkout via Shopify) and through the GPAA Store for merchandise, paydirt, and bundled offers.

What you'll find on this site

This site is GPAA's public home on the web: the Property Guide, news, publications, sign-in for members, and membership signup. The Property Guide in particular brings together searchable claims, maps, trip reports, directions, and discussion so you can plan outings and learn from other members.

Property Guide — search claims, filter by state or county, and open interactive maps.
News — association updates and articles.
Publications — Gold Prospectors Magazine and related digital issues where available.
Join GPAA — membership options and secure checkout.
Contact — phone, mail, and support email for GPAA.

GPAA Store

Gear, paydirt, apparel, and many membership SKUs are fulfilled through our GPAA Store on Shopify. It is part of the same GPAA family of services—you may open it in a new tab from the navigation when you want to shop while keeping this site open for the Property Guide and news.