Who is up for an adventure? OLLI is traveling west to Cabarrus County to look for gold and drink some whiskey!

In the morning, we will visit Reed Gold Mine, site of the first documented gold find in the United States. We will tour the historic grounds and then pan for gold! Instructors will be on hand to assist those with limited or no experience in gold panning. Did you know that North Carolina led the nation in gold production until 1848?

After a group lunch, we will head twenty minutes up the road to Southern Grace Distilleries in Mt. Pleasant, NC. Southern Grace is American’s only distillery housed in a former prison which closed in 2011. We will walk around the grounds with a tour guide and learn about fermentation and distillation. You’ll experience a whiskey-aging technique called “sonic aging” and conclude the 45-minute tour with some samples of Southern Grace’s spirits.

Note: Participants will need to be able to walk for up to an hour in outdoor terrain at both the Reed Gold Mine and Southern Grace Distillery. Please dress appropriately for the weather – activities are not in climate-controlled spaces. If you do not like loud noises, please bring ear plugs for the “sonic aging” portion. Both locations are ADA accessible. Wear comfortable shoes and bring bottled water.

Includes: Transportation, tour of Reed Gold Mine, and a tour of Southern Grace Distillery. Lunch at a local restaurant will be self-pay.

Depart: McKimmon Center at 7:30 a.m.

The bus will pick up outside the front entrance of the McKimmon Center a few minutes before departure. Please arrive in plenty of time to park your vehicle and meet the group outside the building. OLLI Special Programs Coordinator Lindsey Hale will meet you on arrival and will accompany the group on the study trip. You will receive a reminder email approximately one week before the date.

Return: Approximately 5:30 p.m. to the McKimmon Center

Registration Deadline: May 17