Cabarrus: Gold History, Motorsport and Milling

Reed Gold Mine is the site of the first documented gold discovery in the United States. Motorsport, park activities and historic milling add to the range of things to see and do. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you’re more interested in gold history, a motorsport tour, outdoor recreation or traditional corn milling.

Gold History and Motorsport

The underground mine at Reed Gold Mine can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Gold panning is offered Tuesday through Saturday only. These two activities require different kinds of planning: a guided tour is required to visit underground, while gold panning is limited to certain days of the week. Check the gold panning conditions before you arrive.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at Charlotte Motor Speedway, The Dirt Track and zMAX Dragway. Unlike Reed Gold Mine, this tour focuses on motorsport.

Parks and Trails

Vietnam Veterans Park has a 1.2-mile walking trail and a nine-hole disc golf course. Camp T.N. Spencer Park has a 1.5-mile trail and three fishing ponds. The two parks differ both in trail length and in their additional activities: disc golf at one, fishing ponds at the other.

Several sections of the Carolina Thread Trail in Cabarrus County are suitable for hiking, running and cycling. They provide additional options for outdoor recreation beyond the trails in the two parks mentioned above.

Milling and Historic Sites

Bost Grist Mill and Farms is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains original mill equipment and artifacts. Visitors can watch corn being ground into cornmeal and grits using the same stones and techniques as in the 19th century. Bost Grist Mill and Farms also offers special tours, events and experiences. You can see both historic objects and a working stage of the milling process there.

The Cabarrus County Courthouse in Concord is an imposing 19th-century building, offering a different historical perspective from the milling technology.

Atrium Health Ballpark is the home field of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. This adds another specific sports connection to the motorsport offerings: a named team and its home field.

Getting Around and Planning Your Visit

Cabarrus County is located along Interstate 85, about 30 minutes northeast of Charlotte. Concord is home to Concord-Padgett Regional Airport. The official Cabarrus County Visitor Information Center offers travel guides, maps, special coupons, free Wi-Fi, local souvenirs and a gift. Cabarrus County offers places to visit in Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland and Mt. Pleasant. When planning, you can prioritize these varied topics and locations according to what interests you most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Concord, Kannapolis, Stanly County, Edgecombe County, Halifax, Columbus, Lenoir and Jackson.

Go to the regional travel overview: North Carolina.