Heck YES! There is Still Gold Out There Waiting to be Found! 

Purchase DirtFest Entrance Ticket Now

 

Open up a Pan of Adventure: 

Join Us at Stanton DirtFest 2025 for Gold, Fun, and Memories!

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey that combines the thrill of discovery with the joy of the great outdoors? Look no further than Stanton DirtFest 2025, hosted by Lost Dutchman's Stanton Camp. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever, offering a unique blend of gold prospecting, community bonding, and family-friendly fun.

What is DirtFest 2025?

DirtFest at Stanton is an immersive, multi-day event that invites participants of all ages and experience levels to dive into the exciting world of gold mining and metal detecting. Whether you're a seasoned prospector or a curious newcomer, DirtFest offers a variety of activities designed to educate, entertain, and inspire. And the best part? You get to keep every nugget, flake, and treasure you find!

Event Highlights:

• Gold Paydirt Processing: We'll provide the gold-bearing material; you process it and keep all the gold you recover. It's a hands-on experience that offers the real thrill of prospecting.

• Expert Instruction: Learn from some of the best in the industry. Our seasoned experts will guide you through the techniques and tips needed to maximize your gold recovery.

• Engaging Activities: Beyond prospecting, enjoy a range of playful and challenging activities designed to entertain and engage participants of all ages.

• Daily Prize Drawings: Thanks to generous donations from manufacturers and vendors, we have thousands of dollars' worth of prospecting and detecting equipment, gold, silver, and other exciting prizes up for grabs.

• Free Dry Camping: Your entrance ticket includes a free dry camping site. Hook-up sites are available for an additional fee where available, ensuring a comfortable stay throughout the event.

• Free Friday Night Dinner: For all in your camping site and a show of entertainment.

What is a DirtFest Experience?

Everyone's Invited! (Membership not Required)
Adventure is for everyone, and so is DirtFest! Whether you're a seasoned prospector or a first-timer eager to try your hand at gold panning, this event is made for you. No experience is required—just bring your enthusiasm, and we'll take care of the rest. Fun for all ages awaits!

More Than Gold
Gold may be the star of the show, but the real treasures are the memories you'll create. From education, techniques, digging, sifting, and exploring to fun activities, games, and fireside storytelling, DirtFest is packed with moments you'll cherish. Come for the gold, stay for the laughter, connections, and unforgettable experiences.

Play in the Dirt!
Who says playing in the dirt is just for kids? Rediscover the simple joys of getting your hands dirty and diving into adventure. Whether you're digging for gold, detecting for treasures or soaking up the fun, it’s time to let loose and embrace the thrill of the great outdoors.

Gold Hunting Reimagined
This year, we're making gold hunting better than ever! With expert-led education sessions, you'll have the chance to uncover more gold while learning new techniques. It's an experience that blends skill-building with non-stop fun.

Unforgettable Nights
As the sun sets, the magic begins. Enjoy music, games, dancing, and even outdoor movie nights under the stars. It’s the perfect way to unwind and celebrate the camaraderie of the DirtFest community. Hosting camps will vary when it comes to evening fun.

Plan Your Adventure

At its core, the Lost Dutchman's has always been about the community, the thrill of the gold recovered, and the love for the great outdoors. This year, we're magnifying all that manifold. So, grab your gear, bring along your enthusiasm, and come be a part of an event that promises to be etched in golden memories!

Participants can pre-plan their DirtFest DAILY adventures. Whether you want to partake in the spirited treasure hunts or get down and dirty with gold mining, competitions, ATV/UTV Claim & History, the choice is yours. Ensure you make the most of your day(s) by charting your course ahead of time.

Purchase DirtFest Entrance Ticket Now

 

Plan Your Adventure

 It’s like “Ground Hog Day” . . . every day it starts all over again. Come for all nine days or whichever days you can make it. So, grab your gear, bring along your enthusiasm, and come be a part of an event that promises to be etched in golden memories!

 Participants can pre-plan their DirtFest DAILY adventures. Whether you want to partake in the spirited treasure hunts or get down and dirty with gold mining,  Claim & History Tour . . . or even have a “relax and do-nothing day” . . . the choice is yours.

 

Activities

Time to get In, On and Over the Dirt! This is what we have planned, but there always could be a twist or surprise here and there!

Running Dirt / Processing Gold Bearing Material (access to Paydirt)

 

Run Material On Your Own Equipment:

Bring your own equipment and get access to Gold Bearing PayDirt that we dig. Keep all the gold you recover. 

Common Dig – Miners / Minors:

Using LDMA Camp equipment, you will work together as a team, process gold bearing material, and split in all the gold recovered.

Mining Experience 1:

New to gold mining? Need a refresher?  Get ready for a hands-on experience where we will put you will have access to one of our working mining areas. We will teach you the geology and why we are digging here.

·       Art of Prospecting

·       How to Read Water in the Desert

Get ready to learn and get gold . . . . and of course, have fun!

Mining Experience 2 - Gold Clean-Up Process:

You’ve been “slinging dirt all day (or week) and it’s time to see the “yeller stuff!” Bring your clean-ups and we will show you our proven process and techniques to Get  That Gold out of your concentrates.

·       Final Clean-Up

·       How to Dry & Weigh Your Gold

 

What MUST you bring?

Equipment: (Your Personal Mining Equipment depending on what Activities you plan on participating in AND location of camp)

Drywasher w/ all you need to operate

Blower/Battery and Gas Can(s) filled.

Buckets, buckets and more buckets

Shovels & Rake, Tubs & Scrub Brush, Classifiers and Pans, Snuffer, Magnet, Gloves, etc.

Gold Clean Up Equipment                         

Other:

ATV/UTV (Not Required but Helpful to get around ), Plus . . . Gas Fuel Can(s) – filled

 

Metal Detecting

Detector Seeded Hunt:

We will plant the designated hunt field with tokens. There will be gold, silver, prizes, and more waiting to be found!

Detector Seeded Hunt – Night Hunt:

We will plant the designated hunt field with “????.” Find the ones that will unlock the treasure boxes of prizes.

Penny Weight Challenge

3 Day Challenge.  Participants will be faced with challenges and decision making that can change who will beat the Penny Weight Detector Challenge.  Finding targets is the easy part.  The choices you make during this 3-day activity challenge will determine who walks away with the victory flag, and a grand prize and other great prizes.

What MUST you bring?

Equipment: (Your Personal Mining Equipment depending on what Activities you plan on participating in AND location of camp)

Detector with digging tools and Pin Pointer

Digging Tools (Shovel, Pick), Scoop, Buckets, Pans, Magnet, Gloves, etc.                                  

Other:     ATV/UTV (Not Required but Helpful to get around) and Gas Fuel Can(s) – filled

 

Other Activities

“Nickle Tour”:

We will lead a tour to claims and historical sites around Stanton Camp property and surrounding area to teach the overall desert geology and history. This elevated “nickel tour” with education, laughs and wealth of information!

Shootist:

We will open the LDMA’s Shooting Range. Like a bit of competition? Let’s see who can score the most points and hit the center dot. Help us keep this a safe environment for all. Bring your Shooting Range Gear – Pistol, Ammo (at least 50 rounds), Ear Protection, Eye Protection, A “Clint Eastwood” attitude!

Evening Games:– (Bring Your Own Beverage & Snacks):

See schedule for nights … BINGO, LRC, Corn Hole, Jenga, Dominos, Shut The Box, and ???

Panning Competition:

Who can pan and recover some “gold nuggets” the fastest? Need a lesson on panning for gold? We can help with that too. Fastest male, female and minor will win some gold! There’s always a “twist” that make anyone eligible to win.

Friday Night Dinner & Show:

Get ready to fill your tummy with a great meal and laughter of a show. Be careful, the Miners Court Judge will be in full force listening to court cases and “hangin” the guilty ones! This is a “Buzzard” tradition.

Old Miner 0r 1920's Costume Party & Karaoke: 

Dress up for our photo shoot and costume party, become a singing sensation at karaoke, or bring a guitar, banjo, gazoo (your instrument of choice to play) while we enjoy good times together. Prizes for best costume!

Elixir & Ore: (If you Know you Know)

You never know when the hidden room will speak to ya!

 

Stanton DirtFest Activities Fee Schedule

(Subject to Change)

All DirtFest activities have limited capacity to ensure the best experience for every participant. Choose and pay only for the activities you’re excited to join—but don’t wait too long! Spots fill up fast, so register early to secure your place.

 With activities designed for the whole family, it's time to gear up with a “DirtFest” attitude and dive into the fun!

 

Save by Booking in Advance!
Register before the event and enjoy lower prices—wait until you arrive, and prices go up by 20%. Lock in your plans now to save money and guarantee your spot.

  

Go VIP for Maximum Value!
Take your DirtFest experience to the next level with our VIP Packages, offering exclusive perks and even bigger savings. Don’t miss out on the ultimate way to enjoy the adventure!

DirtFest Activities Individual Fee Schedule

- If Not purchasing a V.I.P Package -

(Subject to Change)

 

 

 

Don't Miss Out!

Adventure is calling, and the treasures of DirtFest 2025 await. Don't just hear about it—experience it! Gather your family and friends, pack your sense of adventure, and join us for an unforgettable journey into the world of gold prospecting.

 

Come for the gold, stay for the friendships, and revel in the fun. New friends, good times, and golden treasures are waiting for you at Stanton DirtFest 2025!