The enormous, awkward-appearing gold dredge was operated in the
Goldstream Valley starting in 1928 and extracted 7.5 million ounces of gold before being
shut down in 1959.
Fairbanksan John Reeves and his wife bought the five-deck, 250-foot
long dredge, located in the Goldstream
Valley, at Mile 9 on the Old Steese Highway, 16 years ago and created a tourist attraction, complete with museum tours,
gold panning, a snack bar, gift shop and banquet hall. The surrounding grounds include
authentic support buildings like bunk houses, parts buildings and warehouses.
Gray Line of Alaska,
formerly Holland
America Line-Westours, bought Gold Dredge No. 8 in the fall of 1996 and renovated the
facility at a cost of around $700,000.
Cosmetic improvements for the dredge included a paint job and new glass windows. A
second entrance and deck were added to the dredge, supplying better access. Old bunk
houses and a bath house were moved from a former mine site, as were a parts building and
warehouse from the old F.E. Gold Company camp
in downtown Fairbanks. A historic rail car was also bought from the
Alaska Railroad and added to the site.
The site was listed as a National Historic Site in 1984 and in 1986 was designated
a National Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark. In the spring of 2009
it became the property of The Binkley family, who purchased Gold Dredge No.8
and all of its associated attractions and facilities.
The dredge has not been a working dredge since 1059, but tours are
available. For more information, visit their
website.