Welcome to the Coker Creek, TN

GPAA Chapter.

Tom and Kia Massie with some of our Coker Creek chapter officers.

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If you are new here, visit our Forum (please sign up first) for all the latest prospecting information in the Tri-State area. Click on the "SIGN UP" link on the top right of this page. If you want to join our GPAA chapter (FREE), just fill out the form and you will receive our monthly newsletter and you may attend our meetings. You do NOT have to be a GPAA member to join our chapter.

Our next regular GPAA chapter meeting will be at 10 am (eastern time) on Sat, May 25, 2013. Please note that for only May we are meeting on the 4th Sat of the month. We will meet at our GPAA property unless the weather is bad. I will post any location change here a few days before the meeting.

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Yes, there is a dredging ban in most of Tennessee. We have had our meeting concerning the 2nd draft of the Tennessee prospecting permit. All the information is posted on the forum.

From what I understand: (updated 4/23/2013)

1. The dredging ban started on July 27, 2012 and covers all waters in the State of Tennessee including private property, except:

a. The Tellico Ranger District in East Tennessee

b. The GPAA Coker Creek leased property in east Tennessee.

c. Our Task Force has sent our counter offer to the 1st draft of a statewide Tennessee Recreational Prospecting Permit. They responded with a 2nd draft that we are reviewing.

d. On Tuesday April 23, we met again at the TDEC office to discuss the 2nd draft.

All the details and updates are on the Forum.

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Dredging season is now closed at the Doc Rogers area. It will open again on Sept 1st. 2013. Dredging is still ok, year round at the other areas in the Tellico Ranger district. Don't forget to pick up your 2013 permit at the Tellico Ranger Station. It is also available at the Coker Creek Welcome Center 7 days a week. You now need a permit to do ANY type of recreational prospecting in the Tellico Ranger District. If you are at Doc Rogers or any other area, please clean up any trash you see, fill in holes and break up dams.

The Tellico 2013 recreational mining regulations are posted on the Forum. Please read them! Our Forum has a lot of information about gold mining in East Tennessee. Check out the new link on where to go prospecting! Click on the FORUM icon at the upper right part of this page.

Be sure your browser size is set to 100% and not larger to view this web site.

To join our chapter and website and forum, (it is FREE) please click the "sign up" link on the top right of this page.

You do not have to be a GPAA member to join our chapter and attend our monthly meetings! After you join, please visit our FORUM. All the latest prospecting information will be posted there! Feel free to post anything related to recreational prospecting. Be sure to read the Rooster Ridge rules on the lower main Forum. YES, there IS gold in the creek on our property. GPAA members may also use our property as a "base camp" when prospecting at other local locations. You MUST be a GPAA member to enter our property except on meeting days (the 3rd Sat of each month).

For local weather information for a full week, click on the BLUE weather icon on the right.

Cabin rental information is at the end of this page.

Beautiful fall colors at our property!

Our Coker Creek property on Hwy 68. The property is at the RED dot on the map below.

Support the chapter by buying some raffle tickets at our monthly meetings and win some prizes. The amount of prizes will depend on the turnout.

Our GPAA property is 3.75 miles south of the Coker Creek Welcome center on Hwy 68. Its on the left if heading south. It is marked with a 3 foot square sign. Enter ONLY on the road near the sign!

If you have a GPS our address is: 13431 Hwy 68, Coker Creek, TN. 37314

N 35 13.399 W 84 19.936

Our meeting will always be held at our GPAA property unless the weather is bad. Always check this web page before you leave. I will post information here the day before the meeting if the location changes.

Here are the directions to the Ruritan club if our meeting is held there:

On Hwy 68, heading south from Tellico Plains, go to Coker Creek. (about 10 miles or so) Where the post office and little shops are at on the left, (towards doc rogers field), you take a right, just across the road from the shops. Many get lost here, do NOT turn left towards Doc Rogers! TURN RIGHT! Go about 1/4 mile, and take that first road on the left. That is Ruritan rd. Turn left towards the school, and the Ruritan club is the building on the hill to the right, just before the school, on your right.

All types of recreational prospecting are open to GPAA members on our property!

Yes, GPAA members can pan, sluice, dredge, high bank and metal detect!

Guests can only pan and sluice. NO exceptions!

How to join the GPAA

If you want to join the GPAA here is what you do: (updated 1/30/2013)

1. Visit their website and check out what the GPAA is all about.

http://www.goldprospectors.org Click on the (membership) box then click on "GPAA"

2. Call the GPAA at 800-551-9707 (it is toll free) and tell them you want to join the GPAA. Tell them you want to join through the GPAA Coker Creek Chapter. After you join ask for your GPAA membership number. Write it down and keep it with you. It might take 1 to 3 weeks to get your membership kit but all you need is your GPAA membership number to use any GPAA property. You may visit and use our property the same day!

Joining through our chapter gives our GPAA Chapter "points" towards GPAA items that we can put in our monthly raffle. It is only $84.50 to join and I promise it will be the best money you ever spent. One membership covers you and your Spouse, plus all your children (under 18) All the recreational mining goodies you need to get started are listed on their web page. You can also join through their web site, but the only way to get points for our chapter is to call them on the phone and tell them you want to join through the Coker Creek Chapter!

Thanks, and I hope to see all of you at our monthly chapter meetings!

Chuck Pharis

When visiting our Coker Creek GPAA property:

PLEASE clean up the toilet and shower area when you are finished using them. Bring your own TP!

The shower is NOT heated, so be prepared!

Be advised that the toilet and shower are turned OFF during the Winter months so the pipes do not freeze. Do NOT try and use the toilet when there is no water!

Please do not leave trash on the property and respect the land. This is NOT a GPAA owned property. We lease this property.

Special Notice:

Across the creek on our club property are overhead power lines. Do NOT camp or go past those power lines. That is private property!

If you have any questions about the GPAA or our Coker Creek chapter, please contact me via email or call my cell. I am here to help you!

Chapter president: Chuck Pharis

To email Chuck: chuck@pharis-video.com Phone: 818-802-1603

Without your support and input, the chapter can't keep growing and thriving.

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Notice to all G.P.A.A. members that wish to visit Rooster Ridge. (Our GPAA property)

Property camping and cabin rental information:

IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION:

If you want to rent the cabin, or a RV or trailer hook up with power, sewer and water, call the land owner Jimmy at: 423-261-2145.

We have a Flush toilet,(the toilet and shower are turned off during very cold weather so the pipes do not freeze) Please do not tamper with the system. We have a (non heated) shower, as well as 7 RV spots with full hook ups, (electric, water, sewer) $13.00 to $15.00 a day. depending on the size of your RV or trailer. (first come first served) CALL before you come!

There is also a rental cabin on site, that is just $65.00 a night, with a 2 day minimum, or $75 for one night.(Reservations needed) (sorry, no pets inside) The cabin sleeps 5, and is right at the edge of Coker Creek.

There is also a sleeping room cabin for two, available also at a much lower rate.

You must be a G.P.A.A. member to use the RV hook ups, camp, and rent the cabin. Any GPAA member may bring up to 5 guests to our property. Your guests can only pan and sluice.

This is a private leased property for GPAA members.

Chapter donations are always welcome. Contact: Chuck Pharis for more information.

Chuck Pharis, Coker Creek GPAA Chapter President

chuck@pharis-video.com

Chapter President

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