Lifetime membership · Since 1976
Camp and prospect on private gold ground, for life.
Join the Lost Dutchman's Mining Association (LDMA) and the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) for life. You get 12 private campgrounds from $6 a night, a Garrett Axiom Lite gold detector, and a bag of paydirt to pan, so your first trip is covered.
Lifetime membership + detector
Member camping: $6/night dry · $12/night with RV hookups
Rates vary by camp; hookups at select camps.
- 30-day cancellation policy
- Contract emailed after purchase. Review and sign before activation.
- Questions or payment plans? (888) 465-3717
Included: Garrett Axiom Lite gold detector + Digger's Concentrates PayDirt
Your membership does not have to stop with you.
Family Legacy is our name for three benefits that come with your lifetime membership at no extra cost. Share one membership, pass yours on, and skip the transfer fee. None of it is limited to family.
Companion
An additional membership to share with anyone.
Give it to a friend, a partner, or a neighbor, whoever you want to camp and prospect with. It does not have to be family.
Transferability
Pass your membership on to a person of your choice.
A lifetime membership does not have to end with you. When you are ready, you decide who gets it.
Pre-Paid Transfer
The transfer fee is already covered.
Passing a membership on normally carries a fee. Yours is paid in advance, so there is nothing to pay when the time comes.
$1,250 + $1,250 + $750 = $3,250 in Family Legacy value, included in your membership price.
Member camping
Camp on private gold ground from $6 a night.
Members have 12 private campgrounds in 8 states, set on patented mining claims. Patented claims are privately owned land with full legal title, not public land, and members camp and prospect on them. Come for a weekend or stay for weeks.
See the campgrounds$6
/night dry
$12
/night with RV hookups*
*Nightly rates vary by camp; hookups available at select camps.
What you get
Here is everything, and what it is worth.
- LDMA lifetime membership: 12 private campgrounds across 8 states.
- GPAA lifetime membership: 93,000+ more acres of mining claims and leases across the country.
- Family Legacy: a Companion membership to share, Transferability to pass yours on, and a Pre-Paid Transfer. $3,250 value
- Garrett Axiom Lite gold detector: 4.2 lb, with 11×7" search coil. $2,299 retail
- Digger's Concentrates PayDirt: a bag of paydirt to pan at home. $50 value
Two clubs, one lifetime membership
The Lost Dutchman's Mining Association has been bringing prospectors to the gold since 1976, and this is our 50th anniversary year. Your purchase also makes you a lifetime member of the Gold Prospectors Association of America.
With your LDMA lifetime membership
- 12 private campgrounds across 8 states, on patented, gold-bearing mining claims.
- Weekend trips or long stays, in a community of prospectors that goes back 50 years.
With your GPAA lifetime membership
- 93,000+ additional acres and 200+ mining claims and leases nationwide, in addition to the LDMA camps.
- Local chapters, events, and resources to help you pick your next place to prospect.
- Publications and member programs to keep you prospecting all year.
Events, gear, and partner perks
Come to Digger's Dirt Parties, Gold Diggin's, and camp gatherings, with member pricing on select events when offered. Members also get equipment offers from partners.
Only want the national club? Gold Prospectors Association of America lifetime membership is also available on its own at gpaalifetime.com.
Gear for your first trip, included
A gold detector light enough to swing all day, and a bag of paydirt to pan when you get home.
Included gold detector
Garrett Axiom Lite
Pulse induction, a detector type built for mineral-rich gold country
4.2 lb with the included 11×7" search coil, light enough to swing all day
Folds from 61.5" down to 25" to fit in a truck or carry-on
About 16 hours per charge on the built-in battery, charged over USB-C
More details
Ground balance for mineralized ground and salt
Carbon fiber shaft; optional AA booster pack
Built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio, about 17 ms latency
Includes search coil, coil cover, charger, and carry bag
Rainproof control box and waterproof coil
3-year warranty, made in the USA
Details from Garrett (garrett.com). Extra coils are sold separately by Garrett.
Included to pan at home
Digger's Concentrates PayDirt
Paydirt is gravel you pan to look for gold. This bag is yours to pan at home, no trip required.
Before you buy
Here is what happens after you join.
30-day cancellation policy
Changed your mind? There is a 30-day cancellation policy. Call us with any questions about how it works.
Contract before activation
We email your contract right after you buy. Review it and sign it before your membership is finalized.
Camping from $6 a night
Stay at member rates of $6 a night dry or $12 with RV hookups. Rates vary by camp.
A real person to talk to
Questions, or want to ask about payment plans? Call (888) 465-3717.
*Nightly rates vary by camp; hookups available at select camps. 30-day cancellation policy · Contract emailed after purchase for signature · $120 annual maintenance after year one · Prices and terms may change. The included detector is offered while supplies last.
Questions we hear a lot
What exactly do I get?
You get lifetime membership in the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association (LDMA) and the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA); the Family Legacy benefits (a Companion membership to share with anyone, Transferability to pass your membership on to a person of your choice, and a Pre-Paid Transfer so the transfer fee is already covered); a Garrett Axiom Lite gold detector ($2,299 retail); and a bag of Digger’s Concentrates PayDirt to pan at home ($50 value). Member camping is billed separately at the nightly rate.
Who is behind this, and how long have you been around?
The Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association has been getting prospectors onto gold-bearing land since 1976. This is our 50th anniversary year. The Gold Prospectors Association of America is a national prospecting organization with claims and leases across the country, and your purchase includes a lifetime membership in both.
What happens after I pay?
We email you the full contract right after your purchase. You review it and sign it, so you can see every term before your membership is finalized. If you have questions about the contract or about when your detector and PayDirt will arrive, call (888) 465-3717.
Are there ongoing costs?
Annual maintenance is $120 a year, starting after your first year. Camping is billed separately at the member nightly rate of $6 dry or $12 with RV hookups.
What if I change my mind?
There is a 30-day cancellation policy. Call (888) 465-3717 with any questions about how it works.
Can I pay over time?
Payment plans may be available. Call (888) 465-3717 to ask about them before you buy.
Who can I share the Companion membership with?
Anyone you choose. It is an additional membership, and it does not have to go to a family member.
What do Transferability and Pre-Paid Transfer mean?
Transferability means you can pass your membership on to a person of your choice. Pre-Paid Transfer means the transfer fee is already covered, so you will not pay it when you do.
What does camping cost?
Members pay $6 a night for dry camping and $12 a night with RV hookups. Nightly rates vary by camp, and hookups are available at select camps. At those rates, a seven-night stay is $42 dry or $84 with hookups.
Is it worth it if I only camp a few times a year?
Your lifetime membership covers more than camping: access to 12 private campgrounds, additional GPAA claims and leases nationwide, the Garrett Axiom Lite detector, and PayDirt to pan at home. When you do camp, compare the member nightly rate with what you usually pay for a campsite.
What is the Garrett Axiom Lite?
A gold detector from Garrett. It uses pulse induction, a type that works well in mineral-rich ground. It weighs 4.2 lb with the included 11×7" search coil, folds down to 25" for travel, and runs on a built-in rechargeable battery. Manufacturer retail is $2,299.
Can I talk to someone before I buy?
Yes. Call (888) 465-3717.