The Cornucopia: Oregon's Richest Mine, Oregon

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks for watching. Here is my other goldmine content. Sumpter Valley Dredge: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5fIh6RqqdGrfsU Bohemia Mountain: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y57QiKB_id6Gfrs

[@MattCookOregon]

@Ty Uknow It is pretty nice! Had bad luck with conditions on gold mines this year. Hopefully next year will bring more goldmine content.

[@garybartlett3028]

Matt, thanks for these. Me and my partner have been going stir crazy and thanks to your videos we've been able to do some interesting outings while still safely social distancing! I've been practicing photography now at a few Central Oregon Ghost Towns but I can't wait to get out to Cornucopia and make my way back to Portland, masked and sanitary of course! Thanks again!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you that is awesome to hear. Easy to distance at most of my hang outs. Any good ghost towns you recommend for a video? The big media companies have definitely let us down when we need content the most. I got a big full hour project coming out next month, there is a trailer uploaded.

[@Dukers2300]

Social distancing... stuff the CDC made up and Fauci finally fessed up to. Hope ya'll realize what tools you were.

[@j.ericswede7084]

You won't believe it, but I'm staying in Halfway on Sunday Night! General Rockhounding getaway. We'll have to check out Cornucopia on another trip.

[@MattCookOregon]

Nice! Cornucopia only a few minutes away if you have time. Ghost town, lodge has nice dinners too.

[@alaskagoldhunter]

This video was great. I remember going up to Cornicopia in the 90s and i was euphoric about the history knowing the gold that came out of that area.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. It is very old and I could do a lot better today. But I like to move on with videos. Any other gold mining places of interest in Oregon for you?

[@alaskagoldhunter]

@@MattCookOregon I'll have to watch more of your videos to make sure they weren't already covered.

[@MattCookOregon]

@@alaskagoldhunter Thanks. I haven't done much goldmine content but would love to do more. Only other video was Bohemia Mountain which was really good.

[@alaskagoldhunter]

@MattCookOregon Well, there is my next watch. Sumpter Valley would be a great place with your video style. The bucket line dredge, old buildings, history and the tailing piles still there.

[@MattCookOregon]

@@alaskagoldhunter ha I forgot I covered that one also! Just went back last year for the Christmas train too

[@dravenfrost8724]

Very cool video. Would love to see more gold mines and old ghost towns in Oregon.

[@MattCookOregon]

More gold mining is in the works!

[@softroadingthewest]

Nicely made film. Really enjoy your in-depth looks at such a wide variety of interesting Oregon locations.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks man. You would have a blast making soft road videos around Wallowas! I am headinng there this summer and hopefully some good content comes out of it.

[@EcouragingGodStories]

Great video - wonderful history. Thanks MUCH for sharing this with us.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you! This is an oldie but a goodie.

[@pennyromensas9788]

Thank you for your very informative video. My great grandfather John Geforos, worked in the mine in Cornucopia. He died in a horrible accident at the quarry mill which resulted in a broken neck that took him instantly. He died on October 4th 1918, days before his 43rd birthday. My question to you is, my family and I recently found out where his death occurred and that he is buried in Halfway Oregon. He was a Greek immigrant and upon his death he had no family around him to mourn him, lay flowers on his grave or light a candle in his memory. We would like to come there and visit (we live in Vancouver Washington) and pay our respects, but I tried to research where in Halfway his gravesite would be and I couldn’t find any information. Was there a different location of burial for the mine workers and are there marked graves for us to visit? Thank you in advance.

[@MattCookOregon]

Hi. Thank you. This video is very old. Pine Haven Cemetery is the one in Halfway, check there yet? I am not sure of a cornucopia graveyard but I bet there is one, I would have to ask.

[@ModernExplorer]

Well edited and put together!! I always appreciate good B-roll to!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. You found my secret for easy youtube views, people love gold mines.

[@iShallEatChips]

Love this video. Thank you.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Artem. Love the old school windows logo.

[@cherylanne1301]

I am beyond thrilled to watch your videos! You do a great job my friend. I’ve lived here 25 or so years and never knew about this place! It’s amazing! Thank you so much. 🌿🌿🌿

[@MattCookOregon]

Awesome to hear thanks! This is an obscure one. The video blew up because people here love gold mining stuff so much. I am trying to find more gold mining sites to cover.

[@wildernessfieldjournal8211]

Great history, really interesting. I love the music and editing, great job. Coyote Works shows a lot of Oregon mining history as well, I never realized there was so much there back in the early 20th century. Thanks for sharing, very educational.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you! This is by far my most popular video. I really like it. Though all I can think of when watching is how much better I could do it now.

[@greatbasingoldrush]

Cool video thanks

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you! This is an old one that I would love to revisit.

[@raysoyars2905]

when I was little we used to go camping at the cornucopia mine in the mid to late 60's before it became a tourist destination

[@MattCookOregon]

Sweet! way up the forest roads? Feel like I should go back and try to get into some of the mines if thats possible.

[@morgandeclercque4608]

Back in the 1970’s we used to explore the mines around the GREEHORN area; couldn’t go in very far and surprised an elk in one……scared the crap out of us. Locals said not to do any exploring because the mines were in bad shape and we could be injured or killed.

[@bh1567]

Good video with no b.s. 👍 👌 nice area!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks! This was my favorite video for awhile. It has gotten a bit old and I would like to do another visit.

[@keithromtvedt]

great video! Perhaps a future film about the amazing trams used there. thanks

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks a lot! I will be there again at some point for sure. Right now I am working on a very extensive video on the Bohemia Mountain gold mining district. Check that out it, will be done around the end of the month.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Awesome .......Jeffrey from the Republic...

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Jeffrey. Looks like you are an explorer too. Hey if you click like on this video, you will be like #100!!!

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Matt.Cook.Oregon who would thumb down your video.? Thanks for you and yours documents and preservation of OUR heritage.....TY

[@MattCookOregon]

Dirk Diggler I appreciate that a lot. Like number 100! You win a new car!

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Matt.Cook.Oregon .....lol ....I wish finding gold was that easy! $! $! $

[@AndyWah]

Cool, awesome history glad I get to experience it though this video.

[@MattCookOregon]

Andy Wah Thanks so much. Would love to do more like this. A lot more work has to go into it.

[@colecomyford8964]

I built a bridge just down the road from that a few years back. Didn’t even know that was there.

[@MattCookOregon]

A bridge for what?! I love that area.

[@phillipjacobson4457]

I just went here on july 4 2021 everything is posted no trespassing. There is a placer mining operation going on in pine creek down stream of cornucopia. No camping at the site. There is a forest service campground a few miles away.

[@MattCookOregon]

There is new management. I know before they would be happy to show you around and explore. My dad has not been invited back to do a history talk since covid. Hopefully they are just settling in.

[@phillipjacobson4457]

@@MattCookOregon I asked about camping didn't get any helpfull ideas from the lodge help in the kitchen. And no info on guided tours. Other then the snowmobile trails and cabin rentals. Horseback guided tours. Picked up 2 good books at the halfway museum

[@BeardedMikeG]

Cool video Matt!

[@MattCookOregon]

Hey thanks so much. It's way more fun when you have so much information to give like this.

[@oregongoldhunter]

Excellent video brother!

[@MattCookOregon]

Glad you liked it!

[@skilmer]

such an awesome video, cool place i never knew about!

[@MattCookOregon]

Yeah this one is really out there for us I-5 folks. I def want to continue with the less well known spots.

[@DC980G2]

Been 31 yrs since I was there with my grandpa and his friend who grew up in the mansion as a little kid before his family moved to the black butte mine near cottage grove

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Very cool. We’ll have to check it out whenever we make it back up to the PNW. 👍

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks man. My most viewed video by far! I def want to do more gold mine stuff. Just gotta find the right one.

[@prospectord8437]

I would love to check it out 😍😍😍

[@MattCookOregon]

For sure! Lots of mining history and maybe even some gold still to find. I need to make a part 2 here as this ones getting old.

[@prospectord8437]

@@MattCookOregon i just don't have a car or truck yet but im looking around

[@kcopiguana]

yea this is pretty sweet! Very informative!

[@MattCookOregon]

What the heck I never responded to this? Iguana you are a legend. You should do more youtube!

[@JungleJayAdventures]

Oh wow that's cool!

[@MattCookOregon]

You found my fav video!

[@JungleJayAdventures]

Haha, thats good stuff. I would love to explore that area..

[@chevyvantravel9735]

hi, are the roads clear of snow in April-May?

[@MattCookOregon]

Chevy Van Travel Should be yes. They are open year round so they keep the road clear. Cornucopia lodge would answer current conditions questions on their Facebook.

[@chevyvantravel9735]

hey thank you, man. i m planning a loop around that area. great video by the way

[@MattCookOregon]

Chevy Van Travel thanks a bunch. That sounds great. If I am there for the next Cornucopia event, I will def be backpacking.

[@chevyvantravel9735]

awesome !

[@Jon-uc6nw]

Are you still hosting tours?

[@MattCookOregon]

I haven't ever hosted tours myself. The lodge does some horseback stuff I think? Cornucopia has seemed a little mismanaged over the years in my opinion.

[@1topskyrocket]

it was a fun video but I didn't get to see what I was counting on which is some of the ore might have look like in real life not the crumbs. so what made it the richest gold mine ? I didn't hear that part somehow.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks! Richest mine meaning most gold production. Lots more details in the book. Tried to keep the video under 10 minutes to be KZbin friendly. Actually an old miner showed me his bag and I didn't think to record it at the time!

[@LawainHowelive]

This should be on the discovery channel Honestly 👏🏾👏🏾

[@MattCookOregon]

You got a hookup at Discovery for me? 🤩 Maybe one day, gotta keep upgrading the content. Thanks dude.

[@LawainHowelive]

Matt.Cook.Oregon Haha man do I wish! Absolutely man you know it 🙌🏾

[@ginnymapes1653]

Explain more about the rock drilling contests?

[@MattCookOregon]

Yeah looking back I would like to have explained a few more things. Rock drilling was a chance to show off and compete with other miners. It would be a race to break through a rock. It was part of a yearly celebration. There is some about it in the book.

[@nazfromqueens]

Wow that is way out there. Like your documentary style. Have u studied film?

[@MattCookOregon]

Daniel&Naz Thanks this is my fav video. I have only taken a couple classes. Lots of practice. Editing skateboard videos as a kid was really helpful with technical editing.

[@thennesgirl]

You got a lot of great stuff in this video you should have gotten the the old building with the year on it if you walk farther and the original road you see a house caving you don't show the house the twins passed away in due to a fire and you have nothing about the cable cars to get to the mines that the road couldn't reach.

[@thennesgirl]

And the mine wit the u shaped building is the only mine on that mountain that blows hot air not cold like the others

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you! So many things I would do differently but it is an old video so I would rather just move on and cover another mining spot.

[@thennesgirl]

The summer I spent there changed my life. If you honestly think you could make better do it. I wish I could get you the books my aunt had when she owned the pack station even the ones on chief Joseph the mines that you could only get to by cable cars when you explore the right side of the creek you'll see so much more.youre videos are great but with this you are missing out on so much. I think you should explore more of the area and make a new video of the area. You honestly can do the area justice and don't forget the story of Billy the kid and his gang

[@MattCookOregon]

Some awesome ideas. I do go back there almost yearly so I will have some opportunities.

[@pnwprospecting]

Well done! I spent about a year in Halfway! Just got a drone for more aerial shots! Went into many of those mines

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. People really liked the history in this one and it motivated me to make more.

[@Therebesquare]

I love the red dead redemption soundtrack in the background

[@MattCookOregon]

Yeah! Either you dont know it and it is random badass western music, or you played the game and it is a great memory. Also video game music is copywrite free.

[@Therebesquare]

Matt.Cook.Oregon it’s a great track for a great video.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks so much! I think I used red dead in all my gold mining videos so far. The others are SUMPTER and BOHEMIA.

[@Therebesquare]

Matt.Cook.Oregon oh cool! I’ll be sure to check those out as well. I have a question on cornucopia. How many buildings are there? Is it a large amount of buildings? The sites I went to all insinuated that there were a lot.

[@MattCookOregon]

There are a good amount. The lodge sits alone. But then you can go over to the town and see something like 10-20. Many are restored to the point they just look like an old vacation cabin. They may not look like much unless you know of the history. Some are still cool like the Schneider house, hotel, and the jail.

[@pnwprospecting]

I loved living in halfway!

[@MattCookOregon]

Nice! Why'd you leave? Cause Ore-Gone? Get it?

[@pnwprospecting]

@@MattCookOregon the gold is great and the area is breathtakingly beautiful but honestly when it comes to work and paying your bills it's very hard because it's such a small community

[@HectorTorres-fc3er]

Love it I have to go 😂

[@MattCookOregon]

Agreed! Nice lodging right there.

[@austinward5492]

Mines are cool,Gold is better!

[@MattCookOregon]

Sorry I missed some comments and never responded. Thank you very much!

[@wewaits45]

Its not a ghost town, I have a place up there, its on your video.

[@MattCookOregon]

@@wewaits45 Thank you for your comment. I hope you enjoyed the video. Compared to what it once was, it is a ghost town.

[@csgokiller633]

Sup dude

[@MattCookOregon]

My man

[@robertsnyder5149]

I would rather see the inside of the mine, I'm a miner.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. If you check out my Bohemia Mountain video I go in a bunch of mines. Here is a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y57QiKB_id6Gfrs