Parker
Schnabel
Three generations of gold mining. From a family claim in Haines, Alaska to one of the largest placer operations in the Yukon's Klondike — this is the story behind every flake.
Born Into Gold
Parker Schnabel was born on July 22, 1994 in Haines, Alaska — a small town surrounded by wilderness, glaciers, and some of the richest gold country in North America. Mining wasn't a career choice. It was the family business.
His grandfather, John Schnabel, was a legendary figure in Alaskan mining and the founder of the Big Nugget Mine near Porcupine Creek. Parker spent his childhood at the mine, learning to operate heavy equipment before most kids learn to drive. By the age of five, he was already tagging along on mining runs.
When Parker was just 16, his grandfather handed him the reins. A teenager running a full-scale mining operation, managing a crew of men twice his age. Most would have buckled under the pressure. Parker thrived.
Building an Empire in the Yukon
At 18, Parker made the boldest move of his young career. Instead of heading to college, he took his college fund, packed up, and moved north to the Klondike — the same gold-rich territory that sparked one of the greatest gold rushes in history back in 1898.
He leased ground from veteran miner Tony Beets and got to work. His first season as an independent operator was staggering: over 1,000 ounces of gold pulled from the ground, worth roughly $1.4 million. The kind of debut that earned instant respect from miners who'd been in the game for decades.
Parker founded Little Flake Mining, which has since grown into one of the largest and most successful placer gold operations in the Yukon. The company operates across multiple claims in the Klondike region, including a major royalty agreement on Australia Creek — part of a historic district that has produced over 20 million ounces of gold since its original discovery.
Gold Rush & Beyond
Parker joined Discovery Channel's Gold Rush when the show debuted in 2010, initially appearing alongside his grandfather at the Big Nugget Mine. What started as a supporting role quickly evolved — audiences connected with his work ethic, his willingness to take calculated risks, and his refusal to quit when things went sideways.
He's since become one of the show's most recognizable figures, appearing in over 16 seasons plus spin-offs including Parker's Trail, which followed him to mining regions in Papua New Guinea, Guyana, and Australia. Through it all, the focus has stayed the same: find gold, run the operation, reinvest everything back into the ground.
In 2022, Parker was awarded the Robert E. Leckie Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship by the Yukon Government — recognition for his commitment to responsible reclamation work across the Klondike goldfields.
From Parker's Ground to Your Collection
Every gold flake in the Collector's Package is sourced directly from Parker Schnabel's Yukon mining operations. This isn't mass-produced novelty gold — it's the real thing, from the real claims.
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