Never thought I’d be reaching for tissues watching Gold Rush, but the Season 7 premiere is a bit of a tearjerker. When the hit Discovery Channel series begins Friday, Oct. 14 at 9pm ET/PT you’ll see 21-year-old Parker Schnabel at the gravesite of his beloved grandfather and mentor John Schnabel. It’s a sad start as the Schnabel family pays their final respects to a man they adored. But after the grieving, this season brings some positive changes for Parker including a new girlfriend, a custom new wash plant, a new profit strategy and a new TV series. We talked to him about it all.
On his grandfather’s passing and the support he received from family, friends and fans … Luckily we are in a small town and we were able to have a very nice service for him. We had a great goodbye. It was a lot of fun. A lot of my closest friends came out for the service and that was what was really important. I know that there was a huge amount of comments and notes online, but to me what mattered the most was those people who are close to us — not discounting the fans of the show — there were a lot of people here for me when I needed them.
On his investment in a customized $600,000 wash plant … I changed a few things on the design. The guy that really designed the plant was Hayden Cowen [spelling unconfirmed] who has mined up in the Yukon forever and is a super smart guy, he built several wash plants from the ground up, so it’s really nice to have that as a design. Something that is proven and well tested, and used by someone in the Yukon, with the same conditions that we are using a plant in. Hayden was invaluable to getting that designed. We tweaked a few things ourselves but it was really a good call to get that built. It’s a great plant and I definitely am real happy with it. It likes to wash a lot of rocks and find a lot of gold. It was a huge part of our season. It was a huge cost. Buying something like that brand new was a lot of money — lot of pressure to put on the operation.
On his beautiful new girlfriend from Australia — Ashley Yule …. Ashley and I met in Australia. We hit it off pretty well so I invited her over to spend some time in North America. Neither one of us knew what to expect but we had a lot of fun — she’s super easygoing, which is what you need out at a place like that. Ashley just rolls with the punches and helps out where she’s needed. If we need her to drive trucks she’ll drive trucks. She ended up cleaning gold a lot of the summer or helping do fuel things or whatever we needed her around the place. She stayed busy and tried to stay out of my way when I’m in rage mode. Yeah, it was fun. It was a good summer. I’m really glad Ashley was there for it.
On his uninspiring goal this season of just 3,000 ounces due to Tony Beets’ royalty clause [a clause that awards Beets 25% of his cut over 3,000 ounces) … The goal target is always a big part of the season and the guys weren’t real stoked on going for less gold this year than we had last year. But for me it was a business decision. At a certain point I think a 25% royalty rate – I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to pay that. I will look for other ground. I will go find something else well before I start paying a 25% royalty rate. And the only way to get that to change is by making a stand and saying: “I’m not paying that, right?” If I complain about it to Tony but then I go and mine 4,000 ounces and pay a 25% royalty rate on 1,000 ounces of gold at the end of the season and I’m sitting there complaining about it, that doesn’t really get the job done — right? I have — we have to — make a decision that we’re not going to do that and we’re not going to put up with that, and that’s the only way we’re going to fight back on it. Complaining is not going to get us anywhere. I’ve tried that plenty of times.
On how they can really be OK with just 3,000 ounces … We don’t start the season with the same goal we finish the season and that’s all I will say. But maybe that’s not a good thing? We might go down, too, right.
On Todd Hoffman’s move to Oregon … It doesn’t impact me in the least.
<< Read our interview with Dave Turin from Team Hoffman >>
On naming his new washplant something special … We do name it something special but you’ll have to wait to hear about it on the show. It’s a wonderful name, by the way. [Mitch Blaschke came up with the name]
On trimming down his staff … If we’re going to lower our goal and we want to make more money, of course we’re going to have to go with less people. We really trimmed down the crew and went lean and mean and that is our way of saving money. Get the most out of the least amount of crew that you can.
On filming a new TV show and his plans for the winter … Well actually I’m working on another TV show right now so that will come out of the woodwork in a few months probably, but I can’t really talk about that too much. But it’s a pretty exciting new project that will keep me busy for a while. After that I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll end up back in Australia. I don’t know.
On his new TV show’s subject matter (which also will air on Discovery)… It’s pretty much completely different. Not completely different but not too mining related.
Gold Rush airs on Discovery Channel Fridays at 9pmET/PT
I have watched your show from day one; don’t dismiss Tony too quickly you can always learn from him. If you owned the land how would you structure the royalty agreement? You have impeccable taste in girlfriends it’s too bad Ashley doesn’t share that in her choice of boyfriends.
Been a big fan from first show. Really liked Grandpa John, a good role model, didn’t start mining until 68 years old. Will miss him a lot, my condolences. Learn to control your anger Parker, you need more maturity. You are way ahead at a young age. Tony Beets, what can I say, very wavy and a hoot! Todd needs to do more research and proving instead of having a feeling. Trust in yourself Dave. Great show!
Wow! Lots of ugly comments by the trolls here. What the heck is wrong with people?
just stating reality
you really think that girl would know he existed if he didn’t have money and fame? no.
I AGREE!
God bless you and your wonderfully Grandpa , will miss him too . I can hear him saying carry on Parker and we know you will .
looks like parkers new girlfriend is digging for gold… how ironic.
so sorry to hear about your grandpa.good luck with this season
Sorry for your loss Parker. I really enjoyed seeing your Grandfather on the show. NICE new “eye candy ” Good Job, as usual. Am I the only one who can see your Workers can actually make MORE money this year with ONLY 3000 ? Same amount of Gold, less workers this year, Means more money in everyone’s pockets! GOOD LUCK
Just to play devil’s advocate I have to say.
They do get Discovery channel in Australia so its no mystery to parker’s girlfriend that he’s worth quite a bit of money plus TV exposure is obviously part of the allure.
She surely knew who he was & 5s don’t date 8s or 9s as Dr. House always pointed out unless there is enough money involved or a child is on the way then there is some wiggle room.
It would be naïve not to be skeptical which is why I hope she is a solid girl with no bad habits & pure motives but time will tell and just her being doubted may make her dig in in even more so it should be a fun season.
Since men & women are equals we don’t have to walk on egg shells & odds are I that she knows that he has money & TV exposure, I hope it doesn’t end badly for the youngster.
Some of the older guys seemed to catch on going by their demeanor & I hope I’m wrong but I’ve seen this scenario play out many times over, but ironic if she’s a gold digger on a show named Gold Rush.
Puppy love is all over parker & I hope he doesn’t have to find out the hard way so 2 words for parker (Prenuptial agreement)
RIP to parker’s Grandpa he was an incredible man, excellent mentor and role model.
It doesn’t matter who Parker has as a girlfriend…they will always be classified as a “Gold Digger” unfortunately!
I definitely got the impression she’s a gold digger as well.. That girl would not know that he existed if he didn’t have money and a show plain and simple..
To quote the great Kanye West:
“I aint sayin she a gold digga.. but she aint fuckin with no broke nigga”
Parker, I’m so very sorry to hear of your Grandpa Schnaubel’s passing! May God comfort you, and your family, as he is comforting your Grandpa too! I’ve watched the show since the beginning, and everyone
could see how close you two were, and the unconditional love you had for each other! He truly had a Heart of Gold……What a wonderful man is was, and you, have turned into!
And, what a sweet, little cutie you have found in Ashley, great timing too! So proud of your accomplishments!
Do we have to continue to watch that over weight and ugly bèaŕd of todd hoffman and his dad they do not speak like they are educated. They are awful to watch. Those beards are as ugly as they come. Todd just waddle around and doesn’t even seem to work, he just yells at his people.
Good job Parker. Got yourself a “Gold Digger”!
Ha ha..just kidding!
You two go, Aussie women are best,smart Parker. Your a smart young man who had a mentor your Grandfather,like mine. Semper Fidelis, I too will miss your Grandfather
Parker you rock ,very sorry for you and your family’s loss it was our loss as well every one liked your grandpa ,what a inspiration and mentor to have had , you still have a outstanding family behind you , plus a vast number of fans , you make watching gold rush a real treat ,keep up the good work stay cool ,and continue to make grandpa proud /and your self , oh congrats on your lady sounds like she is a keeper , will be watching , Jack R Williams
Our family is very sorry for your loss
May god be with you this season, grandpa will be watching you from heaven..
Best of luck Parker.. You have come a long way!
Loved your Grandpa. Hope you know he’s been an inspiration around here reminding us you can be fair. Nice, work hard,think things thru and work well with your team. He’d be so happy about your girlfriend
She’s a cutey. Hope she works just
So glad to see the show back. My family enjoys watching it. Of course we will miss grandpa, but look forward to watching Parkers new love blossom.
Can you Parker I’m so sorry for your loss as well as your grandfather taught you a lot of things he’s inspired me and some things in my life and I thank you for that
You Go Parker …
So sad about ur grandfather. My condolences. Bout time u had someone special in ur life Parker.
I’m so sorry about granpa, everyone loved him ,he’s in a better place, he will b watching from above, kick but parker, u have a pretty girlfriend