We also went gem hunting - it was such fun finding gemstones! $20 for a large bucket kept us both busy for hrs. We found lots of beauties and had a large Amethyst cut into a large pendant.
We LOVED Emerald Village! My husband and I - age 72 found the mine tour and history of the mines fascinating! To actually go down into the mine after watching a video of the history and stories of the people who owned and worked in the mines was very interesting!
Very pretty in the cave where they used to mine for the mineral to make Bon AMI scouring powder. There is a pool with large fish. It's green and peaceful by the cave Lots of artifacts from the mining days. You can,gem mine and pan for gold. We enjoyed it very much.
Not the typical roadside tourist trap attraction! A family owned and operated educational and scenic experience with historical significance to the areas past, complete with museum, displays, tours, activities, with retail shops including ice cream and the best homemade fudge varieties in NC! Fascinating background information, crafts, and personal staff attention!
This place is fantastic. There is a guided tour of an old gem mine. You also have the opportunity to find real gemstones such as quartz, sapphires,and various other unique gemstones. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in semiprecious and precious gems.
There is a lot to do at this very hidden attraction near Little Switzerland, NC. There are numerous exhibits (mining related and not so much), most of which are free. There is a model railroad exhibit, wildlife exhibit, minerals exhibits and antiques galore. Oh, and the place has emerald mining. The staff is knowledgeable and quite friendly. They will even help you carry your buckets, if needed. Don't expect to make a fortune on gem quality minerals here, but you never know. Either way, you will get dirty and wet---and have a good time with the family mining gems. The drive is a bit long and daunting, but you will have fun if rocks are your thing. Native buckets have mostly (almost all) feldspar and moonstone. The mix buckets are great for the kids to get some minerals for the collection. They offer cabbing but not faceting. You can also risk mining the "dumps" on your own for a fee, but most people would prefer to sit down at the flume and enjoy a bucket or two. Don't expect to get rich--do expect to have a good day out with the family.
We highly a visit to the Emerald Mines.
Emerald Village is a US Point Of Interest based in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Emerald Village is located at 331 McKinney Mine Rd, Little Switzerland, NC 28777, USA.
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