Rock Hounds -Gem Mining in NC!

Guests at Pet friendly Wilson Creek Cabins enjoy Rock Hounding for Gemstones.  The applachains are some the oldest mountains in the world.  These creeks and streams have exposed veins of gemstones and if you are lucky enough and know how to find them they are here.  For vacationers we recommend the mines in Franklin NC and Hiddenite NC.  Chances of finding a family treasure are there and the experience is great.  Lifetime memories for kids and adults enjoy and treasure thier finds too.

For the memorable Mountain Vacation fun for all ages come to the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic Gorge and you never know you may stumble upon a tally whacker gem of your own.

         List of Gem Mines for your Rock Hounding Mountain Adventure:Gem Mines  
BooneFoggy Mountain Gem Mine 
About: Mostly imported gem ore from Brazil
Address: 4416 Highway 105 South, Boone NC 28607
Telephone: 828-963-4367
Travel Time From Asheville: 2-21/2 hours west.
River and Earth Adventures, Inc Gem Mine 
About: 90% imported gem ore from Brazil, some from local mines
Address: 1655 Highway 105, Boone NC 28607
Telephone: 800-411-7238, 828-963-5491
Travel Time From Asheville: 2-21/2 hours west. 
CantonOld Pressley Sapphire Mine
About: World's largest blue star sapphires were found at this mine. Only native gemstone ore.
Address: 240 Old Pressley Mine Road, Canton NC 28716
Telephone: 828-648-6320
Travel Time From Asheville: 45 minutes west.
FoscoeThe Greater Foscoe Mining Co.
About: Indoor and outdoor flume gem mining.  Native gem ore enriched with imported.
Address: 8998 Highway 105 South, Foscoe NC 28604
Telephone: 828-963-5928
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours east
Franklin
Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine
About: Only native gemstone ore from the Cowee Valley. 
Address: 41 Cherokee Mine Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-349-2941
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine
About: Native and imported gem ore .
Address: 6771 Sylva Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-369-5271
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Gem Mine at Gem World
About: Imported gem ore only from five different countries.
Address: 1884 Georgia Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-349-5411
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Gold City Gem Mine
About: Native and imported gem ore, gold panning. 
Address: 9410 Sylva Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 800-713-7767, 828-369-3905
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine
About: Native gem ore where you dig your dirt from their own mine.  
Address: 6961 Upper Burningtown Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-369-9742
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop
About: Native gem ore where you dig your dirt from their own mine. Also enriched buckets with imported ore. 
Address: 5315 Bryson City Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-524-4570
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
Rose Creek Mine
About: Native gem ore where you dig your own dirt from their own mine.
Address: 115 Terrace Ridge Drive, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-349-3774
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west

Sheffield Mine 
About: Native ruby and sapphire gem ore from their own mine.
Address: 385 Sheffield Farms Road, Franklin NC 28734
Telephone: 828-369-8383
Travel Time From Asheville: 2 hours west
HendersonvilleElijah Mountain Gem Mine
About: Imported gem ore only.
Address: 2120 Brevard Road, Hendersonville NC 28739
Telephone: 828-693-3123
Travel Time From Asheville: 30 minutes south
 HiddeniteEmerald Hollow Mine
About: Native gem ore, including emeralds, from their own mine.
Address: 484 Emerald Hollow Mine Drive, Hiddenite NC 28636
Telephone: 866-600-4367
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Jefferson
Gem Valley NCAbout: Native gem ore, some imported
Address: 2489 Little Peak Creek Road, Jefferson NC 28640 
Telephone: 336-982-5177 
Travel Time From Asheville: 3 hours east
MarionHeather Grove Gold & Gem Panning
About: Native and imported gem ores and local gold
Address: 43 Polly Spout Road, Marion NC 28752
Telephone: 828-738-3573
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 hour east

The Lucky Strike Gold and Gem MineAbout: Native and imported gem ores, gold panning in the Second Broad River. Campground.
Address: 251 Lucky Strike Lane, Marion NC 28752
Telephone: 828-738-4893
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 hour east
Little Switzerland:
The Emerald Mine of Little SwitzerlandAbout: Native and imported gem ore, two dig sites.
Address: 74 George Street off of McKinney Mine Road, Little Switzerland NC 28749
Telephone: 828-765-6832
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Spruce Pine:Emerald Village
About: Native gem ore from their mine and other area mines. 
Address: 331 McKinney Mine Road, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Telephone: 828-765-6463, 828-765-0000
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine
About: Covered flumes. Gem ore brought in daily from mines.
Address: Highway 226, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Telephone: 888-817-5829
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Rio Doce Gem Mine
About: Native and imported (Brazil) gem ore
Address: 14622 Highway 226 South, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Telephone: 828-765-2099
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Spruce Pine Gemstone Mine
About: Native gem ore from local gem mines.
Address: 15090 Highway 226 South, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Telephone: 828-765-7981
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours east
Union MillsThermal City Gold Mine
About: Panning for gold from ore from their site. Gem ore from native and imported sources.
Address: 5240 US Highway 221 North, Union Mills NC 28167
Telephone: 828-286-3016
Travel Time From Asheville: 1 -11/2 hours southeast


Gem Shops
Asheville
The Silver Armadillo West Gate Shopping Center, Asheville NC; 828-253-3020
Franklin
Burglens Natural Gems 5868 Sylva Road, Franklin NC 28744; 828-524-9171
Cowee Gift Shop 5315 Bryson City Road, 828-524-4570
Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine & Gift Shop 6771 Sylva Road, Franklin NC 28734, 828-369-571
Franklin Gemstone & Jewelry Warehouse 3002 Georgia Road, Franklin NC 28734, 828-524-6132
Gold City Jewelry & Gem Shop 9410 Sylva Road, Franklin NC 28734, 828-369-3905
Ruby City Gems & Minerals 130 East Main Street, Franklin NC 28734; 828-524-3967
Tari's RokGem 1884 Georgia Road, Franklin NC 28734; 828-349-5411


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