WNC gem mining: 6 places to uncover hidden treasures this summer
Western North Carolina is known for its hills full of hidden treasures. From rubies and sapphires to emeralds and gold, the region is stocked with gems, stones and minerals still waiting to be discovered.
The region has a rich history of commercial mining, with abandoned mines dotting the landscape, and others still producing quartz so pure, it's become a critical component of the tech industry.
But for those amateur rockhounds who don't mind getting a little dirty and maybe a little wet, there are plenty of opportunities to dig for treasure.
While Tropical Storm Helene devastated Western North Carolina with severe flooding and landslides at the end of September, outdoor recreation businesses, vital the region's economy, are starting to reopen.
Here are some of the best WNC gems mines and other spots to prospect, dig and pan this summer.
About an hour's drive northeast from Asheville, near Spruce Pine, Emerald Village is a popular spot for families to search for gems they can take home. The North Carolina Mining Museum is located here as is the Crabtree Emerald Mine, which once produced emeralds for New York's Tiffany & Co. There, visitors can pay for a digging permit and head up to the remote mine with hand tools to scour its dumps for gems.
Emerald Village, which is open for the season through Nov. 2, also hosts a black light mine tour, where visitors can go underground and catch fluorescent glimpses of feldspar and hyalite opal.
Learn more at www.emeraldvillage.com.
Off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Spruce Pine, rockhounds can learn even more about the region's mining history at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals. While the parkway sustained severe damage during Helene and the portion near Spruce Pine is still closed, visitors can still access the museum from N.C. 226.
This free National Park Service museum has hands-on, interactive exhibits where visitors can learn how the Blue Ridge Mountains were formed and evolved to produce such precious stones and minerals.
Learn more at www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/museum-of-north-carolina-minerals-mp-331.htm.
The Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine in Marion, east of Asheville, offers visitors the opportunity to try their hands at panning, sluicing and crevicing for gold along the Second Broad River.
The mine also has a campground with RV hookups for those who want a mulit-day mining experience.
Learn more at www.luckystrikegoldandgem.com.
Though the red pandas and river otters are typically top draws at the WNC Nature Center in Asheville, parents can buy a bag of mining roughage at the Nature Center Gift shop and let their children pan for gems and fossils in a mining sluice.
Bags with gems and sand are available to purchase, as are bags with a mix of fossils, shark teeth, emeralds and more.
Learn more at www.wildwnc.org
Henderson County's Elijah Mountain Gem Mine not only offers visitors the chance to take home precious stones, but it also features a goat farm, obstacle course and creek for little rockhounds to play in. There's also German-style beer on tap and a crystal and fossil store with museum-quality offerings.
Learn more at www.elijahmountain.com.
The Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine in Franklin, about 90 minutes southwest of Asheville, offers another 'dig-your-own' experience in an area with a rich mining heritage dating back to the 1870s. Here, amateur miners can uncover ruby, sapphire, garnet, moonstone and other native gems.
Learn more at www.cherokeerubymine.com.
More: Asheville 2025 unofficial Ice Cream Trail: A guide to sweet, cool treats
More: Free things to do around Asheville this summer: Get outside, stay indoors or catch a show
Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jbiba@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Gem Mining in WNC: 6 places to uncover hidden treasures this summer
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