Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine

"We took our 14yo son to mine for gems and had a great time. Zachary was awesome at explaining and educating us on the technique and gems we would find. Although we picked the coldest day of the week and our hands were numb by the end, we had a great time and would love to go back if we are ever in the area again."

"Amazing experience. Unsalted Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet, Jasper etc. Including rare specimens. Very nice owners - Zach and Erik who helped us and educated us about the precious stones. Pet friendly. Family friendly. You can even camp there for free with admission. Very affordable. Take credit cards as well. Bathrooms, creek, shade, benches, parking. Handicapped friendly. Highly recommended."

"Had a great time at the dig site at Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire. Spent over 5 hours digging and panning/ sifting. Zeke and Eric would help with anything asked. Dark room and uv lights are offered to help identify your finds. A young girl was there and asked many questions. Zeke was very knowledgeable and helped educate her. Pet friendly atmosphere. My yorkie hung out and watched everyone. Would have loved to stay longer, but it was a spur of the minute trip and last day in North Carolina. Prepare to get dirty but so much fun."

"We will definitely be going back here soon! This is a genuine find, a real experience and not touristy nonsense. Everyone was so helpful teaching us along the way and taking time to explain. Once your buckets are sifted, you take them to the dark room to see what you have found with UV lights. They even have UV glasses to protect little eyes. Everyone had a ball, and we definitely found something our entire family seems to enjoy. We are already planning our next trip back!"

"We had a great time! My husband and I ended up finding a decent sized sapphire. The staff were helpful and eager to answer all our questions. You have the option to either dig and fill your own bucket or sift through one that's already been filled. Afterwards you head to a dark room to examine the stones with a UV light. I wouldn’t consider this place touristy. So if you’re looking for something more commercial looking with a big parking lot, gift shop, etc. this might not be your cup of tea. It’s authentic and that’s what makes it so awesome in my opinion! I would definitely go back!"