Boone’s Top-Rated Attraction is Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Updated By Chris Murphy
North Carolina’s expansive history includes centuries of gem mining. In fact, western North Carolina is known as “the gem capital of the world.” When you visit North Carolina’s High Country, you’ll find plenty of places to mine for precious gems. If you’re visiting Boone, make time for gem mining at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, one of Boone’s best attractions.
About Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Family owned and operated for generations, Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is the perfect locale for a gem mining adventure. Sift through rocks and dirt, just like miners did in the olden days, as you search for a treasure. Ranked first on TripAdvisor.com’s “Things to Do in Boone,” gem mining at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is a great activity that the whole family will enjoy.
Gem Mining at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine specializes in helping you find the finest rough gemstone with their ore. Choose from buckets of several different sizes, then let the staff teach you how to use the water-filled flumes to search for gems.
Once you’ve collected your buckets of stones, the staff can help you identify what you’ve found. Popular gem stones found at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine include: amethyst, aquamarine, black onyx, citrine, emerald, garnet, rose quartz, ruby, sapphire, tiger eye, topaz and tourmaline.
Stone cutting is the final part of the Foggy Mountain Gem Mine experience. Turn the rough stones into precious, vibrantly colored gems that make for stunning pieces of jewelry. Let the staff help you decide on which gem cut you’d like for your piece of jewelry.
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine specializes in lapidary, the process of turning stones into gems. Watch as your stone is polished and cut into gems by GIA-certified gemologists. You can decide what type of jewelry you would like. The stone cutting process is incredibly fascinating to watch, and one you’ll remember when you’re wearing your jewelry.
With flumes inside and outside, you can gem mine on a sunny day or a rainy day. A day at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is perfect for all ages. The gem mining process is not only fun, but also educational.
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine Prices
Buckets range in price depending on the size you choose.
Rockhound (two gallons): $40 | Big Daddy (five gallons): $85 | Motherlode (11 gallons): $145 | Wheelbarrow (33 gallons): $375
Stone cutting prices vary from $15–$80, for one stone, depending on the type of stone you choose. If you have two or more stones, the price varies.
More Information about Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is located at 4416 NC-105, Boone. A second location is set to open this summer at 24232 Highway 321 South, Boone.
Hours
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is open daily from 10 a.m.–5 p.m but call ahead as hours can vary. We are closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
