By Julie Mathews
Set aside a few hours during your visit to spend time at Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine, a locally owned and operated attraction in Blowing Rock offering a variety of fun activities for all ages. In 2007, the establishment was born out of the previous owner’s love of rocks, and this admiration continues today with new owners, Dale Wolf and Angelica Wolf, who purchased the business in January 2024. Housed in an 8,000 square foot building, Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine is an indoor attraction so there is no need to plan around the weather. “This unique gem mine focuses on minerals but has evolved into a family destination, from little children up to serious rock hounds,” says Wolf. “You’ll always get more value than what you put in.”
Here is what you can expect during your visit, starting with a friendly staff that is ready to walk you through the gemstone panning process and educate you about gemstones and the area’s deep gem mining history, which reaches back more than 200 years. After picking out and purchasing a bucket filled with ore, get ready to get your hands dirty! You will be guided to the gem mining sluice, where you will receive a screen and shovel. Next, you will rinse your stones by dipping them in the running water and shaking them side-to-side, eventually revealing your finds. There is no telling what you might uncover in your bucket! Wolf purchases the ore himself with a focus on high quality, cuttable material. Once purchased, the ore is not picked through. What you get from your bucket comes directly from the mines ensuring everyone has a chance to find exceptional gemstones. “It’s about the thrill of the hunt to see what you will find,” says Wolf.
At Doc’s Rocks, there is a strong emphasis on the customer experience. The staff takes time and informs visitors about stones and minerals, explaining their backgrounds and pointing out the gems that work well as jewelry pieces. According to Wolf, making jewelry from the special gems discovered during your visit makes for a wonderful family heirloom, reflective of the memorable experience at Doc’s Rocks.
Additional attractions include dinosaur-themed Paleo Putt-Putt, Virtual Reality Laser Tag and a Nerf Battle Zone where the whole family can play together. There is a large gift shop with items for children including books, toys, puzzles and games as well as a section for adults with striking mineral specimens and unique, handmade gifts including wood products, jewelry boxes, hand carved animals and much more.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to go there and have a good time, thanks in part to package deals where you receive discounts by combining activities. Families, students, rock hounds and regular folks who love gem mining regularly frequent Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine. They also host various groups for birthday celebrations, church groups, school field trips and in the party rooms.
According to Wolf, one of the best aspects about owning the business is hearing visitors comment that the experience is one of the most fun things they have done during their vacation. “Families come and make memories to last a lifetime—and even longer.”
Wanna Go?
Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine
100 Shoppes on the Parkway Road
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-2034
docsrocks.org
