Located at 13780 Highway 226 South in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Gem Mountain is owned and operated by Charles and Kay Buchman. Gem Mountain is open from March 1 - December 31. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Gem Mountain's hours of operation are from 9:00am to 7:00pm. The hours of operation on all other days during the season are 9:00am to 5:00pm. Gem Mountain is closed on Sundays.
Gem Mountain is a gemstone mine, and is open to families, individuals, and groups of all sizes. There is no charge for admission, and mining buckets start at $20. Visitors are welcome to take pictures of the area and any gems they find. Gem Mountain offers visitors a variety of activities.
Gem Mountain features gemstone flumes. Flumes are covered so visitors can mine at all times, even when it is raining. When the weather cools, the flume line is enclosed, and the area is heated for the comfort of guests. With flume mining, rough material is placed on the screen and rinsed with water. When gemstones get wet, they reveal crystal shapes and colors.
When weather permits, tours of the Brushy Creek Aquamarine Mine are available. These tours are only available with a reservation. Tours of the mine typically take four hours, and tours leave at 10:00am. The fee for the tour is $30 for children under 12 years of age and $65 for adults. The fee covers transportation to the mine and equipment. A guide is also provided. Visitors should keep in mind that food and beverages are not available for purchase during the four hour tour.
The Bushy Creek Mine is the main source of aquamarine at Gem Mountain. Aquamarine gemstones have blue and green hues. Staff members use pneumatic tools to break large pieces of rock so that the aquamarine can be located and mined. A gemstone can be collected, cleaned, and subsequently sorted for shape, color, and size once it is freed from the rock.
Several different gemstones have been discovered in the area, such as moonstone, sapphire, emerald, citrine, ruby, aquamarine, garnet, and amethyst. Gemstone Charts are available to help individuals identify gemstones that they have discovered.
Gem Mountain has gem cutters and jewelry designers on staff. Stones are inspected free of charge. Staff members help visitors identify gems and also evaluate the potential these gems have to be made into fine jewelry. For a fee, the gem cutters will work to polish the rough gemstones into polished jewels.
A general store is located on the premises. Featuring knives, quilts, jewelry, handbags, and more, the general store offers a variety of gift options and souvenirs. Visitors can even purchase Fenton glassware made from feldspar that is mined locally in Mitchell County. Anyone looking to simply relax can do so at the picnic area, which is by a stream.
Gem Mountain offers packages and specials as well. For example, the Family Fun Package features a one night stay at Pinebridge Inn, breakfast, and a four gallon bucket of material from the mine for $119.99 per family. Anyone interested in learning more about available packages and specials offered by Gem Mountain can call them directly at 888-817-5829.
