Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine has been family owned and operated for generations. We are located in the mountain community of Boone, which is in the beautiful High Country of North Carolina. We are the choice Gem Mine in our area because of the experience that is offered our guests by our knowledgeable staff, and because we offer buckets of the finest gem ore from the best gem mines in the world. You are invited to come and satisfy your craving for a gem mine adventure and experience the thrill of discovery as you pan for gems. Just like miners from the old days, you will sift through dirt and rock using water flumes to find your treasures in the safety and comfort of our year round location on Hwy 105 in Boone. Regardless of the weather, you can search for gems since we have both outside and inside flumes. Each bucket of our gem stone mix contains genuine rough gems. We guarantee a gem find every time.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
511 reviews
Excellent
360
Very good
122
Average
20
Poor
4
Terrible
5
UNC4life
Winston Salem, NC2 contributions
Aug 2020
Family stopped by today for first visit. The service was amazing. Very friendly and safe. We purchased the 70.00 bucket and it was well worth it for kids age 5 and 7 to share. The staff explained to the kids what gems they found after they finished the bucket. Great place!!
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KDP90205
Alva, FL13 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
We took my 6 year old son who is obsessed with rocks and gems. The young crows working there were very sweet and patient. They took their time and explained what each stone was and provided answers to the questions we had. We also got quiet a few nice size keepsakes. Thank you all for a wonderful experience.
Written January 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LadybugRiceLake_WI
Rice Lake, WI385 contributions
Aug 2020
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is amazing for everyone! My husband and I were there by ourselves and we each bought a motherlode bucket. As adults it was so much fun to sift and swish the stones around in the water and see the colors appear, and the kids around us were having a blast and learning a lot from the workers that walk around to answer questions and provide help if needed.
When you are done you can take your loot inside and talk to staff about exact gem identification and if you want to get any stones cut they will help you decide which are best for cutting and they have a gem cutter on staff to take care of that for you (the stones are cut at a later date and shipped to you).
My husband and I were lucky enough to have Wendy go through our stones and educate us on them. She was so great with the kids in the group ahead of us that she put us at ease before we even got up to her station to have the rocks identified.
We are already planning another trip to NC next year with a bigger group and my sister and I plan on splitting a wheelbarrow! :)
When you are done you can take your loot inside and talk to staff about exact gem identification and if you want to get any stones cut they will help you decide which are best for cutting and they have a gem cutter on staff to take care of that for you (the stones are cut at a later date and shipped to you).
My husband and I were lucky enough to have Wendy go through our stones and educate us on them. She was so great with the kids in the group ahead of us that she put us at ease before we even got up to her station to have the rocks identified.
We are already planning another trip to NC next year with a bigger group and my sister and I plan on splitting a wheelbarrow! :)
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
O1624BUcraigw
Winston Salem, NC841 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
We took our 2 years old grandson and his parents to Foggy Mountain Gem mine. It was raining, so indoor fun was perfect. There are several separate buildings, including an indoor space for ax throwing. There is a room that is slightly askew. One feels off balance and objects seem to defy the laws of physics. There was a museum with Native American artifacts, including a large collection of arrowheads. There is a place to get a snack or have a sandwich. Great family fun.
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tckitty2018
Salinas, CA39 contributions
May 2022 • Family
Oh my goodness this was so much fun. We bought the small $30 dollar bucket was enough for 3 adults to have fun with. You sift through rocks and sand as you did in the gold rush days with water and a sifter. We got lots of awesome semi precious and precious stones. I would do this again if I could with my grandchildren if we lived in the area. Definitely recommend.
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steve
2 contributions
Jun 2022
A great way to spend some family time and learn about some of the beautiful stones that we might otherwise easily miss. A smaller bucket for a young family will do the trick, but I recommend working your way through a mother lode, which keeps older elementary and teens, as well as the adults, entertained for well over an hour. Great anytime, but especially when you have a rainy period. The staff are very helpful and go through your “finds” with you. And with the “mother lode”, you get one each - a cut and polished stone (faceted) and a polished oval. Our last visit got us a cut citrine and a polished tiger’s eye.
Written June 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KandKAndrews
Bartlett, IL143 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Ended up stopping in last minute since we were originally going to Boone to go snow tubing (which was canceled last minute). Our three teens spent about an hour going the bucket and ended up making some jewelry. Haven’t received jewelry yet but looking forward to the finished product
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LEFlem
Birmingham, AL175 contributions
Oct 2021
We just spent a beautiful fall Saturday morning at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine. We are a family of five - kids ages 9, 7, and 5. We all split the Motherlode, and it was a good choice for us. It kept the kids busy and engaged, and no one could fight about their bucket being worse than someone else's. Everyone found plenty of gems they liked. The motherlode includes a free cut for one of your second tier gems and a free cut to one of your third tier gems. We also paid to have one of our precious stones cut. This trip was not cheap, but the kids loved it. It entertained them and took care of souvenir shopping all in one place, which was great because this was a short trip for us. Also, make sure you are wearing clothes that can get dirty. (We were headed to a wedding that afternoon, so we made sure we built in time to go back and get cleaned up after gem mining.) Also, allow time for them to sort your stones - that part is free. The cuts and polishing is what costs extra. The staff at Foggy Mountain is mostly students, and they are all friendly and helpful. With or without kids, it's a pretty fun way to spend a little time in Boone.
Written October 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JAXTRAVELLINGMOM
Jacksonville, Florida64 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
The tourist attraction was surprising fun for my entire family which included 2 teenagers. We were given a small discount on our $40 bucket for being in the military, which was a nice gesture. We learned a lot about gemstones after we found our stones from the bucket. We also ordered 2 pieces of jewelry from our findings. The price was quite high for the jewelry compared to what downtown Boone sold in their shops(sterling plus gemstones). I paid the high price bc it was a fun memory for my girls and they will always have that piece of jewelry to remember our trip by.
Written January 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ashley j
Raleigh, NC14 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Awesome place! We purchased the Big Daddy bucket for our 2 kids to share and it was worth every penny! They each found some really great gems and stones. Everything from emeralds, rubies and rose quartz. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful! My kids loved it and we will definitely be back again! Highly recommend!!
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there day prices for individuals to dig and look for Gems on their own there?
Ambassador205589
10 contributions
You get buckets. Depending on the size is the price. We have done this for years and I can't count on how many times we have gone to foggy mountain but always get the mother loads which I believe is $110 a 5 gal bucket I think is $70. I've been to all the gem mining in the area and this is far the best for you buck. Staff is awesome.
taheraisl
Raleigh, NC
How much is the ticket for adult? How long is the tour? How big is the place? If we find any gem are they included in the ticket?
featherlane
Gainesville, FL4 contributions
You will be purchasing a "bucket" of rocks - there is a bucket size to fit any budget. One or many in your party can sift and find gems. You get to keep ALL of your gems - in fact they actually go through your discarded pile to ensure you didn't accidentally mistake a gem for a rock.
You can sift inside or outside (depending on weather). There is no "tour", but there are plenty of gems in glass cabinets and on display that you can check out.
Could we do this on the way to Grandfather's mountain?
Gary B
Pilot Mountain, NC24 contributions
Yes you can. Obviously planning is important and taking that hour or more to really enjoy the experience is important. I go in the mornings..best time and not so busy.
Gay Gray M
1 contribution
Are the gemstones natural or man-made?
Harris H
Hollywood, FL295 contributions
The gem stones are
Natural
What is the entrance fee for adults?
Nik V
Boone, NC15 contributions
There is no Entrance Fee, only prices per bucket ranging from a
1 gallon=$15
2 Gallon=$30
5 Gallon=$70
11 Gallon=$120
Wheelbarrow=$325
sharing is recommended, everyone will receive their own sifters and their own bags
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Claim your listingFoggy Mountain Gem Mine - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
- Foggy Mountain Gem Mine is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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