Vacation: Emerald Mine of Little Switzerland in North Cove, North Carolina
A Gem of a Good Time for the Entire Family
North Cove, NC 28752
United States of America
Located in North Cove, North Carolina it's a fantastic place to visit. Just a short drive north of downtown Asheville it's the ideal day trip for you and the kids or kids at heart. If you are traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway half the fun is getting there. Stop and stretch your legs and take in the vista of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains at the numerous overlooks along the way.
Originally, the Crabtree Emerald Mine of Little Switzerland was formerly owned by Tiffany and Co. Jewelers. It now offers tourist, school groups and weekend miners an opportunity to root through buckets of Mine Muck or Mine Run residue left from commercial mining to find amazing pieces of rough uncut emeralds, aquamarine, golden beryl, tourmaline, smoky quartz, garnet, moonstone and many other gems indigenous to North Carolina. The cost per bucket range from $5.00 to $250.00 and they guarantee you will find all kinds of beautiful semi-precious gemstones.
My husband and I decided to visit the emerald mine, purchased a bucket of mine muck and were excited to fine all types of semi precious gems. But our most incredible find was an almost golf ball sized piece of Tigers Eye suitable for cutting and polishing, along with a small oval shaped emerald that I'm having mounted into a ring. There's a self guided Mining Museum with samples of the gems, mining equipment and other interesting facts about the mine and how the emeralds and other gems were excavated.
It usually opens in April or May through Oct. 25th, from 10:30 - 5 P.M [weather permitting] 7 days a week. Their knowledgeable mine staff are eager to help you identify the less obvious semi-precious stones. What may look to you like a colorless pebble could be an opal or topaz in the rough to the trained eye.
If you live nearby or plan to vacation in the Asheville area put the Emerald Mine of Little Switzerland on your places-to-visit list. It's a fun filled day of outdoor adventure for the entire family and a semi-precious gem of a good time!
Source(s)
The Emerald Mine of Little Switzerland website
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by Deb Martin-Webster
Originally from Pennsylvania, author/artist Deb Martin-Webster and her British husband Pete, currently live on a small farm near the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. They enjoy the simplicity of their... View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentBy all means Darrin. I highly recommend it! Great outdoor fun and a true sense of adventure. We felt like ol' 49ers panning for gold. In fact my husband found a piece of quartz with a small gold vein running through it! Very exciting!
I want to go there!
Thanks you all for your comments! I love this place. We plan to go back in August. Tip for the gals: if you've just had a manicure you may want to bring along a pair of work gloves. You'll be sifting through wet sandy gravel for hours and it can be rough on newly polished fingernails!
I've been there and found some good minerals, quite a variety and large size compared to other similar places. One of very few emerald mines where the public is welcomed and reasonable prices. Good article.
great work!
I'd never heard of this before. It sounds like a great place to visit!
Sounds like a cool place to visit! Thanks for sharing the info.
Nice job wish I were there.
I have heard of this mine. I love the idea of the mining sluice. A lot of caverns have this set up for visitors too. I would definitely visit here if I was in the area. Great article!
LOL David, I wish they would let us enter the mines! They mine the muck and bring it to you. You sit at the mining sluice empty your bucket into the quick flowing water, wash the ore and ta-da gems appear! Fun time!