Go ahead & have fun panning or looking for gems, but DO NOT PAY TO HAVE THE STONES CUT. It cost a fortune and they are worth nothing. Just another souvenir. I have over $600 tied up in a 9 ct sapphire and a 5 ct ruby and they are only worth about $15-$20 each. Lesson learned, don't fall for... more

Went recently in August 2009. My son was looking forward to "panning for gold." We were the first ones there on a Monday morning. Obviously they must have been tired after a busy weekend or something because the the young man working there was not interested in helping us. Getting the right technique down and knowing what you are looking... more

It was a fun experience for both children and adults. But DO NOT let them talk you into buying settings or having your rocks cut. That is how this place makes their money. We left a chunk by being pulled into their sales pitch. Live and learn. more

My boyfriend and I came here to pan for gold and we also go buckets of dirt to search for rubies and sapphires and I got an emerald bucket.It was like a dream come true as I always wanted to pan for gold and find emeralds.My boyfriend found some gold and also lots of sapphires and rubies.It was a lot... more

we stayed right across the street from the gold mine. It was great to just walk there and spend so little money for such along time looking for different stones. more

We stopped by this attraction on the way into the park and enjoyed it. $8 gets you a bucket to sluice thru. I don't think its for hard-core gem miners, which we aren't, but it was a lot of fun for my 5 year old. They offer to ID the gems for free - but we took a pass and... more

I have been going 2 this place .every since i was a little boy I bought some siver jewlrey from here and it was told 2 me it was real .....................................This is not the case its fake I am so mad i will never return again more

I went there and spent maybe $30 all together. My boyfriend and I got 2 small bags. I think they were 2 for $11 or so. Then we got the bucket with the emeralds and rubys or saphires. We hit pay dirt! We found so many stones including several rubies, topaz's, amthyst, emeralds, and saphires. He had one cut for... more

having visited many of the bag-of-dirt gem mining attractions in NC, I woul dhave to say that this one is merely average...it is better then the one in Cherokee associated with the bear zoo, but if you are really interested in doind this, go to Spruce Pine or Franklin to one of the better establishments. The emerald and ruby buckets... more