Our favorite gem-mining place is Mason Mountain. It's a family-run business and has been there a long time. They were very helpful and nice.We were extremely happy with how beautifully they cut the gems that we found at the mine. Out of several large groups of gems, we had one cut into a 4+ carat emerald, one into a 31/2... more

To: BentleyBoy Mount Dora, FL I think you may have went to Mason Ruby Mines instead of Mason Mountain Mines from the pictures and your description. Check both sites and compare. Mason Mountain has clean restrooms – not porta potty, you sit under the cover, buckets are salted with some items, and the finds are really good. We went to... more

Unlike the two other Mines I wasted my time and money with during my trip to Franklin. This Mine made up for every let down I had experienced! The staff are completely knowledgable about every stone you find, from the stones beginning to how to get it cut and mounted right there in the Gift Shop. I just can't begin... more

I took my 13 yr old son, 11 yr old daugher to the mine this past weekend. We had a blast. Yes, our nails were destroyed by the end of the day, and we were tired but we walked away with a good amt of gems. My son found a 6.8 ct sapphire! The first few buckets we had no... more

If your idea of 'fun' is digging in the dirt in 95 degree heat, carrying 25-30 pound buckets of dirt 250 ft. to the sluice, sitting on a rock hard bench for 3 hours slooshing through mud for "a box of rocks"- you're going to have A Wonderful Time. I took my entire adult family of 8 all the way... more

Mason mtn is the best mine in Franklin. My wife ,granduaghter,12, and I spent the week in Franklin NC starting June 9 08.We liked Mason's Mtn because you could dig your own dirt that they bring down off the mountain in a dump truck and dump it out and you load your own 5 gallon bucket and take to the... more