Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Emerald Hollow Mine

    3.7 (75 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Emerald Hollow Mine

    Jewelry repair

    Emerald Hollow Mine Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Emerald Hollow Mine

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Gem mining
    Ashten G.

    Took my son here for his birthday with all our friends. Toddlers up to 3rd grade and the adults, we all had an absolute blast! Caleb is the manager, he is friendly, playful, and full of knowledge. We had so much fun and can not wait for our return. Definitely anew family favorite.

    Large quartz

    Plan on spending a whole day! Pack your lunch, there is no food there. And a change or two of clothes. Bring some towels too. Great restrooms considering it could be portajohns. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The operations seemed well organized. It's definitely dirty but it's because you're there to play in said dirt! We dug our own dirt for a long time, then cleaned it. Then went to the creek- that water was ice cold! So we didn't last long there. But then we bought a bucket and I can say the bucket didn't have as many rocks in it as I would have thought. However it was all a blast we spent an entire day and honestly I'd go back and do it all over again.

    Muddy fun
    Dawn C.

    Fun place for your tiny geologist!! You can sluch buckets, play in the river or even mine for raw gems. The value of the fun is in the adventure. It's a very shanty chic looking spot. It's very down home fun. You'll get muddy. It's a good old rustic North Carolina tourist stop. The parking lot is small. The bathrooms are clean but small. The spot is remote and off the beaten path. But honestly my kid loved it!!

    Obsidian found in creek?
    Brian P.

    Visited in July 2020. Creeking was fun and we found lots of small gems and rocks. We didn't find much digging and the walk down the hill with buckets was tough. I'd skip that next time. But what surprises me is that my son found obsidian in the creek (confirmed by employee). My understanding is that you can't find obsidian east of the Mississippi. Do they seed the creek? It was a fun day regardless, but that would be good to know.

    21 carat Ametrine Very rare stone found naturally. It is a gem quality
    Dusty O.

    This is not my first experience here, but it was a special one for me! First off if you've never done this and you like hanging out at the creek! This is a must do because you never know what that creek will spit out at you. The other times I went there, I was always on a time limit. This time I had all day from 8:30 till about 6. It gets dark quick back in the woods making visibility to see stones very difficult! This weekend was amazing. When we got there we got our equipment and a young guy by the name of Daniel Coleman kinda pointed us in the right direction and gave us some helpful tips that came in handy. I most say excellent customer service. Top notch... I think I remember him saying he was a volunteer. Thank you Daniel! I'll be back!! The payoff for my trip of digging in the creek a 21 carat Ametrine!!

    I found a nice size emerald!
    Melinda B.

    This is a great place to go have some fun my husband and I drove up to Emerald Hall mine and bought a bucket of dirt and sluice it was pouring rain so we decided not to go out digging. The staff are so knowledgeable and wonderful to talk with! we had a great time and I know this would be fun for families too!!

    Susan J.

    If your kids like some sort of thrill sluicing or creeking for seeded "gems", then this place is for you. You can easily tell that they prefilled and sorted these stones inside 2 or 5 gallon buckets before your sluicing activity. The seeded stones all have jagged and sharp edges in the creek a short walk from the sluice area. On the website, scroll down to the bottom, beside the bucket fees there are separate fees for a permit to enter the mining area. So, adults are $20 and kids 4 and above are $10 to sluice and creek. Everybody pays. This is on top of the bucket prices (assorted prices) and shovel rentals ($3 each). The kids (10 and under) enjoyed it. It was fun to see my kids enjoying it, but they mostly enjoyed just playing in the creek. $100 later with a baggie mostly of crushed quartz, will I come here again? Most likely no. However, I do have to say that Steve who assisted us in admissions and sluicing was super nice and informative.

    Emerald from the creek

    See all

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    I loved this place it was so cool! Lilly A was amazing. She knows how to talk to people and is very helpful. Just very kind overall :)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    It was one of the most unique places to find gems they are so beautiful Worth my money I highly recommended it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam W.
    14
    1
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mary W.
    11
    21
    4

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sasha S.
    15
    221
    41

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P M.
    0
    11
    0

    9 years ago

    Great place, nice people, knowledgeable. I imagine they get busy...go in the morning during the week. You will get dirty.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Emerald Hollow Mine

    Review Highlights - Emerald Hollow Mine

    Mining in the creek was really addictive, I mind relaxed and found a sense of peace while on the search for priceless treasures!!

    Mentioned in 36 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Jewelry 301 times last month within 20 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Gems by Gemini

    Gems by Gemini

    (1 review)

    I can't believe I get to be the first to review. We have such a special story about GBG. My…read morehusband (boyfriend at the time) took a winter trip up to Blowing Rock years ago. We happened across this quaint wonderful little store as we were exiting the candle shop. He said, let's go in and look around. Inside we were greeted by the most wonderful father and daughter team. We were lucky enough that one of their gems dealers was in town for that weekend only. I was able to find a beautiful, vintage sapphire stone in an heirloom piece of jewelry. Long story short, I fell so much in love with it that my husband bought and it and it became the center of my engagement ring. I get more compliments than you can imagine on the work and setting they created for me. Truly one of a kind. Keep in mind this is everything that a jeweler should be. Many of them are handmade pieces, crafted with the most loving of care. This is not a chain; this is a family owned business. You will not find a better jeweler anywhere. They are the epitome of the jewelry craft in my opinion. We will be visiting Blowing Rock this fall sometime to see the changing of the colors and I will be sure to stop in again. Please take time to visit this wonderful shop, especially if you are saving up for a truly beautiful piece.

    From the owner: Gems By Gemini is a small, independent Blowing Rock, North Carolina, jewelry and gift shop…read morespecializing in colored gemstone jewelry featuring genuine stones from leading gem mines throughout the world. You may choose from the large inventory of our finished jewelry or have your new jewelry custom designed to meet your personal style & taste. We work in most metals including 10 kt., 14kt., 18kt. gold, as well as palladium, platinum, and sterling and you can trade in your 'old gold' for credit on in-store purchases or custom creations! We are very fortunate to have several extremely experienced goldsmiths that can do everything from repairs to wax carvings. Our other custom manufacturers have been carefully selected for their capabilities, quality, and the fact they produce your jewelry here in the US! Gemini can also help you with your diamond needs, whether it is a personal jewelry purchase or for a special occasion. We have access to a vast array of quality diamonds suppliers.

    Garon's Jewelry & Design - Jewelry Repair

    Garon's Jewelry & Design

    (4 reviews)

    It's nice to be able to leave a 5-star review to an establishment like Garon's. I'm fairly picky,…read moredon't give out 5-star ratings very often, but I feel it's a well deserved rating. Terrific place, with super nice folks who work there. Garon, the owner, is one swell guy to work with. Big jewelry store in a seemingly small building. Lots of inventory from watches to all kinds of jewelry; I can't imagine a person not being able to find what they're looking for there. I just went in for a watch battery. It was not only replaced in a few minutes, but for $8, a person couldn't ask for a fairer price than that. I'm relatively new to the area, and had probably driven by 1000 times before I knew they were there. A friend turned me on to Garon's, and said he's been going there for decades. I was as impressed by the store as I was with its owner and staff. Garon's will most definitely be my go-to place from here on out.

    This place is why you buy from small family owned jewlers. I found this place on Yelp while working…read moreup in North Carolina. The ring I got for my Fiancee (now wife) is an absolute gem (hold applause for puns please). The owner Garon, his wife, and Michael were all great. When I found a problem with my ring after purchase I mailed it to them and they fixed the problem at no cost. Considering this involved them actually replacing the diamond with a higher quality one, this is unheard of in modern business. Do not go to Jared, do not go to Zales, go here!

    Hardin Fine Jewelry

    Hardin Fine Jewelry

    (2 reviews)

    I came to this jewelry store two years ago, and thought they had beautifully crafted jewelry. While…read moremany of the pieces are very expensive (more than $2,000), you can find other jewelry that is under this amount. I found a very different and striking necklace out of metal by an artist, and also purchased a pendant of large, inlaid stones. Their offerings are artistic, with an emphasis on natural materials that seem to come from the mountains surrounding their building. It adjoins an art gallery, and this is a perfect companion for their space.

    The ONE place you must stop by when in that part of the mtns. Susan is knowledgeable, creative,…read moreand energetic. She has the talent of making someone looking for a $24 pair of earrings feel as important as the one shopping for a custom crafted creation valued in the thousands. And being a good retailer, she keeps a good selection of affordable little pick-up items; and she takes as much care wrapping it as she does the custom creations. She has a true passion for her work -- and it shows in the creativity of her designs. If you're looking for an artisan gift, stop by and meet the lady who makes things happen for you! We've shopped with Susan every summer for close to 30 years -- and we plan our travel around visiting her shop at least once; and you usually see a second item that gets under your skin, and you know you must go back and get it before leaving, or you will regret it for the rest of your life! Shop, browse, enjoy !!!

    Emerald Hollow Mine - jewelry - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...