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    Little River Gem Mine

    4.8 (19 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Jo C.

    This is off the beaten path, but SO worth it. There is a huge selection of glass, rocks, gems, and petrified wood outside and inside. The owner there can answer any and all questions and provide so much insight into every single piece. You can also buy buckets of different sizes and go out to the mine and see what you got. We are adults and were giddy looking at all the surprises in the buckets. You get so much for the price. I can't say enough good things about this place!!!!! We can't wait to go back.

    Nikki R.

    We wanted to steer away from the main touristy gem mining spots and we're so glad we did! We came in with our 3 year old son and absolutely loved it. We got the $50 bucket and left with about 5lbs or more of gems! We found a geode and the gentleman working there cut it in half for us to see. He also provided clear instructions on how we could care for them and display the gems back home. The gentleman was very knowledgeable and even told us about spots where we could go gem hunting in the state. Overall, we had an amazing time. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND! 10/10

    Beautiful rock garden.

    I can't give this place enough stars! We had the absolute best morning at this gem mine. We mined 4 buckets and each person left with over a pound of gems, minerals and shark teeth. The gentleman helping us was so knowledgeable and kind. My kids had the best time asking him questions and he gave such thorough answers. This trip was fun but we also learned new gem facts. Our rock hound daughter was in absolute heaven and even she learned some new things. We'll definitely be stopping in again the next time we're in town.

    Such a great shop! Beautiful pieces of jewelry and stand alone gems. The shop owner knows so much about each type of stone and their history. Very reasonable prices and lovely treasures, all around a win win!

    The owners spend time explaining what each gem is and where it came from.

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    1 year ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Price was not terrible. Kids loved it. Friendly Owners. We would come back, next trip.

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Little River Gem Mine

    Review Highlights - Little River Gem Mine

    There were sooo many amazing gems - they are very generous and it's well worth the money per bucket.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine

    Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine

    4.0
    (12 reviews)
    47.2 mi

    Scam Alert -- Avoid at All Costs…read more My family arrived at Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine at 3pm and immediately realized we had made a mistake. We were charged $30 per person just to stand on the property, plus a 10% credit card fee. Moments after taking our payment, the only employee on site, Zach, announced he was leaving for the day and that we could "stay on his property." No staff. No guidance. Nothing. When I politely asked how we were supposed to identify any gems without an employee present, he became agitated and hostile. I asked for a refund since we had just arrived and no services had been provided. That's when things escalated--Zach began yelling and got in my face aggressively. We immediately returned to our car and left. The property itself is nothing but piles of rocks. No buckets or tools are provided -- you're expected to scavenge everything yourself. Bags cost $20 each unless you post a positive review on the spot, and they charge another $75 just to evaluate anything you might find. It's pure extortion. I have since filed a police report and am actively working to recover the $165 we were charged for absolutely nothing. Please sort reviews by "lowest" before visiting--many people describe similar experiences. This place feels unsafe, unprofessional, and predatory. Stay far away.

    DON'T GET SCAMMED!! READ THIS FULL REVIEW FOR ALL THE DETAILS. I really wanted to love this place…read more The fact that Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine is unsalted is what brought us here--it felt like a rare opportunity to experience an honest dig and possibly find something special. And we did. I found what appeared to be a naturally formed ruby crystal: very clear, vivid red under lighting, and visibly fluorescent--something gem-quality by any measure. Unfortunately, the excitement ended in the dark room, where we were invited to examine the stone. A staff member, Eric, took it to look more closely and never gave it back. We left empty-handed and deeply unsettled. Eric was extremely excited about the stone, literally did a little jump and said "WOW!!!" while examining it, and then the stone disappeared while he was holding it. Before we left, he said he thought one of the other miners there "swiped it," but there were no other miners working in the dark room at that time. Makes me wonder if this is business as usual when someone makes a good find--encourage them to hand it over in the dark room and then palm it. We trusted Eric at that point. He had been helping us with our questions and giving us great guidance all afternoon. We called the next morning to speak to Eric about the situation, but no one answered and after leaving a voicemail he didn't return our call. I'm sharing this not out of anger, but because others should be aware. If you visit: Keep all stones in your line of sight at all times. Examine them in daylight if possible, before entering any enclosed spaces.Politely decline if someone offers to take the stone from you to "look closer." If you make a great find but want to continue mining, put the find in a safe spot in your car and lock the car. Show it to no one. I hope this was just a misunderstanding. But it didn't feel right, and I wouldn't want anyone else--especially children or first-time rockhounds--to lose something they worked hard to find. This could still be a great experience, but only if you advocate for yourself and protect your finds. I encourage the mine to put better safeguards in place.

    Photos
    Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine
    Flume and sifter
    Flume and sifter
    Digging in the mine

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    Digging in the mine

    Little River Gem Mine - hobbyshops - Updated August 2026

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