After exploring the caverns, we walked across the street to the Heritage Village where they have a museum, small restaurant where you can also buy some Luray wines, the gem sluice, and some other buildings we did not explore due to an approaching thunderstorm.
I've seen gem sluices other places, like Myrtle Beach, but never understood the appeal. We were traveling with a 7-year-old this time and his mom really wanted him to experience it.
I remained unconvinced until his father started to help him pour the sand into the sieve and the geodes started to appear. Jeremy has recently embraced his love of amethyst and had just bought a geode at the gift shop at the caverns for some crazy amount of money ($65). Our 7-year-old friend came away with one on his first batch, which was nowhere near what Jeremy had spent. Lesson learned, I'm doing the gem mining first, if Jeremy ever starts talking about expanding his rock collection.
Our friend also came away with a variety of other gemstones and some sharks teeth. In his second batch of sand, he got another amethyst and the most gorgeous white quartz geode I have ever seen.
It was such a fun experience. NOW I understand the appeal. Would recommend. read more