I was a chaperone for my sons field trip here today. Not only was the mining experience awesome (we found some nice stuff!), but the owners were super friendly and they have a wonderful gift shop! They even make jewelry from the gems and stones found on the property; which I think is super cool.My fiancé and I plan to come back soon and bring our boys for family mining fun. I definitely recommend this place!

Had a Blast!!!Young and old will enjoy gem mining hereYou get a choice of salted or not.... meaning you can experience what it was like to mine in the old days, and take a chance on what you findOR, get a salted bucket and find all sorts of cool rocksFor kids, the salted buckets are the way to goFor experienced miners go for the all day digs cause you never know what you might find.The gift shop is located right on Hwy 28 across from the Little Tenn river. The mine is separate, turn into the parking lot beside the gift shop, walk down the stairs. (Card payers do have to pay inside the shop, but at least they Do accept credit cards, And yall, they got an ATM! If you are vacationing here, its a surprise at how many places dont take credit cards!)Its a nice drive, with gorgeous views, no matter which side of hwy 28 you come fromVisited a few days ago, and an all day miner was finding star sapphires. Now they looked like rocks to me, but he was tickled pink, so if you know what your searching for, go for the all day digs for sure!Cool mountain stream flows thru their flume, so some might need waterproof gloves on cool days but its still fun.Snacks and such are available in the gift shop. Most reasonable, affordable gem mining/shop Ive found around the Franklin area. Thats why this place stays busy!! Locals love to go here too!!!

Took my two sons gem mining here and they loved it. They found a lot of neat gems with the $15 bucket. Since we were pressed for time we just did a smaller bucket but they loved it. The man that was handling the mine was fantastic with them and made them very comfortable. We went inside and the nice lady inside helped them sort their gems and took a great deal of time to explain each kind to them. We will definitely be back.

The owners are wonderful people and your options here are great. You can dig and sluice buckets of native dirt from a big pile they bring up from the mine (1/2 or full day) or you can buy buckets. Our older kids did a $30 bucket and it was impressive. Hubby and I mine for the rubies and sapphires. We have found some beautiful pieces and had Mr. Tom cut a couple for jewelry. You wont leave disappointed! 😊

Loved it. If you feel lucky try gem mining. You can get salted or nonsalted buckets. Nonsalted you fill your own buckets. Looking for natural gem stones. From there. Salted are easier to find for the novice miner. Wear old clothing. The dirt is difficult to get out. The flune lines provide shade. With the overhead covering. 20 yrs. ago you sat in the sun. Using large 🌂 to provide some shade. Restrooms in the 🎁 gift shop. You can buy cold drinks, snacks and souvenirs. You can also, have your gems cut by their gem cutters located inside the store. They ship the finished item to your home. Family fun for all. Picnic tables are provided to eat your packed lunch or snacks. Individuals are available for assistance with you stones. You might hear them say Its a leave a rite stone. Which means you leave it right there. Or, its a pretty rock. Dont get discouraged. You will find some gems. Dont forget to try the boiled Peanuts. They can be found a stands along the road and flea markets. Dont forget to look inside the gift shop. You can buy jewelry. Samples of the gems from the area. Pamphlets available for things to do during your stay.

Best of the dig mines in the Franklin area. Big dirt pile, covered sluice, friendly and helpful staff. The owners - Tom & Ginger - are wonderful people! The shop is great... lots of rough stones and finished gemstones and jewelry. Tom does excellent cutting of the gemstones you find when mining! Beautiful results! For those who want salted buckets for the kids, some of the best in town! Be sure to stop by for a great time mining in Franklin or order a bucket to look through at home.

This place is owned and operated by the nicest people! Our experience here was very enjoyable. My favorite mine in NC!

Very kool and interesting place, John was awesome and helped us in every way a MUST DO IF IN AREA we spent the WHOLE DAY pack a lunch

Cute farmers market accords the street with awesome Sourwood Honey and great place for Canoe or Kayaking for sure, perfect day for it in NC,you can evening mine for Gems as well

We found this mine shortly after having a HORRIBLE experience at a similarly-named establishment in the area. Our party had just driven 2.5 hours from Gatlinburg with 4 kids in tow, and we were all feeling pretty raw from it all. Luckily, John saved the day, and we were able to dig plenty of buckets and find some really great stuff. When I say we all had a great time, I mean every one of us. The grownups easily had just as much fun as the kids, and we all left thrilled with the experience. Everyone on staff was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. What had started off as a rough day really came together as one of the best experiences of the entire vacation. We will DEFINITELY be back!

Great way to spend an afternoon! Arm deep in mountain earth and cool water, it just feels good. The instruction was great, all questions were answered. Even as a newbie, I was able to recognize several natural gems (rubies and sapphires) and other interesting geological features after sifting and examining the scoopfull of potential treasure.Inside the gem shop, you can take your rocks to the very friendly and personable jeweler who will separate out the wheat from the chaff. She will then examine and weigh your gemstones and tell you how many karats and discuss the color and clarity with you. You can even have a piece of jewelry cut and set for an additional fee and a little extra time.One warning.... there are such beautifully unique pieces of cut gems in settings, you may go home with a much lighter bank account!

The staff at Mason Mountain Mine are super knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Do not expect to pull out any sort of gem quality ruby but expect to pull out a fair amount of rubies. Every morning a truck delivers a fresh mound of material to sluice. There is shade available on hot days. Expect the dirt to get packed down and it is very hard to fill your bucket by the end of the day. Regardless, what a great experience and fantastic experience. Very clean bathroom super close to the sluice site.

We had so much fun stopping by after school yesterday! We got a $30 bucket which was plenty for my two children to share. The staff provided us with everything we needed. Two plastic bags for our treasures, two soft screens, two gem identification cards and two shovels. The staff was extremely helpful with the kids and helped them individually identify what they found. We got an awesome buy 4 get one free punch card, we will be adding this as a regular family fun activity. Thank you all so much for such an awesome experience.

Ginger & and the fam over at Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop are awesome! Its the best place to mine in all of NC, for sure. We never leave without a stellar find! They are so welcoming and treat you like an old friend. Cant say enough good things about this place - check it out for yourself!

Amazing experience and owners. Tom and Ginger are the best in town. Always make a point to stop for a full day or two every time Im in town

Another one of those unique experiences you can only have here in the WNC mountains. I would definitely recommend bringing friends as its more fun when you do. The people here are incredibly nice and host events for all ages. The shop is in close proximity to a lot of other attractions in the area like tubing and fishing so its a great place to have a day trip if youre visiting from out of town.

I have been coming here for years ever since I was a little kid. All of the staff are super helpful and its just a great time. I have done plenty of digging for rubys and sapphires here and have gotten some very nice stones. I will say the buckets are fantastic and pretty much to just grab everything that doesnt look like a plain ole rock and throw it in your bag, then bring it inside to the gift shop and they will go through your stones and pick out the best stones you got as well as tell you what they are. I highly recommend stopping by and giving this business a shot.

This place does actually does have its own real mine. You dont go to the mine, but they haul ore down from the mountain for you to dig through ($40 to dig all day long). If thats not your bag, they also have the usual salted buckets. Also the family that owns it are super nice and helpful.

5 of us did the 4 hr dig. Only one member of our didnt find a ruby. We found a few sapphires and garnets, too. We enjoyed it despite the work of digging and slucing. We also purchased a bucket with gems from all over the world to slice. Pleased with the gems and crystals from it as well.Mine was well run, friendly helpful staff. Nice gift shop. They can cut, polish and mount your gem. We even saw a pair of skink lizards.

Family owned ruby mine and awesome genuine stone business and they mine everyday. Great prices. Beautiful handmade jewelry. There is something special offered for every age. A wonderful experience for all and the display cases are filled with breathtaking stones.

Best mine in the Franklin area with superb gem cutting of the stones you find! Weve been coming back for years and will continue to do so. Wear dark colors and be prepared to get dirty!

Had a great time gem mining with my friends. Staff was super nice and accommodating to all of our questions and needs. Highly recommend digging for gems here!!

We got the 5lb bucket to split between 2 kids and it was perfect. The staff was very friendly, great with kids, and very knowledgeable. Thank you for a great visit.

Been to this mine a few times. Always make a point to come every visit. Amazingly knowledgeable and friendly staff. My favorite in franklin

Amazing experience! staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. the shop was beautiful. just all around great time and fair prices. highly recommend. cant wait to go back with the kids.

Highly recommend! Great family that runs this place. Kids had a blast, prices were very reasonable and it was a very personal experience. Found a couple of decent stones (ruby and kyanite) and are having them put into a ring for my wife.

Been coming here for many years. Always the best mining around. Tom, Ginger and the whole crew are top notch.

Great place for locals and visitors alike. And while youre there might as well try your hand at panning for Gems. That next rock might be the motherlode Ruby! The staff is wonderful and always willing to help and answer all your questions. If your not into panning pick up a souvenir from the shop. They have beautiful pieces at bargain prices!

I came here when I was 7 in 2008 and here I am again in 2021, 20 years old. This place was great then and now! The staff was so helpful in aiding us during our gem mining experience. I hope to visit Franklin, NC again and mine at Mason Mountain!

The workers are very nice but the owner and his wife tried to take advantage of a 16 year old kid. found a 23 carrot rhodolite garnet and Tom (the owner) Tried to trick me into a trade of a worthless emerald he claimed to be worth 15-20 grand once cut, because his dad used to own the mine and rhodolite had sentimental value to him. It’s pretty sad to bring your DEAD dad into a situation like that when your trying to take advantage of someone. His das would be extremely disappointed in him. Took the emerald to several different gemstone cutters and they said there was no way it could worth anything near that and that the stone it self wasn’t even worth 100 bucks. he also was trying to give us some other really horrible trades for the rhodolite that was worth well over 2 grand. These trades include 100 bucks and 3 days of free admission. This guy cares only about himself and money and will screw anyone over to achieve it without and regard. If you want to see pictures of the theodolite and emerald go look at my review on their facebook.

We love visiting here. The people are all so friendly. Hope to be back soon.

The BEST place to mine gem stones. You can pay and dig your own dirt ( for half day or full) or buy a bucket. We have gone there for years and are NEVER disappointed. We almost always find something large enough to cut. (Just remember when youre mining if its heavier than it should be keep it and have the shop check it.) They can look at your finds in the gem shop. They separate and describe your rocks and give you ideas of what it would look like cut. They do the cutting and polishing right at the shop. Definitely a great place for family or serious miners. The shop is family owned and they are very friendly and knowledgeable. Pack a lunch they have a picnic table and clean restroom. GIVE it a try, youll love it!I found a garnet, they cut and polished it and made it beautiful.

Great rock shop! Mining is great, I found some huge rubys!

Awesome, helpful people. Great place. Very relaxing day. Jennis 728ct ruby! All three of us found rubies, saphires, and garnets.

The people were very helpful and extremely nice.

We drove 6 hours from home to visit here specifically. It was worth it!!! The staff went above and beyond. They allowed us to collect rocks from in front of the shop, helped us identify anything we decided to keep, and also gave us space when they could tell we were content to be alone. Santa even made an appearance and gifted us a rock. They were all the definition of southern hospitality. We found a few rubies and sapphires, but as rockhounds we loved finding unique rocks and quartz as well. We will definitely be returning in the summer.

My wife and I drove from Middlesboro Kentucky to spend the day here. It was the most fun we have had in a long time! We found a 700 caret ruby and several more along with several very large sapphires! We plan on coming back very soon and also having them create some jewelry for us out of our gems. Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks so much for a wonderful day! See you again very soon!

Wow...we just had the best experience mining here!! Lots of findings..either if you buy the buckets or dig yourself for the goodies!..amazing staff ..very helpfull and knowledgeable.. very satisfied overall ..i definitely love it and i highly recommend it for quality gems....

Tom & Ginger are truly great people and give great service at a fair value.

Had a wonderful time mining. Cant wait to to do it again. Wonderful and helpful owners. Would recommend this place for fun .

We had a great time and found several different gemstones. The guy working with us (John, I think) was super helpful and really, really nice. He is very accommodating and very knowledgeable. We went day before yesterday and weve planned a second visit before going home.

Authentic and affordable mining experience. Great place to find real carolina rubies and sapphires. Also has a nice gift shop with snacks and a clean bathroom. I found hundreds of karats the last time I went

This is the real mining experience!!! We had the best day at the Mason Mountain Mine and found lots of rubies, garnets, sapphires and kyanite. You can sift through as many buckets as you want and it is the authentic North Carolina mining experience. 100% native dirt found right up the hill from their sluicing location. Everyone found nice gems!They also have salted buckets if you want to purchase those.Tom, Ginger and John were the best hosts and we are so grateful for their hospitality and kindness

We have now been two times this year! It’s is absolutely the best! Super helpful and catering to the hard core miner and the ones who do it for fun! Highly recommend.

Love this place its absolutely amazing

We always have a great time there. Beautiful assortment of gem rocks.

Friendly helpful staff had lots of fun here

They have kept us coming back year after year. The staff has been great, very friendly and full of knowledge. It nice as an adult to watch the little ones get excited to learn about the different things they find.

A must do! We cant visit this area without stopping. Our very favorite thing to do. Amazingly friendly and helpful staff. Especially Brad.

This mine is the real deal if you are looking for native dirt to find your own untouched rubies, garnet, and sapphires. You know the the trip was worth it when your pre-teen son appreciates the value of hard work and has true pride in finding a faceting quality ruby with his own sweat and torn up hands! (Seriously, bring gloves if youre going to get into the sluice bin with your hands!).While I did not have time to visit the gift shop very long, I cannot wait to return to mine more gems at Mason Mountain Mine and actually take the time to look at the locally cut, locally faceted specimens insides Cowee Gift Shop.

So much fun! Our entire group had a lot of fun. Staff was helpful and very friendly.

It was so very fun

Prices are a bit high but they have some really great items. Many are mined on the property and gems are cut by the staff. Enjoyed the mining experience and found several fairly large ruby and Sapphire rough gems. Getting ready to learn to cut gems myself.

Great homemade boiled peanuts

Super nice and friendly people

Best place to go gem mining that weve found!! Owners are very nice and helpful. We have found several good gemstones here and have been going here for years!!

Great family fun, Ginger and Tom are great

The grandkids loved the gem mining. The guy was very knowledgeable teaching us about all the gems.

This family friendly spot is excellent to enjoy the outdoors, learn about local geology and find some beautiful gems in the process! The Johnson family has operated the mine since 1965 and work tirelessly to ensure you have a great time no matter your skill level.Their native dig pile is by far the most productive in the area. We have found many large Rubies and Sapphires along with some rare Rhodolite Garnet. If you have young kids or want to find lots of gems quickly, check out their salted buckets of fun. You will find at least 10 different kinds of gems in generous quantity.Mr. Johnson is also a master gem cutter and does fantastic work turning stones into beautiful cabochons or facet cut gems. He has been cutting stones since age 12 and can extract maximum beauty from all gem stones you find. Their shop is filled with beautiful jewelry handcrafted by him on site along with specimens, slabs for home cutting, gifts and really comfy t-shirts.I’d strongly suggest you at least stop by at the Mason Mountain Mine/ Cowee Gift Shop when visiting Franklin NC. This is certainly a spot where customers become friends and friends become family.

This is the best mine in Franklin NCThey dig from a place up the road and have a huge pile of dirt near the sluice flume. In 2 and 1/2 hours I found hundreds of Garnets and a piece of a Ruby that weighed about 30 carats. My friend that went with me and found a Ruby that was at least 75 carats. This is not a salted mine. The person sitting next to me found 2 Rubies both over 50 carats. On Saturdays it cost 40$ for a full day and you can keep all you find. They provide everything that you need. The fee for mining also includes a barbecue lunch and a ticket for quite a few raffle items. There is a rock shop across the road that has a clean restroom and will polish what you find for a reasonable price while you are at the mine.

A wonderful experience. Super fun and everyone is so personable! Cant wait to visit again.

Nice place, really nice hand made jewelry. People are family and very friendly.

Had an amazing experience here, i chose native digging and my wife shared with a friend and her daughter a 50$ enriched bucket. They were extremely happy as was i being able to find my own with alil work, everyone was such a treat to meet. Cant wait to return.

Had great fun the familys very welcoming waiting on a cabuchon ruby will update when received.

This mine is the best in the area. Visited couple others they did not measure up. This family owned business knows how to treat guest an give them the knowledge they need to be able to have a successful experience. Even the rocks polish up an make a great display In our home. Have a few gems stones that are pieces of Jewelry that my brother in law created for me. Its just awesome.

This is the 3rd year in a row that we have been coming here and this place is fantastic. The owners are super nice and always ready to answer questions. We have 1000s of carats of rubies and sapphires we have found there in the dozen or so times we have been there. This year we are keeping a diary of our trips there with what we find and how many carats plus pictures. We always dig our dirt from the all native. But I have seen the people who buy the seeded buckets leave with bags full of colorful stones.

Great place if youre looking for nice stones or great people

Super people!Super deals! andSuper prices!

We totally love going to the mine and gift shop! Its truly a hands on mining experience with lots of help and guidance. We also got several gems cut by them and they are beautiful!

Had a great experience!! Staff was very friendly and engaging with kids. I would definitely recommend checking this hidden gem out if you are in the area. We will be making this a regular spot while visiting.

Fun and fabulous! The owners were so friendly and we had a great time sifting through our big buckets. Found numerous stones and really enjoyed ourselves. This was by far the best mining experience - price, quality and quantity. I would highly recommend folks come here first - avoid the high price gimmick locations where you wont find any good quality stones. Our kiddos and the adults laughed so much and we had a blast. Was a memory we will cherish for ever no doubt.

Fun place! My husband and son planned for gems for about 2 hours. Only wished wed arrived sooner. The staff was most helpful and fun to talk with.

Very nice local mine with a long history, gift shop, not overpriced, the family owners are very nice and knowledgeable people. The location is much easier to find than many of the other mines in the area. You are assured of finding gems and theyll cut them for you and ship them home when completed. They will help you sort and pick the gems best able to be used.

Informative, helpful owner that came down a few times to guide what to pick out and look for. Very worth the money for the time. Found lots of rubies, rhodonite, a few kyanite shards, and even a couple SapphiresSapphires. Someone even found a large, iconic blue sapphire during my visit instead of the more common version of a purplish hue. Would recommend water proof gloves, clothes, and trail boots of course.

I went here on April 4th, 2019 and spent the entire day here. I found a 508 carat ruby and numerous smaller rubies. Tom and his wife are the sweetest people and they both are very knowledgeable about the gems as well as very helpful in helping newbies know what to look for. I will definitely be back and I recommend you to go here. You wont be disappointed!!!!

Disclaimer: Do not confuse this establishment with Masons mine, rubies and gems. (No negativity, just possible confusion )I met Tom and Ginger while on a two day visit with my brother from another mother Bill. Im down from Kenosha, Wisconsin, so when I think of southern hospitality, these two amazing people fit the bill perfectly. Ginger was so warm and kind, she was the aunt I always had but never met. Tom was a true professional, with an eye for gems and a plethora of knowledge. I had so much fun digging and sluicing, it was so much more than I had hoped for.If yall are in the area and looking for a fun half or all day activity, please stop by and say hello to Ginger and Tom.

My husband and I went here on our vacation last year and it was the best experience we had on our week vacation. They were totally awesome. We rated them a five. Since then my husband has passed away this passed January. We enjoyed it most of all the places we went. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will return.

I went a few weeks ago and found out when I got there the equipment wasnt running and the dig pile was really low. I didnt have much luck but everyone was friendly and had been completely up front about the situation.I went back this weekend and there had been a bad rain two days before but they managed to bring down a load of dirt. I had some good luck with about 5 rubies and two sapphire. It was a fun day, and imo the half day dig of 4 hours is plenty.

The kids had a great time and want to go back.

Tried many other mines in the area but this was the least expensive and I found lots of ruby pieces. I went back many times over the month we were in Franklin and was never disappointed. Very friendly staff!

Wonderful people. Both were very nice and easy to talk to. The mining was really fun and the gift shop had lots of really nice peices in it

The owners are very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The store has beautiful displays of gems and jewelry to purchase, as well as other cute items. I love this shop and will definitely be going back. Theyre easonably priced too!

Awesome experience! I found a huge ruby lots of rhodolite and garnets as well as sapphires. The staff is very helpful and knowledge. Great gift shop as well. I encourage a visit. I will go as often as possible.

So much fun to dig your item dirt and find your treasures! Great people and very helpful!!

We had a blast as always this time we got to try night mining from 7pm-midnightIt was a lot of fun they had music and a raffle quite a few people came to play in the dirt at night and everyone left with some pretty rocks.

Had a great time mining for gems. The people are so great they give you lots of personal attention.

Real easy to find! The employee that helped us set up was very helpful and interactive. The staff inside the gift shop were very nice and helped my daughter indentify all her gems.

The best mine for hard working miners!!

We have been returning every year since 2009. Best mine. Love how personable the family is. Be back there again in April.

Great place and Good People.

Awesome day. Great score on gems.

We love Cowee Gift Shaperd Mason Mt Mine

Awesome

What a great place with fantastic people! The ring we had made is absolutely beautiful

What fun it is here to find our own gemstones and turn them into jewelry!

This is the best place to mine. 🌟🌟 🌟🌟 🌟 Staff. Cant wait to go back!!

Very nice folks ! Very helpful ! We found lots of gems !!! Highly recommend !!

Love this place . Wonderful owners and staff . They are the best

One of the best places to go to when you are in town

Great atmosphere, able to relax and have fun digging in the dirt.