Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour — Attraction in Telluride

The overall experience of exploring this mine was incredible. We had a large group and are appreciative that we were able to go together. However, our tour guide, Jason, did not have patience for children. We had a total of 5 young children in our group, plus 3 other children from the additional families.

Immediately upon beginning the tour (while I was still assisting my 6 year old with his hard hat), Jason sternly told the children that they need to be quiet so he can talk to everyone. While I understand the voice level needs to be down in order for everyone to hear, it is unrealistic for young children to remain 100 percent silent for an hour. They were also whispering and asking questions about what Jason was sharing. Another young man (about 15 years old) raised his hand to ask a question and he was immediately shut down by our tour guide. This happened more than once to the same young man as well as my 6 year old. My 2 year old also got excited about her hard hat and was told by Jason that she needed to be quiet.

Jason was extremely informative and knowledgeable but made the entire group feel uncomfortable. I would expect for an interactive tour to allow for questions and conversation, especially with young children who are developing their critical thinking skills.

If you tour with Jason, expect to be completely silent and listen to him share facts for 60 mins. Although, you will be allowed to ask questions at the very end (which by this time the children have forgotten and has now lost meaning). I do wish we could have asked more questions to gain a deeper understanding about the incredible history under our feet.

The experience itself was wonderful though. It is rich in history and overall a unique experience. I would love to do it again and truly hope Jason develops a more appropriate approach when touring with young children. Unfortunately, I do feel like our experience was not as wonderful as it should have been. I am disappointed that my family of 4 paid over $40 for a silent tour. Next time I hope I can give a 5...

This gold mine tour offers a unique and educational experience for both kids and adults. Located just 10 minutes outside of Ouray, it’s a convenient stop for anyone exploring the area. The price is quite reasonable, especially considering the gold panning activity included with admission, where kids can have a blast searching for gold flakes. At $20 for adults and $10 for children, it’s an affordable adventure. We didn’t make a reservation and were able to walk right in, which was convenient for our last-minute plans.

Our guide, Jason, was fantastic—extremely knowledgeable and full of fascinating facts about the history of mining and the techniques used back in the day. He was particularly great with the kids, keeping them engaged and entertained throughout the tour. However, parents with very young children might find it challenging to keep them still during the final part of the tour, where Jason explains how dynamite works in the mining process. The information is captivating, but younger kids may find it hard to stay focused during the more technical explanations.

The mine itself is an adventure, with its cool, dark, and slightly muddy tunnels that take you 1,500 feet deep into the mountain. It’s an immersive experience that really gives you a sense of what mining was like. Just be prepared for the cooler temperatures inside, and wear shoes that can handle a bit of mud. Overall, it’s a great...

So we went for our daughter’s 7th birthday because she is fascinated with rocks. Didn’t know what to expect - took our family of six (kids are 8, 7, 6, and 4). You put on your hard hats and then join the guide for the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, seemed friendly, and overall did a fine job. The tour includes walking into the mine quite a ways - a straight shot, cool air, old props, cave stream on the side, and talking stops along the way - a short presentation at the end and then they turn you loose to walk back.

If you’re SUPER into mines, you’d probably have a great time.

BUT for families with young kids, the tour really was above their heads and attention span, the tunnel was hard for the 4-year-old, and the panning for gold was lacking. No one was there to show you what to do, just some signs on the wall. The small area they had cleared with the flowing mine stream was hard for little hands to reach. There were some yellow paint flecks in the stream (I guess to look like gold?) and although the kids did eventually find a few small sparkly rocks, it was only with a lot of parent help.

Again, it may totally be your thing, but if you’ve got younger kids I think just finding a patch of the river to throw rocks in or hanging out at the lake may be a...