Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby Mine — Attraction in Yellowhill Community

The folks at Smokey Mountain Gem Mine are amazing. This is the third opportunity in which I have had the pleasure of working with these amazing folks. The first two times was in 2022. On my first trip, my niece and I wanted to go do something so we chose to go mine for gems. In that occasion, I had a garnet and topaz set made with some of the gems I mined. The last photo is of the garnet/topaz ring, that has a matching necklace and earrings. The second time, I sent some citrine stones back to Chris and the wonderfully talented jeweler there, (I apologize but her name escapes me right now.) to make two totally different style rings. Be for my oldest daughter and one for my niece whose birthdays are in November, a day a part. They both loved them. The turf time was the day after Christmas when my husband and I slipped away for a couple days. My first stop, Smokey Mountain Gems. I needed the tone replaced in my “Princess Diana” ring which my 2nd husband got me. Skip about 20 years ahead, I began wearing the ring on my right hand, I looked down one day and the stone was gone. Luckily, I found it and was able to have it repaired. Skip another 10 years ahead and again began wearing it on my right hand, looked down and this time I wasn’t so lucky. I never found the stone. However, I remembered that I had mined a sapphire and some nice dark chocolate colored Smokey quartz. So, I took in my setting and Chris and the jeweler looked at my sapphire and told me it wasn’t large enough to fit the setting once it was cut but one of the Smokey quartz was. I was like okay, I trust you. I also had a broken opal and blue aquamarine bracelet. The jeweler was able to take out the opal and use some of my mined topaz stones which I had taken along and make the beautiful opal necklace to go along with an opal ring which I already had at home. I have attached the recent pieces I had done and just received today. If you’re in Cherokee and looking for something fun to do with the family or even on your own, please stop in and say hello and give mining a try. Trust me, you’ll be surprised at what you find. If possible, treat yourself and let them make you a beautiful piece(s) of jewelry. I promise you will not be...

Don’t bother!!! Store ok with nice help- but the gem folks at least, the elderly man who serviced me was the rudest, least helpful, person I have met in long time!

Stopped in close to closing time in early oct. Mostly to speak with the gem / stone / jeweler folks about having some work done. on some rock finds from my last trip to the area.

Would’ve dropped about $400 willingly., but was told he could only do work on or comment on rocks from one of his/ their 5(?) places/mines. I said mine was from a local mine.

Then hardly glancing, from a foot away from my specimen, which I thought had a large blue sapphire in it, he coldly commented that it wasn’t one. I asked how he could tell without looking closer at it. But no comment

When I said it was heavy, he didn’t hold it or look closer.I also asked a general question about cleaning iron and clay from rocks. All he said was their rocks had similar dirt but no answer to my question.

It’s not like they were busy as there was no one else inside or out as it was 5 min till closing and during the week.

Not surprised to read in other comments , that they were total rip offs in their gem mine...

We had a wonderful time with our grandchildren at your facility. Good value. Friendly people. Would recommend it. Except one lady in the store. My grandchildren were wearing masks as they were unvaccinated. No problem. Happy to comply with your posted request. The clerk told me that children were UNABLE to contract Covid, and furthermore should not get the vaccine as it would cause them to become sterile. All false information. I tried to end the lecture repeatedly and was followed. When she exhausted that conversation, she then pushed me to take them to Santa’s Land? Going into intense detail in front of the children of all the things they could do there, and the treats they could eat. She explained that she knew this because she also worked there. She was extremely pushy and annoying. She made an extremely pleasant visit to your facility leave a rather negative reaction to walk away with. Not to mention her uninformed and scary misinformation about Covid. Not her place...