2026-07-19T01:53:15.787Z

My partner and I had an amazing time at Mason Mountain Mine! He's a GIA Graduate Gemologist, so we've visited quite a few gem and mineral locations over the years, and this was one of our favorite experiences.The drive from our hotel was quick, and the scenery on the way to the mine was absolutely beautiful. When we arrived, we spent some time in the gift shop before mining. They have an incredible selection of minerals, gemstones, crystals, jewelry, and gifts. Everything is organized by material, which made it easy to browse and add a few new pieces to our collection. We also picked up several stones they had cut in-house, and the quality of their lapidary work was outstanding.We chose the unlimited bucket option, and it was so much fun. Being able to walk over, fill your bucket with native mine material, and then discover what treasures you found never got old. The staff was incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and happy to help identify everything we found. They made sure we knew which pieces were especially nice and answered every question we had.Throughout the day we saw families and kids having just as much fun as we were. It's definitely an experience that anyone can enjoy, whether you're a serious rockhound or just looking for something unique to do while visiting Franklin. They also have drinks, snacks, and clean restrooms, which made spending the day there even more comfortable.One tip I'd give future visitors is to bring a small flashlight or headlamp. Even in the sunshine, it really helps when you're looking closely at the material to make sure you don't miss anything.We had an absolute blast and would come back in a heartbeat. If you're reading reviews trying to decide whether to visit Mason Mountain Mine... stop thinking about it and just go. You won't regret it!

2026-07-18T23:47:21.860Z

The greatest place to find real local ruby non salted dirt right off the mountain. They do have salted buckets that may be more exciting for the kid's. Very friendly staff.

2026-07-02T12:05:51.685Z

We have went several times before and have even found about 30 with two 100+ carat honkers are most recent trip was less bless ed but we did find some kianite 8 rubies and 1 Sapphire we always find lots of garnets here

2026-06-28T03:13:50.531Z

Our group had a great time. The owners were super friendly and helpful. We had a lot of fun getting dirty and looking for gems. Found a bunch of cool specimens in the native (unsalted) mine dirt. We also got our moneys' worth from the salted buckets as well. My wife was giddy with what we found. A wonderful way to spend a day. Nice workout too.

2026-06-20T23:43:18.901Z

Fantastic family experience once again from Mason mountain mine and COWEE gift shop. Tom and Ginger were wonderful hosts and helped us identify gems found. The grandchildren had a great time as well. Definitely worth the trip and time spent there. We even purchased gem dirt to go. We highly recommend his family friendly gem mine and gift shop. 5 star all the way for sure.

2026-06-12T13:58:44.390Z

Highly Recommended! Unsalted soil found lots of rubies,garnets and kyanite!Someone found a really nice sized sapphire while I was there!Family friendly with an awesome gift shop! You won't be disappointed!

2026-06-07T14:06:56.859Z

Fun place just make sure you remember the way you came because you lose signal. It's Messy Red/orange mud water but if you plan on spending the day then going back to wash up before going anywhere else you're good. They have a dig yourself Rate where you can dog all day or a bucket they pre dug and added a few handfuls of extras (All Natural no polished Temu looking fake trash here) My husband and I shared a 5 gallon Pre Dug bucket together took maybe an hour. Just remember You'll get Dirty bring Something to do a wipe down after it looks like self tanner/dookie all over.

2026-06-06T16:16:57.305Z

Yesterday, we (me, husband, and 3 kids ages 12, 13, and 15) spent the afternoon at Mason Mountain Mine, and it was the perfect way to finish our summer vacation in the Appalachians. We had an absolutely wonderful time! We wanted an authentic experience searching for native minerals, but since we would be driving for several hours afterward, wanted to go somewhere that we wouldn’t get TOO dirty, or at least somewhere that had decent facilities for cleaning up afterward. Mason Mountain Mine fit the bill perfectly! I love the fact that we were able to fill buckets with fresh native diggings without having to go all the way to the mine ourselves (in fact, during the 4 hours we were there, they brought a fresh dump truck load of dirt 2 different times!). We did the $40 unlimited buckets native dig pile ($40 for adults, $20 for kids 6-12, and under 6 is free with paid adult). The pile is right by the end of the flume, with plenty of shovels available, plenty of buckets, and plenty of dollies that can be used to transport your full buckets back to your spot at the flume if needed. It literally took me about 2 minutes to take my bucket to the pile, fill it, and get back to the flume - so my time was spent finding treasures instead of having to use time digging dirt from the mine and hauling it back (a longer distance) to the flume. So I really do think their setup is the best of both worlds - you’re digging fresh, unsalted dirt from a native mine, but minimal effort needed to get the dirt to the flume. (They do also have salted options to make things more exciting for kids, or for anyone who would like something extra in their bucket). Tom and Ginger are wonderful - Ginger was super helpful getting us started and teaching us what to look for. We found Rhodolite garnets, corundum (rubies and sapphires), kyanite, and probably more (I am still on the road now and haven’t been able to fully clean and sort through all of my treasures!). Literally every sieve load had at least one small “keeper”, and most sieve loads had several keepers! When we were done, we were able to use their spacious and clean bathroom to clean up and change clothes so we could get on the road. Overall, I would 1000% recommend Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop, and I really hope I get to come back one day!