My wife and I went on vacation for a week in the surrounding area. We visited the mine three times that week. Everybody there was great and extremely friendly. The shop is beautiful and the mining area is very well kept. Everybody is extremely helpful, especially for first timers. Mason mine gets a 10 out of 10 in my book. This is a must activity if visiting the area. I visited one other mine before going to Mason mine and wished I had not wasted my time. Jackie is great and extremely helpful. Looking forward to going back as soon as possible. Found many amazing stones, including Rubys and sapphires. Less

Me and my husband Jacob had fantastic time with all the lovely people and friends we made at Mason Mountain. We found amazing ruby's and sapphires and other great findings to. We wanted to say thank you so much and we will be back again. Were from Florida and mind there for 3 days . Jacki and her team are super sweet and very kind people. Thank you💕💕💕 Nikki & Jacob Siler Less

We went to Mason Mountain gem mine in franklin/cower NC. First off... the inside is amazing and all the gifts are stunning. The customer service was very friendly and welcoming. 40 per person... you get a 5 gallon bucket, screens, baggies and a shovel and handtrucks... Now, you don't get a filled bucket of salted material. You get a empty bucket and you get to fill it will native dirt from the mine at the top of the mountain. You get to fill it AS MANY TIMES AS YOUR HEART DESIRES... well between 9am and 445pm. They have a water flume to wash and screen. The flume is covered too. John was the host at the mine. He is half the experience. Before you begin he will show you what the mine has to offer and what to look for. Walks you through the entire process. This guy is super friendly and knowledgeable... not only that, periodically he past by and checks out what you've found and will identify and answer any questions you have. When you are finished, you take your finds inside and have them appraised and weighed. They show off your finds under a UV light and can see your beautiful gems glow. We will definitely be going back and I'd recommend this place if you are traveling through or even want to make a day trip. Still not sure what the white rice grain looking thing is. It glowed orange under UV. Less

If you're looking for a all-encompassing, from "mine-to-finger" experience, this is the place for you. I've explored mines from Spruce Pine to Franklin, NC, and I confidently say this is the best experience I've had. I loved the "dig-your-own" aspect. Being able to walk into the shop and have one's findings evaluated topped off the experience. There is no pressure to have anything cut or set either (however we did have three rubies cut and set in rings and one kyanite necklace made). And most importantly: the staff and owners. Top notch!! I cannot recommend this site enough. Looking forward to returning as often as I can. Less

We had a wonderful time! Purchased an instant gratification bucket. With our kiddo it made for lots of fun. Got muddy and found some gorgeous pieces. Highly recommend! Less

I recently visited and had an amazing experience! The staff and John especially was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, guiding us through the process of gem mining with patience and enthusiasm. The mine itself is well-maintained and offers a variety of gems to discover. My kids had a blast sifting through the dirt and finding beautiful stones. The prices are reasonable, and the entire experience is both educational and fun. I highly recommend for a unique and enjoyable family outing. We’ll definitely be back! Less