At Emerald Village in Spruce Pine, experience hands-on mining paired with a rare black light mine tour revealing vibrant, glowing minerals unique to North Carolina’s Blue Ridge. This day package delivers history, geology, and adventure for all ages.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–4 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for all fitness levels with mostly walking and light manual activity
Wildlife
History
Spruce Pine has long been a hub of gem and mineral mining, contributing to North Carolina’s reputation as a source of rare fluorescent minerals.
Conservation
Emerald Village promotes low-impact outdoor activity and educates visitors on preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Appalachian mining regions.
Emerald Village
At Emerald Village in Spruce Pine, experience hands-on mining paired with a rare black light mine tour revealing vibrant, glowing minerals unique to North Carolina’s Blue Ridge. This day package delivers history, geology, and adventure for all ages.
Emerald Village in Spruce Pine, North Carolina operates a historic underground mine and an on-site museum dedicated to regional mineralogy and gem mining. The attraction provides hands-on gem mining experiences where visitors sift gem-filled buckets, keep discovered stones, and may turn selected finds into custom jewelry. Guided tours of the underground mine offer context about mining history and local geology while museum exhibits display specimens and explain fluorescent minerals.
Emerald Village offers two primary experiences: the Black Light Mine Tour and the Combination Daytime Package. The Black Light Mine Tour is a limited, night-time underground experience that reveals fluorescent minerals such as Hyalite Opal under ultraviolet light. This special tour is offered just twelve times per year, creating a rare opportunity to see vivid mineral fluorescence underground. The Combination Daytime Package combines a visit to the historic underground mine with museum access and a hands-on gem mining session suitable for families and groups.
Safety and interpretation are provided through guided experiences and on-site staff, with demonstrations of mining techniques and information on local geology. The site’s mountain setting near Spruce Pine provides scenic surroundings typical of the North Carolina mineral region. Visitors can expect an educational, tactile experience focused on geology, mineral fluorescence, and gem recovery, with the option to keep and later craft selected finds into jewelry. Black Light Mine Tour dates are limited to twelve per year, so visitors often plan visits around scheduled UV events and museum programming to ensure availability for this unique underground experience today.
Location
Spruce Pine, NC
Blue Ridge mountain setting
Tours Offered
2 experiences
Daytime and night options
Limited Night Tours
12 per year
Rare Black Light Mine dates
Hands-On Mining
Keep found gems
Sift buckets and make jewelry
Check available dates for the limited Black Light Mine Tour or schedule the Combination Daytime Package for museum access and hands-on gem mining in Spruce Pine.
Reserve Tickets for Seasonal Black Light Tours
The black light mine tours run seasonally and often require advance booking to secure your spot.
Wear Comfortable Clothes for Mining
Dress casually with sturdy shoes as you’ll be sifting through dirt and rocks with hand tools.
Bring a Camera for Fluorescent Minerals
Photography under UV light is tricky, so a camera with manual settings helps capture the glowing minerals vividly.
Plan for At Least Half a Day
Between museum visits, mining, and the black light tour, set aside 3-4 hours to fully experience Emerald Village.
Sturdy Closed-Toe Shoes
Protect your feet while sifting through mining material and walking on uneven surfaces.
UV Flashlight
Enhance the black light experience and see fluorescent minerals glow outside the tour.
summer
Reusable Water Bottle
Stay hydrated during outdoor activities in warm weather.
summer
Light Jacket
Helpful for cool weather during outdoor mining or evening tours.
spring|fall