Emerald Village: Underground Mine Tour

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and about 1 hour from Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock is Emerald Village, a group of gem, mining, and historical attractions. Tour the underground Bon Ami Mine at the NC Mining Museum, where you’ll see fabulous displays of historic mining equipment. Enjoy the splashing waterfall and see the Company Store, re-creating an old mining town. Visit Discovery Mill, with many free displays, including the Music Museum, the Homestead Museum, the Blue Ridge Model Railroad display, the Fluorescent Mineral display, and more. You’ll soon see why Emerald Village was featured on The Travel Channel.

Show your Go Blue Ridge Card to save 10% on gem buckets at the Gemstone Mine where you’ll have ‘buckets’ of fun searching for real gems in a spectacular setting! Find colorful gems including emeralds, aquamarine, garnets, amethyst, quartz and more. Keep what you find! Have your gems identified by experts, who can also cut, polish, and mount them into exquisite jewelry.