stylized picture of a right facing Cherokee style arrow
outside of Pigeon Forge gem mine

Find Buried Treasure in Pigeon Forge

How would you like to mine for precious stones and jewels? Located minutes away from our condos in Pigeon Forge, the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine gives guests the chance to be old-timey prospectors for a day. Equipped with their very own mining kit, children will have a blast sifting through sand and rocks to find their own buried treasure.

Inspired By Real Mines

The Pigeon Forge Gem Mine is modeled after the ruby and sapphire mines found in Cowee Valley, North Carolina during the mid 1800s. At these old mines, treasure seekers would divert a stream onto a flume and fill buckets with dirt from the diverted stream bed. Next, miners emptied their buckets onto screened boxes in the flume to wash away the dirt and clay. After this long process, miner’s hoped to find rare gems, but more often than not, they would leave the mine empty handed.

Gems For Everyone

At the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine, you are guaranteed to hit pay dirt. Guests at the mine pay for buckets that are a mixture of dirt, rocks and precious stones. After you get your bucket, your family will use a real screen box and water trough to sift for actual rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other jewels. The best thing about the Gem Mine is that you get to keep all the gems you find! The Mine even has an assayer on hand to help you identify your gemstones, and a jeweler who will use your gems to make you rings, pendants and more.

After an exciting day at the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine, you will be ready to retire to one of our condos in Pigeon Forge. Cherokee Lodge Condominiums offers luxurious lodging close to all of the best Pigeon Forge attractions, shops and restaurants. With fully furnished kitchens, stunning mountain views, free wifi, and complimentary pool access, Cherokee Lodge condos have everything you need for an incredible vacation in the Smokies. Visit our Condos page to see all of our amazing properties!