Smoky Mountains NC side?

[CajunDixie]

I've just about got DH talked into a trip to the Smoky Mountains and have tons of info on the park itself and on the Gatlinburg area. But the problem is now I've got a recomendation to go to Franklin, NC on the east side of the Smoky Mtns to go gem mining for rubies and sapphires. I've found several sites on this and it looks like great fun......anyone have a suggestion which mine is best for "native" dirt and is open in December?

TIA

 

[shep]

Never done that before..
Bumping up for ya...

 

[browneyes]

In Maggie Valley, NC (right past the Cherokee Indian Reservation), go to Ghost Town in the Sky. If you can get lucky and ride the Devil with very few people, hold on to your hats (and your tummies). The fewer people on there, the faster it goes. My SO turned a lovely shade of green when he rode it with me. We were the only 2 on there, and we were flying. It's on the side of the mountain and it looks like you're going to fall off the mountain going around the curves. Very cool ride. Also, they have a few chintzy things going on there like a Cowboy shootout. When we went, there was this guy that played 6-7 instruments at ONE time. And he did a fantastic job. It's a small amusement park though (VERY small).

They also have that tiny Harrah's in Maggie Valley.

 

[shep]

Note to self--go to Maggie Valley for a day..
Also..if you're in Cherokee, there is a neat waterfall called Mingo falls...It's beautiful

 

[bsnyder]

Unfortunately, I don't think Ghost Town is open in December.

Here's a site with some gem mining places. Some of them are not open in the winter.

http://www.franklin-chamber.com/frmst_gemmining.html

The one we like is Jackson Hole, on Highway 64. This is my daughter's favorite activity on our annual summer vacation to NC.

 

[browneyes]

They close in the wintertime?