//Family Road Trip In a Time of Social Distancing: Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

Family Road Trip In a Time of Social Distancing: Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

Melissa Millagan

After the last several weeks of home confinement with my little ones, it was time to rejoin the world in a very limited and cautious way this past weekend. Don’t worry the car was fully stocked with hand sanitizer and masks. It seemed only right being Mother’s Day weekend that we get to do something a little more special. We headed just an hour and twenty minutes up the mountain to Hendersonville, North Carolina on a very specific mission—Elijah Mountain Gem Mine! We were not disappointed in our experience either.

2120 Brevard Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739

www.elijahmountain.com/

Elijah Mountain Gem Mine is a family-owned and run business that exists in a perfect nook on a winding road, just past the hospital and cemetery on Brevard Road. You can’t miss this prospecting shanty cabin and it’s big welcoming sign beckoning miners of all ages in to try their hand at panning and striking it rich with fossils, gems, and memories sure to make your initial trip—will only be the first of many.

This little gem offers outside panning fun as well as an indoor flume. There are picnic tables creekside for your enjoyment as well. Inside you will wander this engaging shop that contains gems, rocks, fossils, antiques, jewelry and so much more! There is truly something for everyone.

In the center of the shop, you can gaze at the resident goldfish who gather and seem to be singing out silently with their mouths opening and closing almost choreographically planned rhythms. Water runs through a skull filling their pond and giving an authentic flavor to the atmosphere.

To the side of the shop, you will find more of the Elijah Mountain welcoming committee—goats and chickens! Several goats and chickens call this place home and love visitors!

If you time it just right, you can feed the goats too! When you go these friendly little fellows will be waiting to see you, well except for Simon, the goat—he’s a little cranky so he may or may not acknowledge you but don’t let that fool you, he is definitely glad you came by!!!

So, what do you need to know about your trip to the gem mine?

  1. It is an hour twenty-ish minutes up the mountain to Hendersonville, NC, from our Greenville area—still within our “upstate region” though. Easy access roads and enjoyable scenery on the drive makes this a fun trip for the family.
  2. Elijah Mountain Gem Mine won’t break the bank—in fact, bucket and bundles start as low as 12.99 on up to the $100+ pricier buckets—but I assure you the value is worth it in whichever bucket/bundle you choose! They also have promotions and a punch card for customer appreciation efforts as well, so always check their Facebook page! We purchased “to go” kits last week for $15, which gave us a $20 bucket credit on our next trip! Probably best of all they also have a small selection of snacks and drinks right around the $1+ range for the kiddos or adults, who might want a little something while mining! The shop contains quality and unique selection of gems, rocks, antiques and so much more. You can find gifts and souvenirs from a couple of dollars on up to the hundreds of dollars for the finer specimens and gems!

Things to Look For

  1. The Butterfly exhibit is coming at the end of May! Stop by Elijah Mountain Gem Mine do a little mining, sit by the creek, and enjoy learning about the butterflies!!!!
  2. This family invests in making sure this experience is a fun, educational, and healthy one! They are utilizing the social distancing recommendations and cleaning the flumes between uses. It provides an element of open-air and shop area so families can come and enjoy this place and still be protected as we continue to fight the coronavirus and begin to emerge into life and the world around us again!

You don’t just have to take my word on this experience you can try it for yourself! It is easy to see why they are rated a #1 family attraction and have so many excellent reviews on Trip Advisor!!! Let Sandra and Heather know you heard about them on iOnGreenville —and be sure to check in on Simon—if he is in a good mood that is!

How to Get to Elijah Mountain Gem Mine