This Long-Abandoned New Hampshire Tourist Attraction Is Making A Comeback

Beginning in 1803, Boston businessman Sam Ruggles started digging in the hills of Grafton, New Hampshire for the flaky mineral called mica. For about a century and a half, Ruggles Mine grew into a successful commercial mining operation, then later a popular New Hampshire tourist attraction. The mine, however, closed down in 2016 and has been dormant since. But hope is not lost! In 2024, Ruggles Mine in Grafton will be reopening to the public under new ownership.

Ruggles Mine in Grafton opened as a public tourist destination in 1963. In its commercial heyday, mica was mined here for use in everything from cosmetics to toasters.

The site is an open pit mine at the top of Isinglass Mountain that includes tunnels and subterranean chambers that are often flooded.

In its tourist era, the mine was a destination for rockhounds, who could keep any of the various minerals found on the ground or which could be chipped loose with tools.

The mine closed in 2016 and remained dormant as its owners attempted to find a new owner for the property.

In 2018 there was community support for adding Ruggles Mine to the New Hampshire State Parks system. In 2019, the mine was found a buyer but remained unused.

Finally, in late 2023, two New Hampshire residents, Joe Bodge and Eric LaRoche, purchased the mine with the intent to restore it to its former glory. A reopening is tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2024.

As of the date of this writing, the mine has not yet been reopened to the public. In the meantime, please do not attempt to visit the mine or trespass on the property. For more information on when the mine will be open to the public again, visit the Ruggles Mine website or join the Friends of Ruggles Mine group on Facebook.