Denio is a humble little town that lies directly on the Nevada-Oregon border in Humboldt County. The population is merely 47 people. Have you heard of it? Don’t worry if you haven’t—it’s hard to spot! However, this is where you’ll find one of Nevada’s greatest hidden gems. Literally. The Royal Peacock Opal Mine has been operating for decades and it’s one of the most unique hidden attractions in the state. If you’ve ever wanted to go gem mining, then you’re in luck. At the Royal Peacock, you can mine for your own opals. This is something you have to experience.
Tucked away in the remote town of Denio is a place called the Royal Peacock Opal Mines. Surrounded by beautiful desert scenery, this is one of the few places in the world where you can see black fire opals, and potentially take some home with you.
The mine has been family owned and operated since it opened to the public in 1981. It's categorized as a pay-to-dig mine where you potentially can go home with some extremely rare gems that are worth a lot of money.
Nevada's Virgin Valley is one of the only places in the world that produces the extraordinary black fire opal. The Royal Peacock Mine isn't super well-known, but it should be. Rock hounds have been visiting this secluded part of the desert for years trying to strike rich.
You don't have to be a rock hounding expert to enjoy digging for opals. Anybody can do it. The owners of the mine are happy to show newbies how it's done and answer any questions you may have. Guests may keep everything and anything that they find.
Black fire opal is rare, but you're bound to come across opal in many other varieties as you start digging. Opals in all colors and forms can be found if you look hard enough!
Everybody who digs has the chance of going home wealthier than they were before. Depending on the size, some people have been known to go home with a gem that is potentially worth thousands of dollars. Not too shabby for a day's work.
The mine provides guests with two different mining options, making it accessible for everyone. If you don't feel like swinging a pick-axe, you can try your hand at "raking the tailings" in which you can uncover opals that have been previously knocked off by diggers.
You can make an entire weekend out of mining for opals. The Royal Peacock Mines provides a couple of lodging options for those that want to extend their stay. Spend a night in this quaint cabin surrounded by stunning Nevada scenery.
Don't forget to drop by the gift shop where you can pick up snacks and supplies. They also sell moss and fluorescent opal specimens by the pound along with various types of opal jewelry.
It's hard to believe such a unique mine with such rare gems is located right here in Nevada. You'll find it at 10 Virgin Valley Rd, Denio, NV 89404. They open for their 2018 season on May 15th and will be open until October 15th.
