There are few places in the world where you can take an underground black light tour – at night – to see minerals fluoresce in a variety of colors while under a projection of an ultraviolet (black) light. And one of them is right here in North Carolina! Whether you’re a native or a visitor, during your travels in the mountainous areas of North Carolina, you’ve undoubtedly passed many wonderful gem mines alongside the highway. But none of them offer quite the array of gem mining experiences that you’ll find at Emerald Village near Little Switzerland and Spruce Pine.
This adventurous little mining village offers a variety of activities, making the encounter fun for everyone along on the visit.
Explore the mine during the day, enjoy shopping at the Crabtree Emerald Village, panning for gold at the mine, collecting minerals, and panning for precious gemstones at the mine flumes.
For sure, Emerald Village has enough to explore to fill at least half a day.
You'll have a whole new appreciation for this underground mine once you've seen it under the glow of a black light.
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A night time black light tour of the mine is a rare occasion to see the coatings of the minerals and gems fluoresce under the glow of an ultraviolet light.
The tour guides will have all that's needed for your tour: the high-powered black lights which the guides will operate. And for you: a flashlight and safety glasses are provided by Emerald Village for use during the tour.
Watch in wonder as the coatings of the Hyalite Opal in the Bon Amie Mine glow underneath the ultraviolet (black) light. This is one tour you'll want to make sure you bring a camera to capture.
The tour lasts 45 minutes and costs $15 for adults and $10 for students grades 1-12. There are 10 tours per year and the LAST tour for 2019 is this Friday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. (Keep in mind that Emerald Mine closes at 5:30 each day and will reopen for the 7:30 p.m. tour, so if you arrive early and it's closed, just know it will open back up on the evening of October 19.)
When most people visit Emerald Mine for the first time, a tour to see what's hiding within the open mine shafts is a must from the get-go. Have you toured the mine yet and DID YOU KNOW there is a nighttime Black Light Tour?
Emerald Village is open for business each year from the end of March through November 30th. Black light tours are conducted on only 10 nights per year. You can see a list of dates and learn more about this unique black light tour at this link. Tours are usually held rain or shine, but certain weather conditions can cause a cancellation. If you’d like to be sure the tour is still on for Friday night, October 19, you can call them at (828)765-6463. Find out more about Emerald Village from their official website – and follow the Facebook page here.
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