Sign the Guestbook Thursday 23 May 2013 04:14:30 EDT Thank you for visiting my site. Here you can leave your comments. Total Records:90 Viewed Per Page:20 [1]  Previous <<  1 | 2 | 3  Next>>   [5] Name Comments 70 Lori and Chris Schubert Lschubertrn@aol.com Location: Northern Virginia Sunday 14 Aug 2011 19:48:32 EDT We just returned from our second trip to Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire mine. Once again, we had a wonderful time. Ray, Maria and the rest of their family continue to be the nicest people in the world. Thank you for spending extra time with us and showing us around. We found some lovely stones and a nice 17.8 carat sapphire. We also found rubies and lots of other smaller sapphires. We left several stones to be cut, with Bob at the Cowee Valley Lapidary.(He smiled!!!!) We highly recommend this mine. We won't go anywhere else. Wonderful findings and even more wonderful people! We hope to visit again soon. 69 John & Becky jcarter70@comcast.net Location: Indianapolis Indiana Friday 12 Aug 2011 18:50:52 EDT My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our couple-day visit recently. We picked this location based on comments here and it was worth it. Ray and his family truly are as you'll read here - very friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and willing to help ensure you don't miss a treasure by inspecting all you sift. We found several small sapphires, the largest weighing in at 12.9 carats, as well as moonstone, sillimanite, garnet, and some nice pieces of rutile, the largest at 49 carats. No rubies for us during our visit but we learned a lot and had a great time. A special hello to Mark and Tony as well, who we understand are regulars. Regards, John & Becky 68 Sandy Pierce adamandsandypierce@nctv.com Location: Seneca, SC Monday 27 Jun 2011 00:20:35 EDT My husband and I, and one of our friends, had a great time when we were there a few weekends ago. We enjoyed talking with Ray and getting the tour of the operation. We can't wait to go back. We found some very cool pieces of pottery and several small gemstones. Ray and his family are wonderful people and I think their operation is the best in the area. 67 Melanie melaniecampbell@rocketmail.com Location: Toledo, Ohio Saturday 25 Jun 2011 22:00:20 EDT We had an awesome time gem mining! It was so relaxing and we found several good-sized gems. The staff was awesome, we really learned a lot! 66 maria hikingangel@hotmail.com Location: sweetwater, TN Monday 30 May 2011 15:19:31 EDT Had a wonderful time at the mine this weekend. My friend and I found some garnets. The trip was very relaxing. This is my second trip this year and I plan on returning very soon. LOTS OF FUN! 65 M. Christine Webb mcwebb40@yahoo.com http://www.phytoenergetics.com Location: Lothian, Maryland Friday 22 Apr 2011 20:17:10 EDT In my healing practice I have most recently been drawn to crystals/minerals. Looking into gem mines brought me to Cherokee mine, especially the fact that it is not salted, all natural.After inviting my parents, sister and her boyfriend, my children and I all went on a most wounderous journey to N.C., with much laughter and excitement. The best place we visited was Cherokee Mine, the informational instruction, the help from Maria and her son, their patience while checking our finds made this the highlight of a totally amazing trip! Hope to return one day! Thank You. 64 Don and Carrie Phipps carriecp85@aol.com Location: Washington Saturday 9 Apr 2011 21:43:29 EDT Had an absolutely wonderful time!! There was the most wonderful lady there to help us (I didn't get her name) but she made our day She spent a lot of time with us showing us what to look for. We found a small ruby that was big enough to have cut and also a larger stone with and "eye" in it that was called sillimanite that was big enough to have 2 stones cut from it. If we are ever in the area again we would definitely go back! 63 Karen Porciello karen.porciello@atf.gov Location: ATF Headquarters Monday 8 Nov 2010 14:03:59 EST Hey Ray! I have been wanting to come visit since you told me what you were doing after retiring but time has just slipped by! I was talking about your place with some friends the other day and they would really like to come down! I think we're going to plan a trip for next year in the Summer. 62 Mommathunder thunder16@tds.net Location: Tellico Plains, Tennessee Sunday 10 Oct 2010 09:59:45 EDT We visited on Oct. 8th and we had a blast! We had never been there before and had just a slight idea of what we was looking for. But, They WAS GREAT! They would re-check any screen of rocks we ask them to no problem. Marie would sit beside you and show you the best way to look and find GEMS. Yes,when I missed a good sized sapphire she pointed it out to me...lol There was also a hugh gem found by another visitor while we were there. Prices was great and dirt was not "already preview" all the buckets was the same price. This was a great day for us. Helpful hints Take a Pair of Dishwashing Gloves! This will keep you hands dry and not get sore from cleaning off the rocks.Sunscreen and Bug spray is also a plus hey the are outside after all. 61 Velma and Lacey Holder vhlh1959@yahoo.com Location: Charlotte NC Monday 4 Oct 2010 10:02:44 EDT Marie, we had such a wonderfully peaceful day on Saturday Oct.2 and we wanted to thank you for the best day ever. We come to your mine for the quiet, calm place that it is. We go away with such a serene feeling. You are such a gracious lady and we appreciate you, your little helper and your kindness! And our finds will keep Lacey busy for the winter!! Thanks again!! 60 Andy and Erin Mize andymize@msn.com Location: Alabama Sunday 3 Oct 2010 21:50:27 EDT We had a great time at Cherokee Ruby Mine. Marie was so nice to us. She and Katherine were very helpful in identifying our finds. Thanks so much for a nice day outside.We would recommend this mine to anyone who wants a "native" mine experience. 59 Stewarts junebugquilter@yahoo.com Location: concord Wednesday 8 Sep 2010 09:37:40 EDT We picked this mine because it was not "salted". Ray was very patient in teaching me what to look for. I did find a ruby nice enough to have cut, which I am! The mine is a beautiful location. They have cabins for rent too. We will definitly be coming back and I will recommend this mining experience to all my friends. 58 Farris family Location: DuPage Cty, IL. Saturday 21 Aug 2010 17:36:28 EDT Got rained out of the site today. It's probably hotter, but it's better to go on a sunny day. The rocks dry out and can be identified easier. Also, don't use the last instruction on Google Maps, just stay on Cowee until you find the place. You know it's legit when you see the owner sorting buckets for herself, when not helping others! 57 David Dunn ddunn2020@gmail.com Location: McDonald TN Friday 20 Aug 2010 09:16:01 EDT We were first time visitors and we had a BLAST !!! You will not find better entertainment for the money. This is enjoyable for all ages. "Mom" Marie and Ray the owners were SO helpful and Friendly. My sister found a 72 Carat pink sapphire "WOW", she was so thrilled! We will definitely be back again many times, we're hooked! No "salted" stuff here it's all the real deal. They also rent out cabins, which we plan to try next trip. You must go to Cherokee mine, it will be a day or weekend well spent, and it's so inexpensive! Thanks you both Ray and Marie for the Wonderful time !!!! 56 Lori and Chris Lschubertrn@aol.com Location: Springfield, VA Friday 13 Aug 2010 11:04:51 EDT We just returned from Franklin, NC. We visited this mine three times during our stay. The staff is wonderful and very helpful. We really enjoyed our time here. We found several gems that we dropped off at the local lapidary to be cut. I would highly recommend this mine to everyone. If you want a sure find, go to one of the salted mines. If you like the excitement of an unexpected find, go to Cherokee. You are likely to find a much higher quality gem. You wash the dirt away and see "something" shining back at you in the screen. You cannot help but get excited as you uncover a gift you have been given from the earth ! Nature's version of a Lottery Ticket ! 55 Jim B jpb56@hotmail.com Location: Florida Saturday 31 Jul 2010 19:22:02 EDT This was the best, I will tell all my friends about this great find. It is so relaxing to sit there and go through your dirt, never thought playing in the dirt could be so much fun. Thanks again , we'll return.... 54 Tracey ChevyGal70@yahoo.com Location: Lancaster, Ohio Monday 19 Jul 2010 23:18:37 EDT On 7-17-10 my boyfriend and I, along with my cousin and her boyfriend spent the day here and we ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! We drove 450mi from Ohio to try our hand at gem mining. We planned to visit another mine, but after reading bad review of it on the internet and figured out that some other mines are "salted" we decided to go here because all locals we talked to recommended it. They said it was "the best". So we ended up here. The staff was MORE than helpfull and nice. This was our first time doing this, and we were clueless, but by the end of the day at closing we did not want to stop. Our group found 4 sapphires, many garnets (at least 3 worth cutting), and my boyfriend found a large rutile worth cutting and making a nice piece of jewlry with! We are now going to be repeat customers! I would recommend this place to anyone!! What amazes me the most is, I found gems (precious and semi-precious)that are native to the area and has never been touched by a human hand except mine!! I plan to have a ring or necklace made with them and this will mean more to me than any other piece I own because I found it!! Oh by the way tell "Mom" thanks for staying and helping us with the last of our "buckets" and sorry for being the last ones to leave that day. She is a sweetie, and went overboard to help and not run us off when you closed at 4pm. Thanks a million!!! 53 Angie Anixon_01@hotmail.com Location: Lancaster Oho Saturday 3 Jul 2010 09:16:46 EDT My sister and I just returned from Franklin, NC. We spent 2 days at the Cherokee Mine with Maria. We had a great time. Maria is a gem herself, very nice and helpful. We only found some little garnets and 2 sapphires, a tiny ruby and a nice piece of silliminate. But it was a great place for the real gems not the salted gems. This will become an annual trip. 52 K. D. & E. hawk9393@yahoo.com Location: Northampton,PA Thursday 3 Jun 2010 13:19:00 EDT We had such a wonderful time. It was even an adventure beautiful scenery the way my Garmin took us. Maria and her helpers were fantastic. Maria took my son and his girlfriend and showed them what to look for and even showed them fossils that she found in the mine. I went to other mines after here and there is NO comparison, this is the best by far and the most fun. I plan a trip every year in a different place and my son only wants to some back to Cherokee and that is where we will be. Thank you for the wonderful time and giving us such fond memories. Can't wait to get back. 51 The Potter Family bbf@cmsinter.net http://blissblossomfarm.com Location: Middleton, Michigan Saturday 22 May 2010 19:38:07 EDT Thank you Marie for a very fun day!! Without even knowing it you created a wonderful memory for us. We learned alot too! We took our gems down to Cowee Lapidary and are expecting some really nice cut stones back; Sapphires, moonstone and sillimanite. Thanks again Mike, Helen and Joshua