Emerald Village, Little Switzerland

About Emerald Village

Emerald Village is a group of gem, mining, and historical attractions in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Visitors explore 12 historic mines and tour the North Carolina Mining Museum, which includes an underground journey through the Bon Ami Mine, the Bon Ami Waterfall, and collections of old mining equipment. The Discovery Mill building spans 12 levels with exhibits featuring a model railroad display, native wildlife, black-light minerals, an antique tool collection, and the Antique Music Museum. Guests can dig for gemstones at The Gemstone Mine, pan for gold in a real mine, or collect minerals from the McKinney Mine dumps or the world-famous Crabtree Emerald Mine. The Discovery Mill building also houses two gift shops and picnic areas. On selected nights, special black-light mine tours use ultraviolet lamps to illuminate the underground passages. Admission is charged separately for each activity, with tickets sold online through emeraldvillage.com.