Cooper's Gem Stone Mine is a fun and educational experience for the entire family. We offer a variety of buckets pre-filled with authentic mine ore to sluice at more than 300 feet of flume space. Miners may purchase a "Cooper Drum," a 5-gallon, 2-gallon, or a two quart bucket. For those who wish not to mine dirt we do offer an alternative sand bucket. By request of several of our faithful customers, in 2005 we began offering a specialized preschool pebble pup bucket that is filled with sand, trinkets and treasures for the wee one, elderly and differently-abled "miners" to "discover" on their search for the hidden treasures.
Cooper's Gem Stone Mine was a dream of Amy and Johnny Cooper. Amy and Johnny were married in 1991. While on there "honeymoon" trip they visited a gem stone mine. While Johnny could not convince Amy to leave her new found hobby to go and get a bucket of chicken for supper, she insistently turned and asked Johnny "when we get home will you build me one of these?" Johnny laughed in her face. After returning home with not even enough money to buy a cold soda out of a soda machine, (at that time a name brand soda was only 50 cent) they both settled in to married life and college life. In the fall for Amy's birthday Johnny presented her with the plans to build her gem mine. Amy was thrilled. Johnny and Amy discussed with Amy's parents about using over grown property near a country style craft shop that her parents owned in historical Blountville, TN. The idea was approved. Over the course of several months they had managed to save a few hundred dollars. Needless to say, that was gone within the first few projects to build their dream gem mine. The pond which services the flume was dug on a cold December day with snow spitting in the air. By early spring the flumes began to take shape. With no more funding, an idea and the ability to work hard they managed to open on Johnny's birthday the following summer. When they first opened they only had about 50 feet of flumes to allow customers to sluice the ore. Well, over many heartaches and headaches and many personal sacrifices, today we are proud to say that Cooper's Gem Stone Mine was able stay in business and triple our flume space to better serve our faithful customers over the years. When Amy and Johnny began this journey they were mere teenagers, she was 18 and he was 19. Over the years some not so understanding people found it difficult that such a young couple could own, operate and manage their own business. However, a lot of sweat, tears, and prayers and a pay as you go attitude, and saying no to any type of debt, have allowed us to bring this fun and educational experience to others that has a passion for sluicing authentic mine ore to find real gem stones. Today in 2008 we have proudly served our customers for sixteen years. Thank You to all of those "miners" who have supported us. We "treasure" all of our customers. Meeting all our guests has enriched our lives.