We visited in August and it was peak season. Our family had a lot of fun there. My son wants you to know that if you want to go fast come down the left side, if you want to go slow go right. The deepest part is 8 feet. They say they get 1000 to 2000 visitors a day! The parking lot holds 800 people and it was nearly full. Admission was three dollars a person for the whole day. There are lifeguards and an orderly line. The line may look long, but it moves very fast. Aqua shoes are not required, but may be a good idea. They rent lifejackets for five dollars each, but you can go without or bring your own. There are bathrooms and changing rooms. There are no lockers. FYI - This is an adventurous ride, and it was scary for my seven-year-old. So glad we went, but our kids only went down two times each and then said, “that’s good!” Lol! Super memorable!
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I was blown away at the peace and beauty of this lodge. Every detail from the Adirondack chairs lining the waters edge, the rocking chairs on the front porch, the view of the lake from all cabins, the walking trails with plenty of seats to stop and take it all in, and the restaurant/bar with big brown leather couches and chairs nestled around the fireplace where we heard live mountain music. The staff was helpful and pleasant. There are a few hikes you can take from here from easy to challenging, just ask the front desk For suggestions. The Appalachian Trail picks up right next to this location too. The rooms themselves were clean and adequate. I heard they are remodeling, so they will only get better. I recommend this as a stop in your road trip or stay awhile and relax!
This authentic mountain stop on our family road trip was our kids’ favorite! We had never done this before, so we didn’t know what to expect. Be prepared: It’s rough and rustic, not like the commercial setups closer to tourist locations like Gatlinburg. This fun family has built all the equipment themselves and have run this gem mine for over 20 years. He said they get over 15,000 school kids visiting for field trips a year. But this day in August we had the place to ourselves! The owner sat with us and explained what each and every gem was that we found. He was very helpful and patient with our kids, 7 and 9. We started with two 2 gallon buckets, one for each kid. It took about 45 min to get through them and then the kids talked me into one more to share! The prices are much lower than in town too. I think we spent the same on 3 buckets as you would in 1 in Gatlinburg! Did I mention they have hatchet/axe throwing too? We let the kids have 10 throws each and my husband and I had to try it too! I highly recommend gem mining at this location. We made fantastic family memories at Coopers Gem Mine! The kids want us to stop back again on the way back to Ohio!