Get Back to the Past - Gem Mining at the Runaway Mountain Coaster

Neil Sawford • June 28, 2024

Get Back to the Past - Gem Mining at the Runaway Mountain Coaster

Get Back To The Past – Gem Mining at the Runaway Mountain Coaster

If you have plans to experience gem mining, and if you're in Branson, you don't need to go far because you can enjoy it at Branson Mountain Mining.

As the longest gem mine in the Ozarks, it sits near the banks of Fall Creek. What you need to do is to choose the kind of gems you would like to mine. Fossils, gems, and much more are available at Branson Mountain Mining. This is one of the best activities in the area to experience after enjoying a thrilling ride on the Branson roller coaster.

Once you are ready for gem mining, head into the gift shop and get the bag of paydirt right. This is your chance to see fossils and gemstones. We have options for you! After you've purchased the paydirt, head out to our custom-built sluice, where you can sift for treasures from your bag.

Everything you find in the bag is yours to keep! Or buy the paydirt bags and take them home to sift through at your leisure. Either way, you are in for a treasure every time at Branson Mountain Mining.

Hunting for exciting gems and crystals at Branson Mountain Mining can be rewarding, even if you don't find a precious gem. Many recreational gem hunters enjoy spending time outdoors, learning about geology, and socializing with other gem hunters.

Others are more goal-oriented; they look for their own birthstones or attractive gems to make into jewelry. Some collectors want to find as many types of gems and rocks as possible to catalog and display.

There are many ways to get involved in gem mining, from fee digs to staking your mining claim. You must first learn more about geology before you can achieve geologic glory. You can't just go outside and start poking around in the rocks, hoping to find specific types of gems and crystals.

Minerals formed in the Earth's mantle can reach the surface over millions of years due to massive geologic effects like tectonic plate upheaval. Deep rocks can be brought to the surface by earthquakes and volcanoes. At the same time, wind and water erosion gradually wear down surface soils to reveal buried bedrock. Humans can also reveal bedrock, so looking for gems near tunnels, railroads, or construction sites can be rewarding.

There is a different way to find each gem in the world. Australian sapphires are found in a specific area with alluvial deposits. They're scattered across the ground of gravel under the soil. Gem hunters dig through the gravel ground and filter the rocks by shaking them in water in a pan. Sapphires settle to the bottom of the pan because they are heavier than most rocks. Any sapphires on top will be visible when the pan is flipped over and emptied.

After you have enjoyed the thrilling ride on the Branson roller coaster, don't miss visiting Branson Mountain Mining. There, you will find tens of thousands of different types of minerals. Even though the varieties of gems are fewer, they are created under conditions so diverse as to be nearly infinite.

The hardness, clarity, crystalline structure, and color of gems and minerals are all affected by pressure, heat, location, other minerals and impurities, water, and later geologic forces. That is why they are so uncommon.

At Branson Mountain Mining, we carefully select and create our unique blend of gemstones, crystals, and fossils from around the world, which we combine into unique concentrations of mining dirt to represent each "theme" they offer. These beautiful earth elements come in various sizes and shapes, natural and enhanced, just like our options.

Even within the same theme, no two mixes are identical. Your treasure may include natural and enhanced semi-precious gems such as amethyst, quartz, rose quartz, citrine, emeralds, obsidian, crystal points, jaspers, agates, calcites, arrowheads, shells, fossils, and many more not listed!

Your mining adventure begins with a bag of gem mining dirt and a screened wooden box at Branson Mountain Mining's custom running water trough. Scoop the mixture onto the screen, then lower your screen box into the water, shaking the tray to separate the mining dirt from the gems. As the gems appear, you will be amazed.

When you're done panning at the water trough, take your gems to a table to sort and continue identifying your gemstones with the specimen identification chart that comes with the package. Then, you can take your finds home to add to your collection, start a new one, or simply admire them for years.

Go gem panning at Branson Mountain Mining Adventure Park after an enjoyable ride with the Branson roller coaster. You will surely bring home good memories from this unique adventure, especially if you find many semi-precious stones, even if you think they are of little value.

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Close-up of a souvenir t-shirt featuring a mountain coaster design

Shop & Adventure in Branson

By Neil Sawford • August 29, 2025

When you visit Branson with your family to enjoy a wonderful vacation, don't pass up the opportunity to shop at some of the best shopping locations. Branson shoppers will find everything on their shopping lists, from specialty shops to department stores. If you've had an exciting ride on the roller coasters in Branson, MO, the next thing you should do is go shopping at some of the shopping malls listed below. Branson Landing Branson Landing, the Midwest's shoppers' paradise, is one of the most visited shopping destinations, offering almost everything you need for your holiday shopping in Branson. This fantastic shopping destination is home to the famous Belk Department Store, which provides a wide range of clothing and accessories. It also has Bass Pro Shop, which has everything you need for outdoor adventures. Branson Landing, a center for great shopping and dining opportunities located between Lake Taneycomo and historic downtown Branson, is one of the most visited attractions in town. The easily walkable Branson Landing is less than a mile long. It features a lakeside boardwalk, an open-air promenade, and more than 100 retail shops and fine restaurants. Shopping is the ideal activity after a thrilling adventure ride on the roller coasters in Branson, MO. Historic Downtown Branson Historic Downtown Branson's famous shopping destination is a short walk from Branson Landing. Shopping in Historic Downtown Branson can undoubtedly relieve the stress of visitors who are having a great time touring the many exciting places in this vacation paradise. You will enjoy what Branson offers as you walk through the beautiful streets, old buildings, and nostalgic themed shops in downtown Branson. You can see the beginnings of Branson in the Ozarks in Historic Downtown Branson. But there's more to Branson than just reminiscing. With many shops and dozens of exciting attractions for people of all ages, this neighborhood transforms into a thriving complex full of exciting activities. Whether you're looking for gourmet foods, baked goods, or original art, the historic downtown Branson has it all. There are many fine restaurants and eateries in the historic downtown Branson, a time-enhanced exciting location. Branson Craft Mall Visit the Branson Craft Mall for a retail market that focuses on the unique and original. The Branson Craft Mall, lined with vendors and specialty craft goods, is also home to the famous Pickin' Porch Grill. You won't leave hungry with a diverse menu that includes House-Smoked BBQ, sandwiches, wings, and even tacos. For an after-meal treat, take a stroll down the candy aisle. Branson Craft Mall is a fantastic shopping destination where you can buy unique arts and crafts and enjoy a delicious dining experience at some of the finest restaurants. This expansive 160,000-square-foot craft mall offers visitors one-stop shopping from over 200 vendors, artists, and crafters. Many of these vendors sell clothing, quilts, leather goods, jewelry, rugs, baskets, pottery, and other items. The Shoppes at Branson Meadows The Shoppes at Branson Meadows provides a wide range of shopping experiences. Shepherd Hills Cutlery, Tuesday Morning, Neil's Home Store, the Consignment Clothing Exchange, Touch of Class Boutique, Made in the USA, and more are all worth a visit! Visit Branson's 1984 Arcade for a nostalgic and rejuvenating break. The Shoppes at Branson Meadows offers discounted local brands, chic home goods, and one-of-a-kind clothing. This shopping spot is a treasure trove of housewares and other household goods. Grand Village Shops Over 25 distinguished novelty stores can be found at Grand Village Shops. With each offering its distinct originality, you're sure to leave with a perfect memory of your time in Branson. The Grand Village Shops are an excellent place to find a meaningful gift for everyone on your list. With the diversity of shops, there is something for everyone in this great shopping spot in Branson. While shopping in this fascinating place, you'll see singing waiters entertain shoppers. At the same time, they enjoy diner-style food and tasty ice cream from the soda fountain at Mel's Hard Luck Diner. Tanger Outlet Mall No shopping spree in Branson is complete without a trip to Tanger Outlets. You will find well-known brands at a discounted price at this unique shopping location. Tanger Outlets is located inside Branson's Entertainment District and offers extended shopping hours and great discounts to reward members. Tanger Outlets have everything that you need and even hard-to-find items. Conveniently located on Highway 76 West, the fully stocked mall offers discounts for favorite name brands such as Gap, Levi's, Polo Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and much more. When looking for great shopping spots to shop and adventure after an exciting ride on the roller coasters in Branson, MO , don't forget to check out the shopping malls listed above.