Smoky Mountains Vacation- Sylva,Bryson City,Franklin,Highlands,Cashiers,Cherokee, NC
Ruby City
Categories: Unique Shops, Museums & Historic Sites, Gems & Jewelry, Gem Shops
Highlights
- Largest gem store in North Carolina, operating for over 50 years
- Custom gem cutting
- Custom made jewelry
- FREE Gem & Artifact Museum
- Gem mining supplies for your visit to nearby gem mines
From the Owner
Stop in Ruby City to see what the largest gem shop in North Carolina has to offer. We have a large assortment of hand made jewelry, loose stones, gem mining supplies and much more. Come see why we are considered to be one of the most unique gem shops around.
Who would expect a world-class museum in this small mountain town...
Years of collecting, buying, trading, and accepting private donations, we have accumulated an amazing private collection that is hard to beat. Our little “stash” in the mountains include thousands of gem and mineral specimens, including fluorescent (glow-in-the-dark) pieces, fossils dating to millions of years old, petrified wood from all over the world, REAL ivory carvings from the Orient, an expansive Native American collection of pipes, tools, and other daily artifacts, and one of the largest, private pre-Columbian collections in the world. And the best part of it all, it is included with your visit.
The Local Scoop
When visiting Ruby City, be sure to ask about the world record sapphire they have on display, found right here in North Carolina. We also recommend strolling through their FREE museum section of the shop. There, you'll find ancient artifacts, rare gems and more.
Tip: Use the 'Print it and go!' feature from this page and make finding Ruby City Gems that much easier! They would also like to hear how you found them, so tell them Stay & Play sent you!
The Local Directions
From the North, Asheville/Interstate-40:
Take the first Franklin exit off of U.S. Hwy-441/23 South. This is Northeast Main Street. Continue through Franklin for approx. 1.3 miles, passing through 4 stop light intersections. Ruby City is located on your left, just before you top 'town hill.'
From the South, Atlanta, S.C., Florida/U.S. Hwy-441/23:
As you approach Franklin you'll need to take U.S. Hwy-441 Business into downtown Franklin. The four lane will turn into two lanes as you pass by some residential homes, places of business, churches, etc. At the first stop light, continue through it (bearing left). The Chamber of Commerce will be on your left at this light. Keep going until you reach the second stop light. Here, go right (one-way street) up the hill and through the first stop light you come to. Now, get into the left lane. Be looking for a large billboard with 'Ruby City Gems' on it with a large red arrow pointing to the left. You'll need to take one of the side streets on the left, this will take you up to Main Street where we are located.
