Tourists and rockhounds from around the country travel to a small mine outside the mountain town of Franklin, NC to try their luck at finding native rubies or sapphires. Sheffield Mine was once mined by Tiffany’s, but the tellings have been left behind for visitors to scavenge through for $1 a bucket.

When customers find a “honker,” a native gem over 30 carats, their name is echoed through the small red clay valley by a microphone announcement and the sound of a honk. They come to Sheffield Mine not only for the excitement of finding precious gems but also for relaxation and the slower pace of the mountains. This unique “Home of the Honkers” is one of the last remaining mines where one can still find native gems in the Great Smoky Mountains.