Oceanview Mine

Visit the last working gem mine in the famous Pala Gem District and dig your own gems!

A visit to the Oceanview Mine allows you a unique view of the only actively working underground mine in the world famous Pala Gem mining district and a chance to find your own gems—tourmalines, kunzites, morganites and more. Screen the dump piles of material we take out of our mine and find the gems we’ve missed—and we miss a lot! You get to keep everything you find at no extra charge; the standard dig fee allows you to keep all you find and you can take home one 5-gallon bucket of rocks that you have screened and washed. Guests also get a jeep tour of Chief Mountain where you can see all of the currently active mines and prospects, as well as views of the famous Pala Chief, Tourmaline Queen and other historic mines. Reservations are required, please sign up on our website: www.digforgems.com.

We have now added an on-site cabin for weekend stays—The Miner’s Inn. Perched on the top of Chief Mountain, the Inn features spectacular views of the Pala Valley and nearby Tourmaline Queen Mountain. The Inn is well equipped for four guests, with a full kitchen, a queen bed in a private bedroom, and a sleeper sofa that converts to a second queen bed. It’s perfect for a couple with two kids, or two couples. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and incorporate the famed tunnels and “Bridal Chamber” of the Pala Chief Mine, where a fabulous pocket of tourmaline was discovered over 100 years ago. Guests at the Miner’s Inn also get a special guided tour underground in the mines—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you won’t forget!

To reserve the Miner’s Inn and our special weekend dig packages, please call (760) 415-9143 evenings after 5:00pm PST to work out the details of your stay. While the standard offering is a weekend stay, we can arrange longer stays or special mid-week stays.