Four Peaks Mining at the Arizona Boardwalk is an extension of the real Four Peaks Mine in the Phoenix area. It was discovered in the late 1800’s and you can experience a small part of it in Scottsdale. The Four Peaks Amethyst Mine produces some of the highest grade amethyst in the world, and also happens to be my birthstone.
Mine Tour
They offer a free in-store Mini-Mine Tour experience for all ages. You can grab a safety hat, safety vest and head in. Inside you will find clipboards for kids to search for items.
This is a very kid friendly experience (and free), but to do the search on their own, kids will need to read. And there are different searches on each board. So when we went, I was balancing two kids who can spell the rocks and minerals and I didn’t realize they were looking for different things!
(Of note, these photos were taken a year ago; masks are no longer required to visit the store or do the experience.)
For more information on the tour click here.
The Store
You can shop for minerals, fossils, books, and gifts for all ages. Take home a piece of history and fill your own bag with gems. My kids filled theirs to the max! They have some amazing silver jewelry and unique gems to take home as well. Personally I thought they had some super cute and unique to Arizona gifts for out of town visitors or to send to out of town kids.
Geods
You can pick a geode to take home, or you can grab a sledgehammer and break it open at the store. They provide safety glasses and a sturdy spot to break them open. My kids were 4.5, wore safety gear and stayed back a little to break them open.
9500 E Via De Ventura, Suite D-110
Scottsdale AZ 85256
