Philipsburg, MT

  • Phone: 406-859-4367
  • Web site: http://www.gemmountainmt.com
  • Length of Vacation: Day Trip
  • Cost: $20 per bucket (see website for more info)
  • Open: Memorial Day through end of September
  • Type of Prospecting: Sapphire
  • Equipment: Provided
  • Instruction: Provided
  • Lodging: Nearby
  • Meals: Gift shop with cold drinks, frozen food, and snacks

The Mine closes for the winter, but their in-town store is open to wash gravel.
(See their website.)

From their web site:

gem mountain mtWelcome to Gem Mountain Montana.  Montana’s Largest, Oldest and Funnest Sapphire Mine.  Discover your own Montana Treasure, a Montana Sapphire Gemstone from Gem Mountain.  Located in the aptly named Sapphire Mountains, we’re hard to find but worth the drive.  If you’re planning a vacation in Montana we’d love to see you.  If you just can’t find the time to come and see us in person, all of our products, including our Sapphire Gravel, Montana Sapphire Gemstones and Jewelry can be ordered on-line or by calling us at: 406-859-GEMS (4367).  We look forward to hearing from you.

Our year-round storefront is located in beautiful downtown Philipsburg, Montana.  Philipsburg has been named one of America’s Prettiest Painted Places and in addition to our year-round location is also home to one of the worlds finest candy stores, Sweet Palace​, an old fashioned soda fountain, Doe Brothers, fine dining, Silver Mill, fishing info and gear, Flint Creek Outdoors, a brewery, Philipsburg Brewing, two antique stores; ​Stuff & Such, the oldest continually operating theatre  in Montana; The Opera House Theatre and a number of small shops offering a unique mix of clothing, gemstones, jewelry and home décor.  Located about halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park we’re a little off the beaten path but worth the drive.  Come and Visit Historic Philipsburg.

gem mountain mt 2You don’t need to worry about getting lost or big crowds.  Our town only has 800 people, one four-way stop sign and the “downtown” shopping district is only four blocks long.  Philipsburg is an old mining town and many of the historic buildings have been beautifully restored.  Our building at 201 West Broadway was built in 1916 and used to be a Blacksmith shop.  The original hearth is still visible at the back of the store.   The “Garage” next door where we wash the sapphire gravel was built between 1924 and 1926.  It was one of the largest “clear span” buildings at the time and became home to Winninghoff Motors, the very first Ford Automobile Dealership in Montana!  Today we offer a unique mix of Sapphire Gravel and Montana Sapphire Gemstones and Jewelry that we produce along with a wide selection of gifts for the body and home.  Our goal is to have something in stock that you have never seen before.  We have wildlife art painted on petrified wood and agate, teak furniture, amethyst cathedrals, wildlife carvings, splash copper, rocks, fossils, minerals and of course, our own Montana Sapphire gemstones.  We’d Love to See You.