Story and Photos by Helen Serras-Herman
The Bon Ami mine is called an underground mine, but a large part of the mine is uncovered, and the other is like a huge cave with a large opening, so visitors should not feel claustrophobic.
The Emerald Village is a mining and historical attraction located in Little Switzerland, a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. Little Switzerland is actually an unincorporated community, located in both McDowell and Mitchell counties. At 3,500 feet elevation, it is surrounded by mountains, Mount Mitchell to the west and Grandfather Mountain to the east. It is located just south of Spruce Pine on NC Route 226A at Exit 334 off the Blue Ridge Parkway.