- At Asheville Biltmore Gem Mine everyone is a winner. Owner Holly Drane says, "I never want to see any child walk away empty handed and it's too late to give the child a treasure after the fact." "The thrill is in finding the treasure yourself." Our mine ore is some of the richest in the area. We purchase ore from several area mines, as well as a few further away mines. We then mix the ore from the several mines with our rich ore, so that there is a... Everyone is a winner. The experience is a thrill that will live in the heart of a child for a lifetime. As rock hounds, we want to share the experience with as many people as possible. The love of rocks and gemstone (both precious and semiprecious) is a lifelong love that starts with your first find and never ends!