Adirondack Inside Activity or Birthday Party: Twin Crystal Rock Shop Saranac Lake

Hunting for treasure whether on the trail or at our home still seems to hold some fascination for my children and, to be perfectly frank, for myself as well. If Jed Clampett can strike “liquid gold” in his backyard, why not me? (My husband feels obligated to remind me that The Beverly Hillbillies is a fictitious show, not a documentary.) Fine.

Well, if you visit Kasey and Kean Riley’s Twin Crystal Rock Shop, treasure takes on a whole new meaning. The store shelves are lined with beautiful jewelry, most of which is handmade locally. There is a room dedicated to florescent stones, a sandbox for treasure digging and shelf dedicated to old-fashioned candy.
My kids migrate to the candy, of course. They start commenting on favorites from my youth. (Lemonheads and Razzles!) The shiny glass canisters are like a beacon. As I am looking for a birthday gift, they start browsing around.

This store isn’t all about shopping. Kasey welcomes us and starts in on a few educational facts regarding the nature of the stone around us. We learn that this particular moonstone jewelry was mined in nearby Bloomingdale and that Anorthosite is found in both the Adirondacks and the moon. He is so knowledgeable and passionate about rocks that we end up staying longer to take a free rock tour.

Both brothers are lapidary artists cutting and polishing the cabochons by hand right at their shop. They’ve held birthday parties at the site and even have a saw blade that is safe for children to use while having stone cutting lessons.

My kids want to hunt for treasure so I ask if there is any work that needs to be done. I still pay for the treat but they have to work for it. They move to the back and wrap treasure in the form of various rocks. My daughter has picked out her treasure, not realizing that the packages will go into the trunk and she has to search for it. I remind her that if hunting for treasure was that easy than I would have already found something in our backyard.

The Twin Crystal Rock Shop is located at 13 Broadway in Saranac Lake. For hours and questions please call 891-1714.

© Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.

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