While our family-run mine is closed for the 2025 season, the work at Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine in Thunder Bay never stops. As a local Thunder Bay family business, we've been taking full advantage of the beautiful fall weather here in Northwestern Ontario to prepare for an even better experience when we reopen. Here's what we've been up to behind the scenes at Thunder Bay's premier family-owned amethyst mining destination.
A Thunder Bay Family Tradition
Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine has been a true family operation since the early 1970s, with roots going back to 1960 when my wife's grandfather first started prospecting this land. After years of exploration, he opened the mine in the early 70s, her father continued the tradition as the second generation, and now we're carrying it forward as the third generation. We're proud to be a 3rd generation family business, with my wife representing the third generation of her family to work this land. Diamond Willow has remained in the same bloodline for three generations - over 50 years of Thunder Bay mining heritage. We're proud to be part of Thunder Bay's mining heritage and to share the beauty of Canadian amethyst with visitors from around the world. Every piece of amethyst we dig, clean, and sell comes with the care and attention that only a true local family business can provide.
Digging Fresh Thunder Bay Amethyst
Even though visitors aren't on-site, we're still actively digging amethyst from our Thunder Bay mine. Fall is actually one of our most productive times - the cooler Northern Ontario weather makes the physical work more comfortable, and we can focus on extracting quality Canadian amethyst specimens without the rush of daily tours. Every piece we dig now will be cleaned, sorted, and ready for next season's visitors and our online store.
Cleaning and Processing at Amethyst Country Rock & Gift Shop
All that freshly dug Thunder Bay amethyst doesn't clean itself! We've been busy at our Amethyst Country Rock & Gift Shop, carefully cleaning each specimen to reveal the stunning purple crystals inside. This process takes time and care - we want every piece to showcase the natural beauty of Canadian amethyst from the Thunder Bay region.
Trail Improvements at Our Thunder Bay Mine
We've been widening the trails around the mine site to improve accessibility and safety for our visitors. Wider trails mean easier navigation, better views of the mining areas, and a more comfortable experience for families and groups exploring our Thunder Bay amethyst mine property.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Water Systems
One of our major projects this fall has been installing new water systems. Reliable water access is essential for both the mining operation and visitor facilities, and these upgrades will make next season run more smoothly for everyone visiting our Thunder Bay location.
Road Maintenance for Northwestern Ontario Winters
We purchased 20 extra loads of gravel for road maintenance - keeping our access roads in top condition is crucial, especially with Thunder Bay's harsh winters ahead. Good roads mean our visitors can safely reach the mine, and we can continue operations even in challenging Northern Ontario weather.
Optimizing the Picking Rock
We've also been working on optimizing our picking rock area - the spot where visitors can search for their own Thunder Bay amethyst specimens. By improving the layout and ensuring a good selection of material, we're setting up next season's visitors for the best possible treasure-hunting experience.
Looking Ahead to 2026
All this fall work is an investment in making our family business even better when we reopen. As a local Thunder Bay operation, we take pride in providing an authentic Canadian amethyst experience. Whether you're planning to visit us in Thunder Bay in person or shop our online collection of Canadian amethyst, you'll benefit from the care and effort our family is putting in during these quieter months.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue preparing for next season - and check out our online store to bring home a piece of authentic Thunder Bay amethyst from our family mine while you wait for us to reopen!