Rock Hounds Forever
About us...We offer affordable rocks and minerals from all over the world. We are amateur Rock Hounds, not professional Geologists, or "Experts" about Rocks and Minerals.
We are amateur Rock Hounds (over 40 years of being an "amateur" Rock Hound). We are not professional Geologists, nor do we claim to be "Experts" in the field of Rocks and Minerals. We have been married now for over 50 years. For 20 of those years Dan was in the US Navy, as a result we got to travel extensively. In fact we travel so much our whole family refers to us as "Gypsies".
The result of these travels is a very large and very unique collection of rocks and minerals from all over the world. Some of our collection was bought, some traded for and some self-found. We have had the unique experience of meeting and getting to know the "Old Time" rock and mineral shop owners across our country, an experience we will always remember and treasure. We gained a wealth of knowledge from these wonderful and colorful characters along the way.
Our children have fond memories of our cross-country excursions when mom would yell "stop here!", and our kids would both holler in unison "Rock Stop!" Chris would then proceed to hunt rocks and minerals along the byways of America. Did you ever see the Lucille Ball movie "The Long, Long Trailer"...Where Lucy collects all the rocks in her new travel trailer...That's Chris...to a "T"!
Why North Carolina?
If you haven't heard, the Smoky Mountains are just beautiful! (and we want to mine for some local emeralds)
Our Name…"Spirit Rock" Shop
Our son Ben went to college at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Although he studied Astro-Physics, he got to know many of the geology students, who were always helping him find and identify rocks. (He is always looking for unique specimens to give to mom.) One very special rock he found had a very different banding, so he had it cut and gave it to Chris. She took one look at the rock, and with her parallel love of native American culture, saw an Indian spirit rising up from the earth with outstretched arms...she immediately called this her "Spirit Rock"...So our shop name was a natural when we decided to open our own online rock shop.
Our daughter Rebecca is getting into jewelry making and has shown great interest in taking over our Spirit Rock Shop and developing her own website to sell her line of jewelry. When we decide to really retire....hope that's not too soon, it's great to know that all our work will be passed on to future generations!
