The Brightlys had their first experience mining for gems and fool’s gold when they took their grandchildren to the Perry Drive-In. The family had so much fun together, and Betsy Brightly loved how interactive it was for both the children and adults. “What a great family activity it was to do together,” she said. This experience prompted the Brightlys to look into having a Sandy Creek Mining Sluice at their farm market in Hamlin.
Betsy saw that there were only a few Sandy Creek mining sluices in the entire state of New York. After researching the company, she learned they have 800 locations in 26 countries. The Christian, family-owned business located in Ohio builds and supplies the mining equipment and provides the panning supplies. Although it was an investment, Dean and Betsy Brightly felt it was a worthwhile addition to be able to provide this rewarding opportunity where families can have a fun, enriching activity to do and enjoy their time together, especially after such a challenging and isolating time during the pandemic.
The Mining Sluice, designed to look like an old farm water tower, arrived at Brightly’s Farm Market at the end of June, and they held a grand opening of the attraction on July 3. It is great for children and adults of all ages. The cost starts at $6 for a bag of sand that the child takes to the sluice. They use a wooden screen and shake it into the water, searching for all sorts of treasures. More than 50 items can be mined for, including fool’s gold, gemstones, shark’s teeth, and fossils, which can be collected or made into jewelry. In addition to the sluice, Brightly’s serves homemade lunches, has a playground, a bakery, ice cream, and slushies. Adults can even enjoy a wine slushy from the Hunt Country tasting room located at the farm.
The grand opening brought hundreds of people from across the region. “There was not one unhappy face,” Betsy said. When she looked at the crowd, she knew she made the right decision in bringing this to the area. “It’s the simple things in life we can appreciate, like seeing families enjoying their time together.”
Betsy said, “We are planning to offer birthday parties, special event packages, and homeschool opportunities in the future.”
Brightly’s Farm Market is located at 525 Drake Road in Hamlin. The sluice is open seven days a week while the farm store is open. Visit their Facebook page or website for updates, https://brightlysfarmmarket.com.
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