Discover your inner explorer

Discover
Enjoy indoor educational fun for kids at Discovery Depot with unique science activities. Check our hand-on attractions: Jackpot Mine Digging for Gems, Thunder Creek Gold Panning and the only Geode Center in New England!
Kids will learn about geodes — “nature’s lottery tickets” (you never know what you will find when you cut them open). Learn the fun technique of panning, and dig for more than 50 different kind of gemstones. And yes, you can keep everything you find!
These family-friendly adventures are available with Standard, Deluxe, and Combinations packages. In addition, Discovery Depot offers other fun activities, so be sure to check it all out!
Discovery Depot tickets are purchased at the door only, NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!
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Parking is always FREE!
Prices
Gold Panning at Thunder Creek: $9.49
Gem Digging at Jackpot Mine: $12.99
Standard Combination Package (Jackpot Mine & Thunder Creek): $20.25
Ages 4+ (potty trained — for sanitary purposes)
Discovery Depot Hours for :
Open on Saturday & Sunday
Attraction Hours for :
Geode Center: Open Saturday & Sunday
Thunder Creek: Open Saturday & Sunday
Jackpot Mine: Unavailable Today
Learn more about each experience below!




Learn the fun technique of panning and pan for “fools gold” nuggets in our indoor gold sluice. Yes, you can keep everything you find!
Relive the California Gold Rush in Thunder Creek! Here your kids will learn the fun technique of panning and pan for “fools gold” nuggets in our indoor gold sluice. Carry your riches home in a souvenir prospector’s pouch. Yes, you can keep everything you find!

Dig for crystals and minerals hidden in our one-of-a-kind replica silver mines! Yes, you get to keep everything you find!
Use your hands to dig for crystals and minerals hidden in our one-of-a-kind replica silver mines!
Dig for gemstones in Southeastern Connecticut’s only replica silver mine. Yes, you get to keep everything you find!

Enjoy indoor educational fun with unique science activities in the only Geode Center in New England!
Geodes are “Mother Nature’s Lottery Ticket” — you never know what you’re going to get! Be the first to see inside a geode that is millions of years old. Hand-pick your very own geode from our collection of unique geodes from around the world.

Geode Center
Open Saturday & Sunday

Thunder Creek
Open Saturday & Sunday

Jackpot Mine
Unavailable Today