I like to think that I’m a fairly practical person, but then time and time again I do something that blows that notion right out of the water. 

You might remember a Life Lived Outside from a few weeks ago where we introduced you to The Flower Patch – our newly installed cutting garden. That was no small project for sure, and we are busy right now getting it cleaned out and re-seeded for fall bouquets. At the end of that newsletter, I teased my next big project with the line “it’s going to be a gem of a fall…”

So, clearly, I am not a practical person at all, because I’d barely completed one project and I was already planning the next one. For whatever reason, ideas come into my brain and I just think, “Wouldn’t it be fun if…” and before I’ve thought it all the way through, I’m usually already at the “Let’s do it” stage.

Only later do I ask the practical questions like “How much room does it actually take up?” “Where are we going to put it?” or “Who’s installing it?” Questions which probably should be considered before I take the plunge.

But where is the fun in that? Practical questions all have practical answers. And practical answers are safe and boring. And what we have for you now at Kerby’s is the absolute opposite of boring. (We do promise that it is safe. . .) We’ve installed the area’s largest Gem Mining Sluice, or as we’ve named it, the Kerby’s Treasure Tower. It includes a 15-foot tower, 5 fun waterfalls, and over 65 feet of area for you to enjoy a little gem mining right here in Seffner!

Just like old mining camps, you’ll purchase a bag of mining rough, wash it through the flowing water, and watch as colorful treasures begin to appear. Every scoop brings a little anticipation because you never quite know what you’ll uncover.

Maybe it’s a sparkling amethyst. Perhaps a piece of quartz, colorful agate, or even an arrowhead or a fossil hidden among the sand and clay. Half the fun is the surprise and the other half is sharing the excitement with family and friends as each discovery comes to light.

There’s something timeless about searching for treasure. It slows you down, sparks curiosity, and reminds us that nature still has plenty of surprises waiting to be found. Kids love it. Adults quickly discover they’re just as competitive when that first crystal catches the sunlight.

So, yes, I bought a sluice.

Was it a huge project? Absolutely.

Did it get installed the day I returned from a trip? Indeed.

Did I completely think it through before doing it? I 100% did not. 

But if it means creating another opportunity for families to spend time together outdoors, get their hands a little dirty, and leave with a pocketful of memories and maybe a few gemstones, I say it was a good decision.

Who knows what you’ll discover? Come see us and find out.

P.S. The Grand Opening for the Treasure Tower is on Saturday, August 1, 2026, all day long. In honor of this event, a few special bags of mining rough will contain an extra treasure: a coin that provides the miner with a gift card to Kerby’s. Don’t miss it!