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Oakley’s Special Stone
business, oakley valley stone inc, southern idaho,
Around the world, people remodeling their kitchens or putting in swimming pools owe a debt of gratitude to Oakley.
The little town is a force to be reckoned with in the quartzite industry, which goes head to head with stones like granite in architectural and improvement projects. Quartzite is found all over the world, but Oakley’s stone is special.
“The thinness of the stone is really unique to this area and has made it a really popular stone worldwide,” says Jim Burch, who, with his brother Dave, owns Oakley Valley Stone, Inc., the business their grandfather started 60 years ago.
The thin quality of the quartzite mined in Oakley makes it suitable for shipping long distances at a reasonable rate. Oakley Valley Stone Inc. is one of the oldest stone yards in the community, where the industry employs roughly 500 people.
“Oakley’s loaded to the gills with the stone,” says Burch.
Story by Michaela Jackson
