Does anyone have an opinion on the Arkansas Diamond park?

[Salmonriver]

I’ve been thinking of going but it’s 26 hours of driving or flying but I’m wondering if it’s worth it? I need to add that I’m the kind of treasure hunter that will sit in the dirt all day long and dig and look! It’s my passion to “hunt” for arrowheads, beautiful rocks, petrified wood, any and all items. I know a couple who drive as a hobby and they said they just happened to stop in but didn’t find anything. Then again they aren’t the kind of people to really hunt for anything. Thanks so much!
oh, I have been lurking on here for maybe 10 years and today bought a membership! Geez, I should have joined years ago!
Vicki

 

[EPWright]

yes, take a future or current spouse. They unwittingly will direct you to the correct carrots.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

People do find diamonds there on occasion, just don't go expecting to find one, go for the fun of it.

 

[McKinney_5900]

I’ve been thinking of going but it’s 26 hours of driving or flying but I’m wondering if it’s worth it? I need to add that I’m the kind of treasure hunter that will sit in the dirt all day long and dig and look! It’s my passion to “hunt” for arrowheads, beautiful rocks, petrified wood, any and all items. I know a couple who drive as a hobby and they said they just happened to stop in but didn’t find anything. Then again they aren’t the kind of people to really hunt for anything. Thanks so much!
oh, I have been lurking on here for maybe 10 years and today bought a membership! Geez, I should have joined years ago!
Vicki

After living very near there back in the late 60s for a several years and graduating HS 25 miles away, I have to say that the locals weren't very high on the diamond mines except for the tourist revnue. These "mines" were simple fields without much fanfare back then, the ground disced up with a tractor, and that got tourists hot to trot and pay money with the fresh ground.

I never hunted there once, and don't know anyone who did, locally anyway. IMO, it's hype. I myself would not specifically drive all those hour for the purpose of hunting "the mines." I might if I had a "significant other" in my life, is she really wanted it bad. Me though? Nope.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

"In total, over 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed at the Crater of Diamonds since the first diamonds were discovered in 1906 by John Huddleston, a farmer who owned the land long before it became an Arkansas State Park in 1972. The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was unearthed there in 1924 during an early mining operation."

Two more large diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park | Hot Springs Sentinel Record

Two large diamond finds Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro were recently confirmed by the state.

www.hotsr.com

Latest Finds​

Diamonds come in all colors of the rainbow. The three colors found here at the park are white, brown, and yellow, in that order. Park staff at the Diamond Discovery Center provide free identification and certification of diamonds found here. Amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, quartz, and more rocks and minerals may also be found at the Crater of Diamonds, making the park a rock hound’s paradise. Check out What Diamonds Look Like for more details.
The average size of a diamond is about the size of a paper match head, approximately 20-25 points weight. Points are a measurement of diamond weight. There are 100 points in a carat.

Date of Find	Home State of Visitor	Weight	Color
11/24/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 1pt.	White
11/24/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 12pt.	White
11/23/2021	Louisiana	0ct. 11pt.	White
11/21/2021	Texas	0ct. 10pt.	Yellow
11/19/2021	Texas	0ct. 38pt.	Brown
11/19/2021	Texas	0ct. 3pt.	White
11/19/2021	Texas	0ct. 10pt.	White
11/17/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 13pt.	White
11/17/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 23pt.	White
11/17/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 8pt.	White
11/15/2021	Minnesota	0ct. 8pt.	White
11/15/2021	Colorado	0ct. 3pt.	White
11/14/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 8pt.	Yellow
11/13/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 57pt.	White
11/13/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 44pt.	Yellow
11/12/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 11pt.	White
11/12/2021	New York	0ct. 70pt.	White
11/11/2021	Iowa	0ct. 44pt.	Yellow
11/10/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 8pt.	White
11/10/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 13pt.	White
11/9/2021	Illinois	0ct. 6pt.	White
11/6/2021	Iowa	0ct. 2pt.	White
11/3/2021	Iowa	0ct. 6pt.	White
11/2/2021	Wisconsin	0ct. 6pt.	White
11/2/2021	Wisconsin	0ct. 14pt.	White
10/31/2021	Michigan	1ct. 24pt.	Yellow
10/31/2021	Ohio	0ct. 4pt.	White
10/31/2021	Louisiana	0ct. 16pt.	White
10/28/2021	Texas	0ct. 7pt.	White
10/28/2021	Arkansas	0ct. 3pt.	White

Crater of Diamonds State Park | Arkansas State Parks

<p>The only place in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people from all over the world to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre field, the eroded surface...

www.arkansasstateparks.com

 

[SD51]

Go... it's on your bucket list!

 

[flinthunter]

I've been there several times and it's fun but don't expect to get rich. Yes, I would go back just for the experience. Since you like beautiful rocks, I would suggest staying in Mount Ida (I think it's about 60 miles from the Crater Of Diamonds). There are quite a few quartz crystal mines in the area around Mt, Ida. It's pay to dig, about $25 a day per person when I was there several years ago. We bought a $300 crystal pocket to dig out at the Twin Creek Crystal Mine. What a blast. The quartz crystal pockets vary in price depending on their size. Do a little online research, there's a lot to do in that area of Arkansas. I should add that since you like Indian artifacts you might want to visit Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village In Murfreesboro. Just a word of advice, the prices to stay in a motel there are sky high because it's so close to the Crater Of Diamonds. Mount Ida is much more reasonable and not a great distance away.

 

[Salmonriver]

I've been there several times and it's fun but don't expect to get rich. Yes, I would go back just for the experience. Since you like beautiful rocks, I would suggest staying in Mount Ida (I think it's about 60 miles from the Crater Of Diamonds). There are quite a few quartz crystal mines in the area around Mt, Ida. It's pay to dig, about $25 a day per person when I was there several years ago. We bought a $300 crystal pocket to dig out at the Twin Creek Crystal Mine. What a blast. The quartz crystal pockets vary in price depending on their size. Do a little online research, there's a lot to do in that area of Arkansas. I should add that since you like Indian artifacts you might want to visit Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village In Murfreesboro. Just a word of advice, the prices to stay in a motel there are sky high because it's so close to the Crater Of Diamonds. Mount Ida is much more reasonable and not a great distance away.

Thank you for all the information! I like the crystal digging too!

 

[metrotec]

Been there a few times, in the Summer, IT'S HOT!! go in the fall or spring, winter , if you can take the cold.
Camped every time I/we went. Nice State Park for camping. Grand son puked his guts up at 11 AM, already 100 degrees.
If you like to sit and dig, go for it. Bring your own shovels, screens, water, snacks etc. maybe an umbrella, to keep the sun off.
I enjoyed every minute, it's a treasure hunt. What could be more exciting than a treasure hunt?
Ask when you get there, everyone is very helpful.

old seabee

 

[McKinney_5900]

Been there a few times, in the Summer, IT'S HOT!! go in the fall or spring, winter , if you can take the cold.
Camped every time I/we went. Nice State Park for camping. Grand son puked his guts up at 11 AM, already 100 degrees.
If you like to sit and dig, go for it. Bring your own shovels, screens, water, snacks etc. maybe an umbrella, to keep the sun off.
I enjoyed every minute, it's a treasure hunt. What could be more exciting than a treasure hunt?
Ask when you get there, everyone is very helpful.

old seabee

The locals there are definitely helpful. I still have friends there.