Crater of Diamonds State Park

Crater of Diamonds State Park is a gem in more ways than just the diamonds you can find there. Crater of Diamonds is located near Murfreesboro Arkansas and has a wealth of beauty and activities.

The star of the park is the 37-acre diamond field. This field looks like a farmer's field recently plowed and waiting for crops to be planted. Instead, it is visited by hundreds of people seeking the elusive diamonds it hides. Every year hundreds of small diamonds and a few large diamonds are found. In addition to diamonds in all colors of the rainbow, you can find more than 40 other types of rocks and minerals. Some of these include agates, jasper, amethyst, quartz, and lamproite.

The museum includes areas that teach you how to search for the rocks and minerals, a place to rent any equipment you need and helpful park employees to identify your finds. Hunting for diamonds can be dirty and hard work. You walk through the cleared area and then sift though the dirt, or rinse the material in the huge tanks of water located at various places in the diamond field. The park charges a small daily fee to search the diamond field. You can take home anything you find. Maybe you will be the lucky person to take home the next large diamond.

After a long morning of mining in the hot sun, you can enjoy a picnic lunch in the shaded picnic area and then you can cool off in the newly constructed water park. The mining-themed aquatic play are includes wading pools, spray geysers, water jets, cascades, water slides and other features. While the kids are having fun playing, Mom and Dad can relax on the lounge chairs on the spacious deck.

For a longer stay, the park has a small campground with 59 campsites. Each campsite is spacious and shady and includes the use of water and electricity. There are large, clean restrooms located through the campground. You can even do your laundry at the laundry facilities located in one of the restrooms. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance.

Other facilities include a museum that focuses on the geologic features of the area with a gift shop that sells mining equipment and other items. There is a small café that serves breakfast and lunch from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends. The park has recently added a wildlife blind to help you enjoy the local wildlife. Crater of Diamonds State Park is a wonderful place to spend a weekend or vacation and maybe you will bring home a diamond of your own.