17^th Annual Treasure Hunt continues at Crater of Diamonds

By Waymon Cox

  Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park!  After a busy weekend of visitors attending our Prospectors’ Gemboree, three orange-painted bottles remain hidden in the diamond search area for our Treasure Hunt.  These bottles contain certificates for valuable family prize packages donated by area businesses & individuals and may be found by any visitor who purchases regular mine admission (limit one bottle per family).  Bottles remaining include the following prizes:

Our top prize, bottle #1 includes a genuine rough Crater diamond, key ring from Jeanine’s Fine Jewelry, $25 gift certificate to Buddy’s Ranch House Café, long-handled shovel & rake from Farmer’s Association, flower arrangement from 4 Seasons Florist, Webkins stuffed animal from Tollett’s Gifts, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a box screen from Murfreesboro Hardware.

Bottle #2 includes a genuine rough Crater diamond, Merle Norman cosmetics package, $25 gift certificate to Coyote Grill & Steakhouse, flower arrangement from Patti’s Pocket Full of Pansies, Webkins stuffed animal from Tollett’s Gifts, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a box screen from Murfreesboro Hardware.

Bottle #6 includes a roadside emergency kit from D&R Marine & RV Service, stuffed frog from Flowers Done Wright, Joe’s Hand Cleaner from Napa Auto Parts, long-handled shovel & 5-gallon bucket from Murfreesboro Hardware, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, certificate for a 6” sandwich from Subway, and a certificate for ½ lb. of fudge from Pic-a-Lily Flowers in Nashville.

  Three other bottles from this year’s Treasure Hunt have been found, so far.  Sondra Burnette, of Killeen, Texas, discovered bottle #3, which included a badminton game set, child's jacket, decorative flag & pole, $20 gift card to Western Sizzlin’, Webkins stuffed animal, and a free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole.  Isaac Crockett, of Marionville, MO, found bottle #4 and received a belt sander, candle, lamp, Happy Prospector Gemstone Mine kit, certificate for a pizza from Simple Simon’s Pizza, and a free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole.  Jan Terborg, of Cypress, CA turned in bottle #5 for salon products, a bird feeder, stuffed bunny, $10 gift certificate to Los Agaves, quartz necklace, and a free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole.

  Beginning next week, if any bottles remain hidden, we will offer clues to the whereabouts of each in our weekly articles.  We will also include the names of winners from our Prospectors’ Gemboree games, along with a list of all area businesses and individuals who helped make the event successful!

Search area last plowed:  May 10, 2011

Most recent significant precipitation:  May 23, 2011

Diamond finds for May 15 - 21, 2011 (100 points = one carat):

May 15 - Mike Ellison, Kings Mountain, NC, 8 pt. white; Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 2 pt. white, 3 pt. yellow, 7 pt. white, 8 pt. white

May 16 - Adam Hardin, Barberton, OH, 3 pt. white, 4 pt. white; Jim Graham, Prescott, AR, 5 pt. white; Lee Fisher & Mary Hentschel, Green Spring, WV, 5 pt. white; Ron Jenkins, Carlisle, AR, 5 pt. white

May 17 - Sarah Ansett, Redford, MI, 57 pt. yellow; Ron Jenkins, Carlisle, AR, 17 pt. white

May 18 - Daniel J. Kinney III, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 31 pt. white, 48 pt. yellow

May 19 - Thomas Houser, Murfreesboro, AR, 83 pt. white

May 20 - Daniel J. Kinney III, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 67 pt. yellow

May 21 - Damien Houran, Grapevine, TX, 12 pt. brown; Chip Burnette, Killeen, TX, 15 pt. yellow; Adam Hardin, Barberton, OH, 11 pt. white; Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 1 pt. white