A Valentine’s engagement at Crater of Diamonds

by Waymon Cox

  Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park!  Working at the Crater, we meet people who visit the park for all kinds of reasons.  While some simply enjoy the thrill of searching for diamonds, others come to “get away from it all” and don’t necessarily mind if they don’t find a diamond.  We also often meet visitors wanting to find a diamond for betrothal to that “Special Someone,” and couples who simply love searching for diamonds and collecting other rocks and minerals together.

  Over the years, Crater of Diamonds State Park has become quite a popular spot for sweethearts looking to “pop the question.” Such is the case for a North Carolina couple who visited the park recently.

  On February 10, Jared Wilke and Kristy Howell, of Bakersville, NC, came to the Crater for a fun weekend of diamond mining together.  It was the couple’s second visit in about a year, but Jared had plans to make this visit even more memorable than the first.

  After learning how to sift for diamonds last year, Jared and Kristy built their own screens to use during their return visit.  On their first day back at the park, Jared told Kristy he wanted to videotape himself using the screens to show his dad how they worked.  He set up a video camera in the search area to record himself sifting for diamonds.  As he searched with Kristy nearby, Jared suddenly called out, “I think I’ve found something!” When Kristy went to investigate, she discovered that he didn’t just have a diamond, but a diamond ring!  “I couldn’t think of a better time or place,” Jared said of the proposal, which Kristy eagerly accepted.

  The Crater of Diamonds has been one of the couple’s favorite places to visit.  According to Kristy, “We both love all kinds of rocks and gems.” Their favorite aspects of the park include the variety of rocks and minerals that can be found here, the expanse of the diamond search area, and the helpful and friendly park staff.
 
  Kristy’s engagement ring features a round cut diamond, which once belonged to Jared’s great-grandmother, with pink spinel accent stones mounted on either side.  The couple spent five days at the park during their most recent visit, and though they haven’t yet found their Crater diamond, Kristy says they plan to continue searching for it.  “I imagine we’ll wind up visiting [the park] more than once a year,” she explains, “We have such a great time there!”
Keep up with diamond finds at the Crater!  Sign up here for our free e-newsletter!
 
Search area last plowed:  January 30, 2012

Most recent significant precipitation:  February 18, 2012

Diamond finds for February 12 - 18, 2012 (100 points = one carat):

No diamonds found February 12 & 13.

February 14 - Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 31 pt. yellow

No diamonds found after February 14.

Crater of Diamonds Home Page
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
Email: craterofdiamonds@arkansas.com
Phone: (870) 285-3113

You are currently subscribed to the Crater of Diamonds State Park enewsletter as: &*TO;.
To unsubscribe, go to http://diamondsstatepark.xyz/newsletter/ and click the "Unsubscribe" button.

Crater of Diamonds State Park Arkansas State Parks Free Vacation Kit Book Online Gift Certificates