Crater of Diamonds State Park: More Than Just a Diamond Mine

 

By Margi Jenks

 

In last week’s newsletter I talked about the reasons that this part of southwestern Arkansas is the location of a diamond mine.  However, this unique little state park is not just a diamond mine.  It is a place where individuals and families can check diamond mining off of their bucket lists, have fun together, pursue a geology or rockhounding hobby, or have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

 

One of the questions that I sometimes ask a group of visitors is which of their members had the idea to visit the diamond mine.  Usually everyone looks at one individual and he or she says something like “I heard about this place 5 or 10 or even 30 years ago, and have always wanted to come”. I generally am not able to predict which of the group’s members will be the one to speak up.  Sometimes it is a child who has asked to come here to celebrate their birthday or good grades in school.  Other times it is a couple, who enjoy prospecting as a hobby and want to include the diamond mine in the many famous gem and mineral sites they have visited.  For some retirees, the Crater of Diamonds is literally something that they want to mark off of their bucket list.  But, basically, it is always someone who was intrigued by the chance to search for, and possibly find those rare minerals, diamonds.

 

After they come to the Crater, our visitors discover that we actually are much more than just a diamond mine. Because people have been mining diamonds here for the past 107 years, the park has a rich history of both the early mining days and the 40 years since the park was established in 1972.  This history is decorated with stories of fascinating prospectors, like John Huddleston, who found the first diamond and James Archer, whose daily visits to the mine allowed him to send his children to college with the proceeds from his rumored 5,000 diamond finds.  Unusual events, like the 1959 murder of a diamond prospector and the arson fire that burned two of the early diamond ore processing plants, are also part of the park’s history. 

 

In addition, our park has other facilities besides the diamond mine for our visitors to enjoy.  The favorite in the summer time, of course, is the Diamond Springs Water Park.  But, we receive lots of compliments on our campground, which some visitors describe as the nicest that they have stayed in on their trip.  Our three trails and the numerous picnic table areas have plenty of birds and other wildlife for our visitors to observe.  The long-needle pines and many hardwood trees provide a beautiful open forest, where, if you look carefully you might see one of the fawns that are just being born in May and June.  If you love fishing and canoeing, the Terrell Access to the Little Missouri River, on the south edge of the park, provides both activities as well as a swimming hole.  Finally, if you are planning a family reunion or a get-together of old friends, our air-conditioned picnic pavilion is available for a fairly nominal rental fee.

 

In 2012, visitors from all 50 states and 30 foreign countries signed our guest register.  This unscientific survey shows that our unique little park is a place that visitors from everywhere come to have a diamond-hunting adventure, or to just enjoy the natural beauty of the Ouachita Mountain foothills in southwest Arkansas.

 

Search area last plowed:  April 23, 2013; Most recent heavy rain:  June 8, 2013

 

Total diamonds found in 2013: 265

 

Diamonds registered for June 2-June 8, 2012 (100 points = 1 carat): 

 

June 2 - No diamonds were registered

 

June 3 - Kenneth Shoemaker, Murfreesboro, AR, 1 pt. white, 1 pt. yellow; Diane Curtis, Moundridge, KS, 22 pt. brown; Elaine Wiegert, Rochester, MN, 23 pt. yellow

 

June 4 - Adam Hardin, Barberton, OH, 5 pt. white, 15 pt. yellow

 

June 5 - No diamonds were registered

 

June 6 - Mike Christakos, Tinley Park, IL, 13 pt. white

 

June 7 - No diamonds were registered

 

June 8 - Richard Baskett, Little Rock, AR, 6 pt. white, 7 pt. brown