MURFREESBORO, Ark. -- Rain or shine, visitors keep coming to Crater of Diamonds State Park in southwest Arkansas, hoping to uncover buried treasure in the dirt.
“I would say it’s hot,” one visitor said. “And it’s dirty.”
At first glance, the plowed field near Murfreesboro may not look remarkable. But for generations, geologists, amateur rockhounds and curious tourists have been drawn to the site, known as the only public diamond mine in the United States where visitors can keep whatever they find.
The land was formed by volcanic activity, and prospectors recognized as early as the 1800s that the area was unique. Diamonds were first discovered there in 1906.
“And that was the big attraction coming here,” said visitor Jane Tollefson of Minnesota. “Biggest diamond mine in the United States.”
Today, the state park includes 37.5 plowed acres where visitors search for diamonds and other gemstones by digging, sifting and washing gravel. Since becoming a state park, more than 37,000 diamonds have been discovered there.
Some visitors come prepared with experience and specialized tools, while others simply want to try their luck.
“My biggest was .55 points, just over half a carat,” one visitor said.
Park rules limit guests to taking home one bucket of sifted gravel per person each day. Monica Broner visited with her husband and child, who hoped to continue searching after leaving the park.
“He would like to take a bucket home just to see if they can find anything later,” Broner said. “We’ll see how much he actually digs through it.”
The park also has an on-site expert who helps identify whether visitors’ discoveries are diamonds, quartz or other stones.
“Hope to find a diamond, but only finding quartz so far,” another guest said.
Finding a diamond lying on top of the ground is possible, especially after rainfall, but most visitors spend hours digging and sifting through mud and gravel using screens and water.
Experienced hunters say technique matters. One regular visitor recalled the moment his wife uncovered a large diamond while sifting through buckets he had dug.
“She said, ‘Is this a diamond?’” he recalled. “And sure enough, it was a big diamond.”
As rain moved into the area during the day, many searchers welcomed the weather. Runoff can expose gems hidden in the soil.
“I’ve heard that it makes it way easier to find diamonds,” Tatum Cool said.
For many guests, the experience is less about striking it rich and more about the adventure itself.
“This is my first time here,” said Matthew Torres. “My wife and I came today to give it a try, and we like digging in the dirt a lot. We thought, well, we’ll give this a chance and see what happens.”
For those interested in visiting, Crater of Diamonds State Park is located near Hot Springs in the town of Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own buckets, shovels, sifters and carts, although equipment rentals are also available on site. More information is available at the state's website.