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January 2024 by Ren N.
Super fun! $15 a person to dig around and pick up gemstone rocks and if you're lucky, a diamond! I came 3 days after a rain storm, most of the rocks are smaller than a nail, all exposed and wet. Soil was pretty soft I didn't need a shovel. You can rent equipment if you want, also welcome to bring your own from home. Two people find a diamond on a daily basis. I saw this for myself today. They're not lying on the statistics. The whole experience was peaceful and actually pretty fun. It started raining again so I wrapped up in less than an hour, got my hands on some jasper and one lamproite (?). Totally will come back again!!
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December 2023 by Kevin Wessel
Enjoyed our visit to the diamond field. For an entrance fee we hunted for diamonds all day, either by looking for them on the surface of the ground or digging then sifting the dirt to expose them. Tools are available the park and in town to rent if you don’t have your own. Unfortunately we didn’t find any diamonds but others did. Rangers are on site to look at and identify the stones you collect. It was fun and relaxing just exploring the field and hunting. Maybe we’ll have better luck on our next visit!
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December 2023 by Terrance Abbott
This was a very interesting and educational visit. While we didn't find any diamonds we still got the thrill of the hunt. My teen kids who normally don't go outside had fun digging and sifting.It would be nice if there was more drinks and snacks but a town isn't too far away and there may be more available during the summer.They post info on finds, last rain, and last plowing. You should do a little walk around and find a place not as well traversed to increase your chances. Overall a fun afternoon of family fun.Playground: There is a waterpark located next door.Restrooms: They have public restrooms in the main building. They are clean and ample.Dog-friendliness: Dogs are welcome but must stay on leash.
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December 2023 by Jill Pingleton
Bring change of clothes - you’re going to get wet and muddy! I went in November and it was cold and drizzly. There aren’t many restaurants or other services in town. It’s rural so download maps or use a satellite GPS. I brought my sifted gravel home to search but no diamonds. They will rent or sell you whatever you may need to search for diamonds but bringing your own latex gloves, 5 gallon bucket and wagon would be helpful. Summer is going to be brutally hot. But standing with my hands in cold water sifting in 45° temps wasn’t ideal either! Spring or early Fall would be way better.
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December 2023 by B I
Not sure what to expect? Here’s your guide.This is a kid friendly activity. Restrooms located at entrance (Tip - bring snacks, food, drink, hand wipes in a backpack). There are tables located in the field to sit and eat.You can rent tools. Basic kit includes a shovel, bucket, and two sifting screens. Return tools to get your tool rental deposit back.Pro tip - bring a little wagon with decent wheels to tote items around including a lawn chair).Save money by sharing rental tools with other family members. Work together, learn together.Restrooms: Located on bottom floor of building next to tool rental area.Picnic area: Picnic tables located in the field.
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November 2023 by Chosen O.
Lots has already been said about the place so I won't repeat. Be careful when wet sifting. The locals act like it's their place and get snotty/uppity when you take "their" place at the sluice. The park needs to ban them for bad behavior.
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November 2023 by Eric O.
My wife and I took the kids here as our first rockhounding trip to Arkansas. Before I begin, I will acknowledge that we went in early August and it was a little bit hot (very HOT lol). So, that affected our experience. We also had two young children, 12 and 10, and their idea of a fun Saturday is not spending all day in a hot field. But anyway... We stayed in the RV campground that is within the park. The campground was very clean and well maintained. The site was mostly clean other than trash in the fire pit, but the showers were functional and clean. We had a good time making a campfire, doing dinner and smores, and enjoying our first RV trip. On Saturday, we went to the field and found a spot that was in the shade and not populated. They had plowed the field about 7-10 days earlier, so the advice was to dig in the ditches between the humps (if that makes sense). You can dry sift and wet sift to find the diamonds and other gemstones, and you can take sifted material out - but it must be dry sifted because you cannot take the dirt. We ended up, due to the heat, collecting four buckets of dry sifted material. We wet sifted half of it on site, but took the remaining two buckets home (where they still sit, untouched). The wet sifting is a bit of a mess with kids and ours ended up nearly taking a bath in the muddle water troughs (for lack of a better word at the moment). You also have to lose your mental picture of what a diamond looks like - when we saw some for sale at local shops, they didn't look clear and sparkly like you think - more on that later! We ended up taking 7 small specs for identification, which is done free. When you leave the main building where you pay, you will go to another building, two levels, where you can rent tools and have things identified on the lower level. No diamonds for us, and the things we did find were not worthwhile in the small size (about the size of a piece of salt ran through a grinder), but we do have more to process at home. You can also rent a variety of tools with a deposit or bring your own. Here is a list of several things you could bring to make the day more enjoyable, especially in summertime. 1. Safety - hat (head protection), lots of water (duh), gardening gloves (protect hands while digging, grabbing tools, and if you need to pick at the dirt or field) 2. Comfort - lunch (you can leave and come back, but would take a bit of time), a stool (I used the three-legged variety, but saw some with four-legged chairs), a wagon (to easily wheel your stuff in and out - definitely needed if you plan on taking sifted material home for processing later!!!) 3. Tools - shovel, trowels, steel rake (ours was "tine bow" but not sure what that means, but not a garden leaf rake!), sifting bins, containers (to hold items for identification or keepers) Overally, my wife and I enjoyed this because it was our first RV trip, first trip to Arkansas, and something new for us to do with our love of rockhounding. I would do this again if I was in the area, but maybe not drive 12 hours to it again :) I forgot to take pictures here, but I did bring home buckets of gravel still to search - who knows what I might find once I actually wash it! :)
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November 2023 by Aaron Barbee (A-A-Ron)
I really want to rate this 5 stars and brag about it, but it’s not my thing. We saw lots of folks that were “all in” on the concept, likely locals that have easy access to the place and can just visit whenever.It’s essentially a large plowed field - it’s quite a few acres- and you’re just digging/sifting through mud or dirt. There’s no rock (for the most part) to scrape at and find the next big diamond. You’re just sifting through dirt in hopes that you’ll find something.I lost interest after about an hour and really tried to make the most of it. But unless this is your “thing” you won’t likely enjoy it as much as diehards do. It was mind numbing.Saving grace? The staff inside the shop were super duper helpful and friendly. The gift shop had quite a few fun things so that was cool. The staff out back are able to help you identify anything you find, so that’s cool.I have no interest in returning and would be unlikely to recommend this to anyone who approached me specifically about it.Dog-friendliness: We saw lots of dogs here. I was surprised. Bring water and shade for your pooch - there is none of either out in the diamond field.
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November 2023 by Kelly Berry
I couldn't have enjoyed this State Park more. Coming here was one of my bucket list items. The river trail was my favorite! It was raining when I went and I wouldn't have had it any other way! Gorgeous mosses, lichens, and fungi! This place was soul soothing.
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November 2023 by Melissa Bruner
This was fun. Everyone was friendly. Staff are very professional. I could bring my dog with me. I camped, and the campground was well kept, and well patrolled. Can't give it 5 stars because, well, it was crowded. I thought coming in the off season would be a quieter experience, but I was wrong! Also, a gigantic family took the campsite next to mine on the second day of my visit (like 3-4 tents full and a floodlight/speaker) and were loud and obnoxious. Also, as another reviewer put it, some visitors are "all in" trying to get rich finding a diamond. I was just here to fiddle around, camp, and maybe find some crystals. I think it would be more fun to bring kiddos here and let them have a big time digging, hiking, and hanging out at the water park. Overall, though, it's a good place. Definitely felt safe.
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November 2023 by Julie Fieber
This has been on my bucket list for a number of years. I can now cross it off.We had fun, even though we didn't find anything of consequence.Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, and footwear. Don't forget sunscreen, and a ball cap or visor to keep the sun out of your eyes. You can rent tools from the facility, though I do recommend bringing plastic baggies for your finds.
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November 2023 by Kambri Tracey
This was a great experience for the kids and us. Super reasonable prices to dig. You pay for the rental of the equipment and get your deposit back after returning their stuff. The kids had a great time we went after it had rained and it was pretty cold. We will go back one day when it's warmer.
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October 2023 by melissa Goff
Marked off the bucket list! Bought tickets online, stay in Hope, it's 40 miles away but very affordable, brought our own tools and buckets and had a blast! Didn't find a diamond, but we found a bunch of ugly rocks and tons of memories!!!
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September 2023 by Luis Duckworth
You pay to try to find diamonds and that's what you get, it's a lot of hard work... either a lot of walking hoping to see one sticking out or a lot of digging and sifting. One day is plenty of time for the experience unless you really want to try to find a diamond, then good luck to you. The equipment they rent out is okay, wagons aren't very good, too small and can tip over easily. Buy your tickets at the door instead of online, it'll save you the convenience fee since the park has no chance of filling up.Dog-friendliness: Plenty of people with dogs.
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September 2023 by Justin Christensen
A fun experience if you are in the area. We only spent a short time because of our schedule, but enjoyed looking through the dirt. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The park is very clean, well maintained. Nearly open every day of the year. Very large area to search so everyone is spread out. If we are ever in the area again, will return to try and find that illustrious diamond ?
