The Crater of Diamonds State Park
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is located near Murfreesboro, Arkansas in Pike County. It is a 911 acre state park that is situated over an eroded lamproite volcanic pipe, and the park is open to the general public. The name of the park refers to the fact that over 25,000 diamonds have been found in the crater since it became a state park, and visitors are actually allowed to keep any gemstone that they find regardless of its value.
The first diamond ever found in the Crater of Diamonds State Park was in 1906, by a man named John Huddleston who owned the property. Then between the years of 1952-1972 the crater was a privately owned tourist attraction, and then between the years 1964-1968 Roscoe Johnston leased 49 acres of diamond bearing land adjacent to the crater and operated it as a tourist attraction.
There have been thousands of diamonds found in the Crater of Diamonds State Park over time but a few that are especially notable. Diamonds of all colors and shapes can be found at this state park, but the three most common colors are white, brown and yellow. Along with the diamond search area located in Crater of Diamonds State Park, the park also offers hundreds of acres of natural forest featuring a diversity of flora and fauna and offering visitors a ton of interesting things to do in the area.
The park even offers other activities such as fishing, and bank fishing for largemouth bass, catfish and bream on the Little Missouri River can be lots of fun for adults and children alike. Access to the river is also available at Terrell Access which is a public boat launching ramp across from the park. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regularly stock the river with trout over the winter months although you are still able to fish for trout throughout the rest of the year as well.
Out of all the state parks in the world this is definitely one of the most fun and enjoyable to visit, especially for the kids who get to dig around and see what they can come up with, the best part of all being that they actually get to keep whatever it is that they do find. It makes for a great stop-off for any family vacation, and the Crater of Diamonds State Park is definitely one place that you will all remember.