By: 
Waymon Cox
 Updated: 
Diamond Springs Splash Contest
Prospectors’ Gemboree Watermelon Spitting Contest
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Diamond Digging Contest
Prospectors’ Gemboree Diamond Digging Contest
Diamond Springs Splash Contest
Diamond Springs Splash Contest
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Egg Toss
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Famous Crater Diamonds
Prospectors’ Gemboree Watermelon
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners
Prospectors’ Gemboree Contest Winners

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! On Saturday, June 15, more than 800 park guests visited the Crater to search for diamonds and celebrate diamond miners in Arkansas during the 9th Annual Prospectors’ Gemboree. Visitors of all ages enjoyed playing games and winning prizes during the day. Following is a list of this year’s game prize winners:

Diamond Digging Contest, sponsored by Home Improvement Center of Southwest Arkansas

Ages 5 & under

1st place – Josiah from Little Rock, AR

2nd place – Luke from Brandon, MS

3rd place – Annelia from Brandon, MS

Ages 6-9

1st place – Megan from Southaven, MS

2nd place – Berkeley

3rd place – Zoe

Ages 10-12

1st place – Vivien from Cotton Valley, LA

2nd place – Lily from Dahlonega, GA

3rd place – Noah from Alba, TX

4th place – Trista from Cotton Valley, LA
 

Diamond Toss, sponsored by Pawn Kings

Ages 5 & under

1st place – Josiah from Little Rock, AR

2nd place – Parker from Claredon, AR

Ages 6-9

1st place – Reed from Godfrey, IL

2nd place – Tanner from Tahlequah, OK

3rd place – Mathilde from Sarasota, FL

Ages 10-12

1st place – Trae from Tahlequah, OK

2nd place – Sabrina from Weatherford, TX

3rd place – Lily from Dahlonega, GA

 

Diamond Springs Splash, sponsored by Little Shamrock Motel

1st place – Kiran & Joel from Chiang Mai, Thailand

2nd place – Ari from Memphis, TN and Kalen from Chiang Mai, Thailand

3rd place – Jessica & Benita from Parks, AR

 

Egg Toss, sponsored by First State Bank of Pike County and Cash Saver of Murfreesboro

1st place – Victor & Brayden from Bella Vista, AR

2nd place – Matt & Megan from Trophy Club, TX

3rd place – Monica & Rowan from Albuquerque, NM

 

Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, sponsored by York Gary Autoplex

Ages 7-12

1st place – Chris from Leesburg, VA (20’ 4”)

2nd place – Emma from Booneville, AR (18’)

3rd place – Ari from Memphis, TN (16’ 10.5”)

Ages 13 & up

1st place – Hunter from Rayville, LA (29’ 5”)

2nd place – Matt from Alma, AR (25’ 8”)

3rd place – Roxanne from Booneville, AR (24’ 2”)

Park guests also searched for more than diamonds during the Crater’s 25th Annual Prospectors’ Treasure Hunt. Starting on June 15, painted rocks and bottles were hidden throughout the diamond search area, redeemable for a variety of door prizes and prize packages. This year’s Treasure Hunt prizes were donated by the following businesses in Murfreesboro and Nashville: Ace of Diamonds, Caddo Antiques, D & R Marine & RV Service, Dino Dig, Farmers Association, Feed Bin Café, Futrell Marine, Hawkins Variety Store, Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village, Miner’s Diner, Morning View Retreat, Murfreesboro Hardware, Pawn Kings, Queen of Diamonds Inn, Southern Dine, Swaha Lodge & Marina, Telinga’s Mexican Restaurant, and Western Sizzlin’

Prospectors’ Gemboree would not have been a success without the many contributions of time and effort from our local community. The Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce sponsored and provided lunch for exhibitors at this year’s Famous Crater Diamonds Exhibit, and volunteers from Diamond Bank greeted visitors at our information table and helped with games during the event.

Thanks to everyone who attended or contributed to this year’s Prospectors’ Gemboree! Check out the calendar of events on our website at www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com, and make plans to attend a future program, workshop, or event.

Search area last plowed: July 3, 2019

Most recent significant rain: July 4, 2019

Diamond finds for the weeks of June 23 & 30, 2019 (100 points = 1 carat):

June 23 – Thom Bish II, California, MO, 15 pt. brown; Robert McDonald, Cedar Park, TX, 5 pt. brown

June 28 – Megan McClelen, Arlington, TX, 19 pt. brown; Kayla Oakeley, Abilene, TX, 19 pt. brown; Luke Shannon, Arlington, TX, 23 pt. brown; Janine Erhardt, Arkadelphia, AR, 1.00 ct. brown; Caleb Shannon, Abilene, TX, 26 pt. brown

July 4 – Troy Savage, Antlers, OK, 24 pt. white; Mike & Brooke Klawitter, Berlin, WI, 1 pt. yellow, 1 pt. white, 3 pt. white, 3 pt. white

July 5 – Edward Reed, Walker, LA, 11 pt. white; Veronica Reed, Walker, LA, 5 pt. brown; Ronald Stafford, Poplarville, MS, 1.56 ct. brown