Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Last year was a special one for the Crater. Not only did the park celebrate its 50th anniversary, but more diamonds were registered in 2022 than the previous two years combined! Following is a recap of diamond finds and other significant events during 2022.

A Good Time for a Diamond Find

Dec 2022

22,813 people entered the diamond search area in October 2021, superseding the 15,443 people we saw in October of this year. But how does that compare with diamond finds? Does higher visitation mean that more diamonds were found? Read this article to find out!

Searching for a diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Arkansas State Parks Celebrate the New Year with First Day Hikes

Nov 2021

Make a healthy New Year’s resolution by kicking off 2022 with an invigorating First Day Hike at an Arkansas state park near you.

Photo Essay: Churn Your Own Butter

Nov 2020

Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeast Arkansas preserves Arkansas’s first platted (planned) town and the stories of the people who lived here. The people of Davidsonville churned butter as a necessary chore to keep their households running smoothly, but today is a fun activity to connect us to the past. In this photo essay, we will explore the very important task...

A loaf of bread on a table with a container of butter and a piece of bread off to the side with butter on it

Visitor Finds 4.49-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Nov 2020

It was all treat, no trick this Halloween for Steven McCool of Fayetteville, Ark., at Crater of Diamonds State Park. The 34-year-old found the third-largest diamond of the year. He found a 4.49-carat yellow diamond.

Steven McCool's 4.40-carat yellow diamond

Jailhouse Bed and Breakfast at Historic Washington State Park

Sep 2020

Want to stay in a unique historic place? Historic Washington State Park has the perfect place. The Jailhouse Bed and Breakfast is a jailhouse that has been renovated with all the modern amenities. The original jail was completed in 1873. It was a brick, one-story building with four jail cells. It housed criminals for offenses such as burglary, forgery, assault, assault...

Jailhouse Bed and Breakfast at Historic Washington State Park

Rivers as Transportation

Jul 2020

Davidsonville Historic State Park was established in 1957 to preserve the first platted (planned) town in Arkansas: Davidsonville. Established in 1815 along the Black River in northeast Arkansas Territory, the town was the site of many of Arkansas’s firsts. Davidsonville held the first county seat for Lawrence County, Arkansas’s first post office, first courthouse, and...

Passing Time in Historic Powhatan

Apr 2020

Powhatan Historic State Park Interpreter Geoffrey shows you just as we still do today, the people of historic Powhatan made their own toys, games, and entertainment to pass the time and help families grow stronger together.

Powhatan Park Interpreter Geoffrey shows a game with a cup and ball

Help Us Protect Your Arkansas State Parks

Apr 2020

Lake Catherine State Park Superintendent Cheryl Vincent goes over Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Thank you in advance for helping us protect your Arkansas State Parks.

Physical Distancing at Arkansas State Parks

Mar 2020