Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Crater of Diamonds Sets Party

Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro will be celebrating its 25th anniversary June 7 and 8.

Visitors will enjoy free admission to the park's diamond search field and hunt for buried treasure at the biggest treasure hunt in the park's history.

U.S. Senator Dale bumpers will join other state and area officials at the 25th anniversary ceremony and cake cutting at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Certificates for over 50 prizes will be buried throughout the park's diamond search field. Prizes include:

• a pear-shaped diamond from Kahn's Jewelry of Pine Bluff (a $1,000 value)

• a solid gold and ruby Razorback pin from Underwood's Jewelers of Fayetteville;

• getaways to the Queen of Diamonds Inn, Swaha Lodge, Riverside Cottage Motel, American Heritage Inn, Riverwood Inn, Ouachita Mountain Inn, Southern Belle Inn, Gaston's White River Resort, Lindsey's Rainbow Resort and Mountain Harbor Resort;

• free camping at Arkansas' state parks;

• free golf at the Glenwood Country Club;

• $10 to $50 gift certificates from area businesses;

• jewelry, free meals at area restaurants, a wide variety of recreational equipment, tickets to local and area attraction and much more.

• register for drawings for complimentary lodging at DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Petit Jean State Park, Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Ozark Folk Center;

• enjoy musical entertainment;

• see the speical diamond display, including cut and uncut diamonds found by visitors at the Crater of Diamonds State Park.

  On Saturday, you will have the opportunity to:

• join in games and activitiea including a diamond digging contest, scavenger hunt, sandbox scramble and water balloon toss;

• join U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers and local and state officials at the 25th anniversary cermony and cake cutting at 4 p.m.;

• enjoy the Murfreesboro band barbecue fundraiser from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.; and

• hear the Campbell family musical performence at 7:00 p.m.

  On Sunday, several area choirs will present a variety of gospel singing performances from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Crater of ldiamonds State Park is located in southwest Arkansas just two miles southeast of Murfreesboro on State Highway 301.

For more information, contact Michael Hall, park superintendent, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Route 1, Box 364, Murfreesboro, AR 71958. Phone 870-285-3113.