Minnesota Man Strikes Diamond Delight at Arkansas Park!

Quick Smiles:

• Minnesota man uncovers a sparkling surprise at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
• A 3.81-carat diamond, the largest found in 2025, adds to the park’s treasure trove.
• Visitors from around the world find magic and adventure at this unique park.

During a memorable visit to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, David DeCook from Minnesota stumbled upon an extraordinary find on April 21.

This isn’t DeCook’s first time at the park; he frequently visits with his family and has discovered numerous diamonds over the years, according to a press release from Arkansas State Parks.

While exploring a hill south of the park’s south wash pavilion, something shiny caught DeCook’s eye. Initially mistaking it for a candy wrapper, he soon realized it was much more valuable.

“Kind of looks like a candy wrapper, real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther’s candy wrapper kind of. As you get closer to it, you can tell it’s a diamond pretty quick,” he recalled.

Excited by his find, DeCook called out to his brother nearby, exclaiming, “Oh, you’re going to be mad once you see what I found!”

Upon showing the park staff his discovery, it was registered as a 3.81-carat brown diamond, marking the largest find of the year so far.

DeCook expressed his astonishment at uncovering such a large diamond, admitting, “You just never know what you’re gonna find. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”

He acknowledged that while it might not happen again for him, the possibility remains open for other visitors.

The park has been a site of remarkable discoveries for years. In January 2024, a visitor from Paris, France, named Julien Navas found a 7.46-carat diamond.

Navas shared, “It is a magical place where the dream of finding a diamond can come true! It was a real great adventure.”

Similarly, in 2013, a 14-year-old from Oklahoma named Tana Clymer discovered a 3.8-carat canary diamond.

Reflecting on her find, she said, “I kept asking my dad if I was dreaming. I cried. I couldn’t believe it.”

Crater of Diamonds State Park continues to be a place where dreams of finding precious gems become reality for many.

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