Board Camp Crystal Mine — Attraction in Mena

These are untouched, virgin, all natural, crystal formations that are open to visitors to discover for the first time, this makes the experience much more exciting and gratifying versus sorting mine tailings that have already been stripped by heavy machinery. We originally planned this as an outing for the kids but our gracious host simply dug into a few random spots and instantly produced home-worthy specimens. The kids could not contain thier excitement and Mom and Dad soon had a friendly competition going on who could find the best crystals. Take sturdy tools and a car floor mat or two to kneel and sit on. They can also provide these as well. We returned home today and the kids spent the whole day cleaning their crystals with the same excitement as they had when they unearthed them. The owners of the open-air mine are very friendly and had us all intrigued from the moment we stepped into the welcoming center and then again upon our return with our buckets full of sparking treasure. We were touched by their sentiment that the crystals should remain in their native form so that visitors can experience the same excitement as they did when they accidentally discovered them years ago. We have already planned to return for the Crystal Music Festival in July. We extend a big THANK YOU to the Murphy family for giving us great memories of our spring break vacation this year. Liz and...

This was an all around amazing and memorable experience! This place was the highlight of our entire trip to Arkansas! My 8 year old son loved it and is still talking about it. The crystal mine was great! We filled up almost an entire 5 gallon bucket with large beautiful clusters within about 2 hours. I don't know how anyone could possibly not get anything here. You get to dig right in the veins. The quality of some of the specimens was some of the best we've gotten. I've been to several mines and this one is the best, both in terms of quality and service. The owners are genuinely kind, beautiful people. Their not just in in for the money. They are truly shepherds of the land. They also care about their customers and will go above and beyond to make your experience a good one. However, as awesome as the mining experience was, the paranormal tour was even more amazing! We were truly in awe. The land has a mystique about it. This place is truly sacred. I have never experienced anything like it. I can not recommend this place enough! We will...

We had such an amazing time at Board Camp Crystal Mine! The owners are both very great people, the facility is beautiful, and the overall experience is hands down one of the coolest things our family has ever done. I can't say enough good things to do it justice, so instead I will give my thoughts on what I will do next time I visit.

Bring gloves! I really wished I had them during our dig. Next time, for sure.

Bring extra water to the site in case of accidental cuts. I used a lot of my drinking water to rinse a small cut and ended up wishing I had more.

Bring a milk crate. This would have helped me with balancing myself while digging face first in a hole. They make great chairs, too.

There isn't much more that I would have done differently. I brought my three kids, ages 5-14, and they loved it, too. We got there shortly before 9am and finished up right at 11am. All in all, some very great memories were made at this one-of-a-kind spot. I want to go back as soon...