Herkimer Diamond Mines — Attraction in Town of Newport

We rented one of the most expensive deluxe handicap cabins to suit my needs. Mining of course is not very handicap friendly to begin with but it was dream to do this before I die I was so happy to be doing it. Any help with getting around will keep me going longer throughout the day. The first day was great. The Friday check in personnel was so super friendly and nice. The mining for the next four hours was hot and tiring and I had to stay in one place at the beginning due to my own mobility issues. I enjoyed it a lot though. I was having a great time. Day two I woke and felt the pain from my day previous. My family wanted to leave the campground for a local zoo. Walking around the zoo was not an option for me. I suggested grabbing an employee and getting a quick ride down to the 3rd mine on one of those golf carts that they lug people around in. I wanted to see if there was a place I could sit down for a few hours and be semi comfortable while the family left for the zoo. We saw a lady on a golf cart heading by. I said “good morning” so did she. Then she flew down into the mines. “She’s on a mission” so we began to walk and meet her at the entrance to the mining area enjoying the sights and scenery. When she came back I said “hi! I had a quick question...” and I was bombarded by “You can’t be here! You didn’t buy your bracelet ( it was 8:45am by the way I wanted to grab staff before they became busy as the place opened ) My heart just dropped and our day went sour from there. I was so happy and pleasant and to be bombed like that. I couldn’t even manage to ask my question about if they would drive me down to the third mine. She wasn’t going to answer my question anyway until the mine opened and I had my wristband. I was not in the mine I was at the picnic tables before the entrance. And her mind was set on being rude to me. My family was angry and just packed up to leave when we had another day reserved. I was livid and I said “nope this lady will not ruin our vacation!” With a chip on my shoulder I wobbled my way into the office area. Things would not have gone so smoothly had a tall redhead not been there. He was mild mannered friendly and incredibly informative. I made sure she knew I was not some scum on the bottom of her shoe that she needed to dispose of. And that I was a real live person with feelings. And I just wanted the opportunity to mine in the third mine. I never got my ride. I begged my family to let me mine in the very beginning like I had the day before. We checked out before noon on our second day in losing our money for the third day. Two days later I’m still waking in the night stressed by the woman who ruined...

We drove 3 hours to go here as my 7 year old son is really into Geology. At first everything was lovely, went mining, found some diamonds. Came back to the cafe to grab some lunch. It was good! Then went to grab some ice cream for the family. Looked at my receipt and it was weird... they charged me $1516.00 for ice cream. Instead of $15.16. I questioned the attendant and he said, "Oh no, that cant be right, I charged you the right amount." Luckily, there is cell service there. Pulled up the banking app and yup, they did charge me $1516.00. So they go to fix it, two other people get involved as the computer system is doing "something weird". Then the self proclaimed "tech guy" comes up and he fixes it and refunds me the difference of the charge and my ice cream. But then I look at the receipt. And it looks like they charged me $1485.48. So I check my banking app. And they have. So it's been an hour at this point going back and forth and we are missing out on mining time with my 4 and 7 year old. I send my wife off and another 45 minutes later they finally figure out how to process a refund for $3001.48. Now, I have to say that the staff was embarrased and apologized profusely. But do you know how long it takes for banks and credit card processors to issue refunds? For some reason taking money away is instant... giving it back is a minimum of 3-5 business days. So now luckily (or unluckily?) My debit card is tied into my savings so everything was automatically covered... but what if I didn't have a credit card or additional savings to, for example, pay for my hotel, food and gas on the way home. Sorry, sir, you're out of luck, we just took all your money... but we'll give it back in 3-5 days. I'm not looking for a handout here, but not only did I miss out on quality family time, once all these transactions are sorted out I have to go back in and make sure I pay off the credit card that I used for the rest of the weekend... unless Herkimer Diamond mine wants to pay for my finance and interest charges. So, my advice at the end of the day... pay with cash, and count your change. Or go down the street to ace of diamonds, that's what I'll be...

We go EVERY summer, 2-3 times a summer. We have SO much fun!! Between the mines and the KOA campground, you can't go wrong!! And if you remember to tell them your staying at the campground you get a discount (I forgot the last day) but you also get a 1st responder discount. (Firefighter here) EVERYONE is VERY friendly and incredibly accommodating. I love them! Bring shower flipflops, unless you are staying in one of the houses with a price shower but even then I would just in case, but I would say that about ANY place with public showers, not just here. The mines open at 9am and don't close till 5pm. They have a food place there and you can NOT go wrong eating there. The food is AMZAING!! I am not a huge burger fan, but when we go I can wait to order my cheese burger with a side a sweet potato fries!! The gift shop sells the vials to collect the small diamonds throughout the day. As well as the round cases with the black velvet in them so if you find a BIG diamond you have a nice safe place to put it so you can display it when you get home. They also have a square case with a plastic outside. You put your diamonds in to display it and they don't move. It's actually very clever. I have tons of them in my type tray. I always buy them before we leave. It's one of my favorite things. I have an 8-year-old son who always meets new friends while he's up there. This year he met two new friends that became his penpals over the summer, on top of the one he met last summer. KOA campground always has a ton of activities for after the mines closed. I really can't say enough good things about Herkimer diamond mines. Especially for the kids who love Minecraft, if your kid loves Minecraft, you most definitely can't go wrong. They will be in heaven getting to mine real diamonds with you..

I added just a FEW pictures of the diamonds I have found over the 20+ years that my family and I...