Florida couple finds 3.36-carat diamond at a US state park where visitors can keep every gem they discover

Imagine visiting a tourist attraction and leaving with a real diamond in your pocket. That dream became a reality for a Florida couple who recently discovered a 3.36-carat white diamond at Arkansas' famous Crater of Diamonds State Park, one of the most unusual destinations in the United States, according to a report in The Times of India.

The gem, now named the Dash Diamond, was found by Scott and Jennifer Freitas during a visit to the park. Just weeks earlier, another visitor, Pennsylvania resident Keshia Smith, unearthed a 3.09-carat white diamond, highlighting why the Crater of Diamonds State Park remains a magnet for treasure hunters from around the world.

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The Only Diamond Park Where Visitors Can Keep What They Find

Located in Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world's only public diamond-bearing site where visitors can search for natural diamonds in their original volcanic source and legally take home whatever they find.

The park's famous "finders keepers" policy allows guests to keep any diamonds, gemstones, or minerals they discover. Visitors can search across a 37-acre field using methods such as surface searching, dry sifting, and wet sifting, one of the most successful techniques for uncovering gems.

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How the Diamond Discovery Began

The story of Crater of Diamonds State Park dates back to 1906, when farmer John Huddleston found two sparkling stones on his property. The stones turned out to be diamonds, triggering what became known as Arkansas' "diamond fever."

After decades of unsuccessful commercial mining attempts, the State of Arkansas purchased the land in 1972 and transformed it into a public park where anyone could search for diamonds.

More Than 75,000 Diamonds Found

The numbers behind Crater of Diamonds State Park are remarkable. Since the first discoveries in 1906, more than 75,000 diamonds have been recovered from the site. Since becoming a state park in 1972, visitors have registered over 37,377 diamonds.

Park officials estimate that more than 600 diamonds are found each year, and as of 2026, visitors have already registered 332 diamonds.

Famous Diamonds Found at the Park

The most famous discovery remains the Uncle Sam Diamond, a 40.23-carat rough diamond found in 1924—the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States.

Other notable finds include the Esperanza Diamond, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond, and the recently discovered Dash Diamond and Za'Novia Liberty Diamond.