Diamond Fever Pays Off: Vacationer Finds 2.71-Carat Gem on Second Visit to Arkansas Park

The 4th largest diamond this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, was discovered by a man visiting from Indiana.

Dewy White of Paoli, Indiana, was on vacation with his wife when he found a beautiful  2.71-carat white diamond.

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White and his wife were on a big road trip and made a stop at the park. They spent two days digging for diamonds with no luck, so they headed out back on their journey. Diamond fever struck, and on their way back home, they decided to give it another try.

The Lure of 'Diamond Fever' Brings Them Back to Arkansas

On their second trip, they spent three days digging for a diamond. Then White got a tip from another visitor, the tip was to start digging in the Canary Hill area by the south wash pavilion.

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A Friendly Tip Leads to the Perfect Spot at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas

White told park authorities,

A very nice gentleman I met on my first day out here suggested that area. He seemed like he knew what he was doing, and it looked like a nice, shaded spot.

Before he even started to dry sift through the dirt, White saw something shiny in his shovel. He said he shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!” and then made his way quickly to identify the stone. Park staff confirmed that it was definitely a diamond. It's round and about the size of a pea, weighing 2.71 carats.

Naming the Gem: The 2.71-Carat 'Hope Diamond' Found in Arkansas State Park

Visitors who find diamonds have the chance to name their diamond find. White named it the Hope Diamond, saying it was because he had “hoped” they would find one. His gem is now the fourth-largest diamond registered at the park this year. To date, 414 diamonds have been found and registered in 2025 alone.