The plan was to stay for a “few hours”. We stayed for two full sessions and came home covered in red Arkansas clay.
The Ron Coleman Mine in Jessieville, Arkansas, wasn’t even on our radar when we rolled into the Hot Springs area. But we’d been in Arkansas long enough to know that this state takes its crystals seriously — and once we found out you could actually dig for them yourself, we were in.
We ended up going back twice. Because of course we did.
The Ron Coleman Mine Tour
We always do the tour when there is one, and this one was worth it. The tour runs 45 minutes to an hour and includes a ride down into the actual mining pit in a military vehicle — which is exactly as fun as it sounds. We happened to be the only ones on ours, so we basically had a private tour, which meant we could ask all the questions we wanted.
The most useful thing we learned? Ask the staff where the freshly tilled tailing piles are. The mine tills and rotates the digging areas, so fresh piles mean looser dirt, easier digging, and better odds of finding something good. That tip alone was worth the tour price.
The tour also includes a walk through their crystal gallery showroom — and this is not a small gift shop situation. We’re talking floor-to-ceiling amethyst towers, massive quartz clusters, specimens from around the world. Zach found a crystal chair and made himself comfortable. We were in there a while.
The Dig
We are not exaggerating when we say this is addicting. You sit down in the red Arkansas clay, start sifting through the dirt, and suddenly two hours have disappeared. We did two separate sessions at Ron Coleman — four-plus hours each — and we still didn’t want to leave.
The digging area is in full sun.
👒 Bring a hat.
🧤 Bring gloves.
💧 Bring more water than you think you need— It’s hot, it’s dirty, and it’s completely worth it.
One of the smartest things about staying at their campground was the cleanup situation. They have wash stations with tables and water set up specifically for cleaning your finds. We also used the grated lift on our bus as a giant strainer — loaded it up with everything we dug, ran water over it, and let the clay wash right through. Highly recommend if you have anything similar available.
What We Found
Arkansas is known for its quartz crystals and now we know why. We came home with a solid haul — points, clusters, pieces still coated in that red clay that cleaned up beautifully. The first session we kept everything. The second session we got pickier, which had everything to do with the fact that we had to carry it all back.
That clear quartz point we pulled out of the dirt ourselves. That never gets old.
Ron Coleman vs. Jim Coleman Mine
We tried Jim Coleman Mine too, for comparison. The dirt there hadn’t seen rain in ages and wasn’t tilled — we were beating it with a shovel just to loosen a tiny bit of soil. We gave up pretty quickly. Ron Coleman wins by a landslide, and that’s not even close.
🚌 Big Rig & Pet Logistics
🚛 Big Rig Status: RV park on site — Ron Coleman Mine has a campground directly on the property. We stayed here and it made the whole trip easier. Pull in, dig all day, clean up at the wash stations, repeat.
🐾 Pet Policy: Outdoor location, leash required — The digging area is outside. Standard leash rules apply.
🛠️ Driver’s Note: The campground makes this a great overnight stop. Jessieville is about 15 minutes from Hot Springs — easy to combine both in one trip.
Ron Coleman Mine Pricing
Current pricing — always check their website for updates:
Digging Only: Adults $25 | Kids 5-14 $6 | Under 5 FREE | Seniors 55+ $20
Tour Only: Adults $15 | Kids 5-14 $10 | Under 5 FREE
Tour + Digging Package: Adults $35 | Kids 5-14 $12.50 | Under 5 FREE
Unlimited Day Pass (zipline + digging + tour): Adults $55 | Kids 5-14 $45
Zipline Only: One trip $30 | Unlimited adult $55 | Unlimited child $45
Digging hours are 8am to 4:30pm. No permits sold within 60 minutes of closing.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Mine
Where is Ron Coleman Mine located?
Ron Coleman Mine is located in Jessieville, Arkansas, about 15 minutes from Hot Springs.
What should I bring to Ron Coleman Mine?
Bring a hand trowel or gardening shovel, gloves, a 5-gallon bucket or bags for your finds, sunscreen, and more water than you think you need. It’s an outdoor dig in full sun. A wide brim hat is not optional — trust us on that one.
Is the Ron Coleman Mine tour worth it?
Yes. The tour includes a ride down into the mining pit in a military vehicle and gives you genuinely useful tips for where to dig. Ask about the freshly tilled areas. You’ll thank yourself later.
Can you camp at Ron Coleman Mine?
Yes! They have a campground on site. If you’re planning a full day of digging, staying on property makes the whole experience easier — especially for cleaning up your finds at their wash stations.
How long should I plan to spend at Ron Coleman Mine?
At minimum a few hours. If you’re doing the tour plus digging, budget half a day. We did two separate four-hour sessions and could have stayed longer.
What crystals can you find at Ron Coleman Mine?
Arkansas quartz crystals — points, clusters, and matrix pieces. Quality varies by where and how you dig, which is another reason the tour tips are useful.
Looking for more Arkansas stops? Check out our Things To Do in Arkansas page, or head back to the homepage to see where the road’s taken us lately.