I called months in advance to reserve a shady site for a long holiday weekend and I relied on the staff's advice to book a particular spot over the phone. Typically I would have visited in person prior to booking however this campground was nearly 4 hours away, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. This place has been on my bucket list for nearly two decades and I was so excited for the mines. We arrived in the middle of a heatwave to discover the shady site was actually not shaded by anything. Disappointed and concerned that in the peak of the day our dogs wouldn't be cool enough in the camper, we asked for a site change but on a holiday weekend there wasn't any other option. I was happy that the two ac units kept it cool and the breaker didn't pop. The main campground is adorable with its store next to the pool and music in the garden in the evenings. The garden grille was a tasty surprise. The food was actually quite delicious for a pork bbq and fries. We enjoyed the creek and pool in the hottest part of the days and walked the dogs all over the campground in the early morning and evenings. The dog park was bizarrely small for normal sized breeds and out Bernese Mountain dogs weren't digging the confinement. While at the KOA we spent some time in the mines finding lovely little treasures. Overall I would choose to return for another adventure if I could book on of the creekside spots. read more

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Picturesque KOA campground with a working "diamond" mine where you can dig for gems, or just get them at the gift shop. Lots of trees, open fields, and the Canada Creek runs along the campground. People tube down it along the campground. There is a nice camp store with things you might need as well as souvenirs to purchase. They have outdoor stands with burgers, hot dogs, adult drinks, ice cream desserts, etc. There used to be a mining themed restaurant but that seemed to be closed. There is still a snack bar near the mine location. Interesting things such as a cabin made in the form of a huge tree/house. GPS may take you along hilly backroads so. Eat to follow their directions to the campground read more

Back for the 3rd time and we enjoyed our stay! The deluxe cabins were well appointed but the stairs are definitely rickety with a large unexpected step down from the door itself that nearly took everyone out a number of times. I noticed lots of updates in the last 2 years. Camp store staff was very friendly and helpful. I can't speak to the camp area bathrooms this time but the mine bathrooms were as bad as an outhouse, no toilet paper or towels, toilets backed up, whole thing smells and the floors are wet with? Could be water, could be urine no idea. This was a busy Thursday with a school bus of children attending AFTER I walked into that. The staff up at the mine is very unapproachable so I didn't even bother bringing it to their attention. I also think a mine guide who goes over the rules at the entrance would be more effective than the constant loudspeaker announcements by what sounds like an annoyed teenage staff member. Overall still a very worthwhile adventure and we shall return! read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Camping Cabin and rental cart - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

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Came here for our anniversary weekend getaway. We rented the glamping pod and it was so cute! We had a fire pit and a swing that overlooked the river. There are a few games, including 2 big connect four games, a playground, and cornhole. There is also a sluice area for gem mining, an area for activities and games as well as various walking areas around camp. A lot of the activities are priced from $3-$15. Daily activities stop after Labor Day so we were lucky on a Saturday to partake in rock wire wrapping and a tie dye making class. The garden area has a cute little ice cream stand, and place to grab a bite to eat. I would stay clear of the food by all means...we tried it and let's just say we will be better prepared next time. We got a burger, that's was okay. The beef gyro tasted stale and to replace that, we ended up getting a cold hot dog. We saw another person go back up for incorrect doneness. The diamond mining is $20 a person a day with $1 off if you are camping. Kind of a rip off compared to other mining areas. They have rental equipment or tools to purchase for all of your mining needs. A hammer and bags are free for the day with an ID Overall, it was a good stay but I wouldn't do it again. This place is a money pit read more

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Arriving at the "mine" it's a sweet little mining "village". The staff are super friendly and accommodating. We went with some of the kids and they were so excited with their kid size hammers and shovels. I made a rookie mistake and didn't have closed toe shoes, but they allowed me in, with the promise of being careful. So visitors beware, heavy duty sneaks or boots, you're going to need them !! And your best dirty clothes It's a smaller than expected area for exploring but we managed to find a "diamond" and a bunch of quartz in the rocks. The kids had a great time. I would definitely recommend Annie we know what to expect we'll go again and be better prepared! read more

Really fun experience! You have all the tools available for rent. The staff is friendly and in case you don't find much, like we did as first timers with bad luck lol-- there's a gift store on site. read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Gift store items - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

I've visited quite a few KOAs in NYS and this one is by far my favorite! Just leaving a tip here for those of you interested in mining for quartz diamonds... bring some kind of pick axe and if you find a diamond embedded in the rock, leave it in the rock, it's worth more money. Enjoy! read more

This is how a campground should be run. The grounds were nice with lots of flowers and a beautiful river. (If we get to come back we would book a river site because they looked so relaxing.) they had a permanent food truck that had really good chicken fingers. They also had an ice cream stand. Cute little themed cabins throughout. There were lots of activities in the campground. Across the street was the "diamond" mine (quartz) and that was really fun. Definitely recommend. read more

What a wonderful little way to get some energy out of the kids. Herkimer Diamond mine sounds like a ton of bull but I can tell you we had a blast. They give you a hammer and a few bags for your treasures, you keep what you find. After a short video on what your looking for it's off to the quarry! Herkimer diamonds are not actual diamonds, they are double terminated quartz crystals found inside exposed outcrops of dolomite in and around Herkimer County, New York. We found a few smaller ones, our friends little girl found a large one value at over $800, pretty cool. You can also make jewelry with your finds there. We had a blast and will be back! Ps wear safety glasses, bring gloves and avoid really hot days. read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

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Long read, but so worth it! Below is the review that I posted last August after our vacation. Mind you, the vacation for my immediate family has been 10 years in a row and when I was a kid the same! The incident that happened was with our friends and therefore when I wrote the review, it stated what I witnessed! I was hoping that management changed and/ or they fixed the problems so I was willing to give it another try, I mean, this has been apart of my childhood and my children's so why not! I called today, lady was super nice and helping me look through all the campsites because we come with so many people! I paid and then friends of ours called. After they called, our friends said that my reservation was cancelled. What??? So I called back thinking it was something on my end. I then had to wait for management to call back. Called back, and whoever I spoke with was extremely rude! She basically told me I was never welcome back and that the owners said so! Now mind you through this whole thing, I never talked to the owners. So do the owners only take one side of the story? I'm not even someone that this incident directly happened to! I said, well can I please speak to your manager or the owner. No, i am the manager, you are not welcome back. I told her that everyone in our party will probably cancel as well and her response was "I'm just waiting for 1 person to call me" ! I said a few choice words and I hung up. CRYING. WHAT????? Are you discriminating me because of an issue you had with another camper???? I can't believe what this has amounted to. So instead of dealing with your issues you just don't allow people back? Instead of having the owner or management actually call and have a respectful, which was not had, conversation with someone you just brush it off! I have come to Herkimer longer than some of these people have worked there! I really don't have words for how I feel. And to make matters worse I always go over my dad's anniversary of his death, August 5, because this was his favorite place and now I can't go and neither can my children. Great job herkimer diamond mines koa! I applaud you on your discrimination, disrespect and the lack of empathy you have for your campers! Especially the ones who have been a constant! I'm assuming Phil and his wife are still management, good luck! And to the campers that wish to go there, I really hope you enjoy yourselves because it truly is an amazing place. Unfortunately, my memories had to stop here! August 2025 This review is extremely hard for me to write, but what I had witnessed for a week of being there is disgusting & just simply not right. My family has been coming to Herkimer KOA for decades. Throughout the years, we have shown many other families this "gem"... or so we thought. This year was a bit different, there are new camp managers... This week I have witnessed human waste being sprayed all over campsites, management that discredits everything you say, management that thinks its okay to have charges on your bill that they cant even explain, ice cream cart that closes right before the last kid orders & leaves in tears, bathrooms that are disgusting! This is NOT THE HERKIMER I REMEMBER AS A KID! If you look on google, the owners of this campground is a family that has owned it for 50 years! That's amazing & kudos to them! But Phil, Phil is going to ruin every ounce of what they have worked so hard for! & being a business owner, you want management there representing YOU! Doing what YOU would do if you were there. Those owners should not be receiving mine & my friends reviews today if management did their job! Unfortunately, again very hard to say, we will not be returning if Phil is there. & I can honestly say, that the 14-20 families we bring every time, that spend thousands of dollars, will not be as well! Thank you Phil for ruining a vacation I personally held so close to my heart. & because you don't care about how you treat people & how you manage, you have lost years & years & years of loyalty. read more

fun! i found a bunch of these sized diamonds and a few larger, didnt have as much luck cracking them open as other people around me, these were found in the dirt or pre-exposed in the matrix. food & lodging on site would be super fun with kids i think!! great first rockhounding destination for anyone who's new to it!! also.. whoever was on aux today, the vibes were immaculate read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - herkimer diamonds - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

We come once a year for the fun mining activities. There definitely aren't as many findings as there used to be as it seems they have more for sale than ever before. We used to go home with a lot more. The shopping section has expanded quite a bit along with their pricing of the items. The staff is okay but aside from the cooks, they aren't overly friendly. The staff in the dining area seemed to be the happiest ones there. If it's a hot day, wear hats and bring lots of water because there's little to no shade. The snack bar is good but there are a lot of bees. Wear clothing you don't care about and old shoes. Bring buckets from home and tools to break things. You get one tool per bracelet, but picks and stuff work better for delicate pieces. You also may want goggles or glasses as pieces can shoot upwards. And you may want to line your car with trash bags so the Herkimer dust isn't all over it. Overall, we always have a good time and will keep going back! I hope there will still be diamonds to find! read more

Came in for a family day and had a great time! Though I've spent 15 years living in central New York I had never been before. We came just for something to do and really enjoyed ourselves. There's not a ton of interaction with the staff before starting the "mining" experience, but they provide a video explanation of how it works, which we found helpful. Once you pay the fee (and leave your license as a sort of security deposit to take a hammer) you're on your way. We had fun even though we didn't spend a real long time. We found several diamonds - none were if any real high value, but to have something you've taken out of the earth yourself is a great souvenir. We had one diamond we found made into a small ring for my wife and while it not dazzling or sparkly - it's pretty stinkin' cool that it's made of a Diamond I found! It was an additional fee of $40, but she was looking for a ring for that hand anyway so for us it was a win-win. I think it would be great family fun for just about anybody. read more

The staff here went above and beyond to be friendly and welcoming! The facilities were clean and easy to access. There was a lot of fun things to do for the entire family. The pool, and garden area was amazing! Every member of our party was able to relax and have a great time. read more

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This place is a nice vacation spot but nothing to write home about. Me and my family stayed in the Aries Astrology Lodge. The cabin had everything we needed. Don't bother with the shower gel or shampoo. It's nothing more than soapy water. We did have some problems with the grill but the staff was quick to help when we called the front desk. The camp store is also nice all be it a bit overpriced. it'll have everything you need for your campaign trip and some nice souvenirs. If you want to stay here don't bother up charging to stay in an astrology lodge chances are you won't be able to get the telescope to work. Now comes the down fall of this place. If your over the age of 12 or you aren't planning on going to the mines across the way they're won't be much for you here. The tubing down the creek is fun and there is a pool but besides that and some sports there isn't much to do outside of your cabin. Also be aware that if you need Something fixed or Something for your cabin you nobody will help you if you call after the camp store closes. Also be aware that nobody in the camp is social distancing so if this bothers you go somewhere else for vacation. If you have a biker in the family also know there is no bike path and they'll have to ride along busy car paths.if you where expecting to pick Something from the gardens know they're not growing this year and all you'll see in the boxes are weeds. Overall a nice place for a short trip but not much more. Edit: Below this will only be about miners village and the mining experience. If you are going to mine I would highly recommend going as soon as the village opens. Going later in the day can mean smacking those rocks in bright sun and high heat where you'll most likely get tired out easily. The only shade is in the back. If you have younger kids they probably won't have much fun mining as it's hard to break out rocks or find the diamonds. Don't have high expectations for what you will find. You'll be lucky to find one that is bigger than a centimeter. If you want to find things dig in the dirt. They may be small but you'll have much more luck then smacking the rocks. Most rocks only contain very very small sparkles or drusy diamonds but if you'll get lucky you'll find a good one. If you want to find sizable diamonds or have younger kids I highly recommend the panning. They have gem and fossil bags for panning but they also have a variety with the diamonds. Your guaranteed anywhere from 4-6. I recommend for now going as close as you can to the clean water because of COVID. As for the store don't bother with it everything in there was highly overpriced and hardly any workers are wearing mask correctly. Most people remove there mask in the rock hound academy so if you need to watch the safety/tips video I recommend doing so on YouTube. If you want gemstones buy them from a local place at your house or get a smaller souvenir from the camp store they be much more fairly priced then at the mines and youll be safer. As for the cafe and the artistry stand I can't say much about it because we didn't try those. The amount of guest in the village and workers that where wearing mask incorrectly was disturbing. Mask are not required in the mines as it is easy to social distance but they are required in all buildings. Nobody was social distancing either there aren't markers anywhere. The mining was fun and the panning was great but stay away from the gift shop and make sure to be aware for those not practicing COVID-19 guidelines. read more

Wow! This place is a hidden gem! Stopped here for a couple nights before heading to the ADK. April went above and beyond to help us when we first arrived! She gave us a tour of the glamming pods- which we quickly upgraded to. She was so sweet and welcoming! She even let me niece pick the nightly movie. Tons of kid stuff, tubing down the river and a beautiful diamond shaped pool. Everyone at the resort and mine are so helpful! We found plenty of herkimer diamonds and had a wonderful stay! read more

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How do we rectify giving one of our group members site away? We reserved a reservations for a group of six campsites staying for the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend. Unfortunately, one of our group members went into check and ensure their reservation was in tact. Much to their surprise, after 10 years of coming to the Herkimer Diamond Mines and KOA Campground for each Holiday weekend and many of our group member visits scattered between, their deposited reservation was not in the system. The ironic thing is the money was taken from their checking account on May 29, 2013 for the May 23, 2014 weekend (as we have been doing for the past 10 years because the Kampgrounds of America, Inc. is so popular and the staff is amazing - specifically we absolutely adore: Tori, Sara, and - former staffer - Marilyn). I am sure this was a mistake or a glitch, but to add to the misfortunes their deposited reservation was given to another family and there is no availability for them to even come to the #herkimerkoacampground since you are sold out. This will prove to be exceptionally awkward as we have been traveling as a group for so many years and now we will be welcoming a new family to our group. Though I might add they might not like us by the end of the weekend. I have a tendency to get loud when I don't have my hearing aid on after swimming. We look forward to resolution. read more

What a blast everybody in our family had so much fun here. My daughter is really into Gem mining and does a lot of sluicing. She could actually take hammers and chisels and break rocks open and find Herkimer diamonds she had a great time her and her brother jumped right in and everybody had a great time. Place is well organized, reasonable pricing. They have a room set up with a movie room on how to do the rock smashing and stay safe. Staff was real friendly and helpful I had a chance to check out their little Cantina for a cold drink and a bite to eat it'll do absolutely. Again this place was a blast look forward to another time. read more

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We took our 6 year old son and had a blast. We mined the entire afternoon and my son hung in the entire time. We found beautiful diamond totaling 200.00. Before we left we had the jeweler make our stones into a necklace and earrings. We will definitely be back. Also our cabin was located right next to the mine. It was small but perfect for us 3. It was also clean and the bathroom was nice. read more

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Nice campground-beautiful grounds by the River. Lots of cabins; across the street from the Diamond mine, which was lots of fun. Ice cream and food trucks with many options. They provided a great outdoor concert on Saturday night, and the camp store and checkin staff were very friendly and helpful. Pets were welcome and walking the grounds was enjoyable. They are much more expensive than most KOAs, and still the mines cost extra. read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Herkimer gem mining - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

I don't normally give a '5' and would probably make it 4.5 if that was possible. A well kept area, very friendly and helpful staff (essential in my opinion), little more expensive than I hoped but this is NY! Only two critics -- towels are paper thin and kitchen towel size. Wifi is useless. Even the paid is not very good. Free wifi is worth every penny you pay for it. Being in a hole, the campground does not get good cell service. But - back to beginning: well maintained, comfortable with fantastic staff. We will be back. read more

Fantastic KOA! We reserved one of the larger tent sites considered the deluxe tent site along the river. The site was very big - Probably 1/4 of an acre. The people that work there were very pleasant, including going out of their way to help us with a trivial billing error which was quickly rectified. The proximity to the diamond mine was excellent. Literally 100 yards away across the street... Compared to some KOA the pricing was excellent, especially for the size of the deluxe site and the amenities on-site. Including a good pool, well stocked canteen, and good prices for things like campfire wood (three bundles for 15 bucks!) and ice ($2.50 per bag) Some of their cabins, which we did not stay in, looked very interesting included planetariums (not kidding!) and interestingly built looking log cabins. Again, if you can swing it, get your reservation in early for one of the deluxe campsites. The deluxe sites are much bigger than the tent sites in the middle of the fields, (which were not particularly shady so be advised during warmer months). They also back up along the creek where there are a lot of trees offering shade. The deluxe sites also offer quick access to the water - so you can keep an eye on your little ones as they play. Many stones of the perfect shape to introduce your younglings to skipping rocks. Oh and my son met some friends and caught catfish and crayfish! Given the opportunity we absolutely will go back. Five stars! read more

My family and I spend labor day weekend at the KOA. It was very pleasant and restful. I highly recommend this place. Professional staff, peaceful environment, good food. Fun times. read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Herkimer diamond mine. - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

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Finally brought the kids here. I had heard good things about this being a good family day activity. We went with my son's Cub Scout pack and we all had a good time. Definitely bring your own goggles. Gloves and a garden hand rake would be useful. Their recently renovated areas give the place a modern feel. Going in the early Fall was perfect. I wouldn't want to go in the Summer's blazing sun. It's outside with no shade around. Some regulars brought their own sun/rain canopies. read more

Great spot !!! We loved our stay. Wish we could have been there for a week. Extremely clean and location is easily accessible to local restaurants and shopping. read more

We stayed at this campground to see the mines. This is a beautiful accommodating campground. Sites were level. We had a site on the water. They are flexible and easy going. Staff were outstanding. Alex the manager even drove us to the mines for a quick lesson. Can't wait to come back. As far as the mines, this was allot of fun. I wished I YouTubed some tips first but now I have a reason to come back. It's an outside quarry so dress accordingly. Good shoes (your walking on loose rocks), hammer, chisel, shovel, bucket, eye protection , water and sun screen. Possibly an umbrella or wear a hat. Maybe something to sit on as your sitting on loose rocks to hammer away. Great stress reliever. Staff was super nice. I got some jewelry made for a very ready price. read more

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My wife is a big fan of crystals and was already very aware of Herkimer diamonds. We made it part of our anniversary trip. We stayed in both the treehouse cabin and one of the other cabins. The treehouse had a more comfortable bed than the cabin but the regular cabin was still very nice. The diamond mine was a ton of fun. It helped that I found a very large specimen but even without that we were able to find quite a few smaller ones in a single day. The on-site cafe was good for lunch and the restaurant was fantastic for dinner. The entire KOA staff here was just wonderfully friendly and the folks at the mine were very knowledgeable. There were many families here with kids and they appeared to be having a great time. Hope to come back again someday. read more

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Spent a week here for spring break since our 6 y/o daughter recently is obsessed with gems and wants to be a gemologist. We stayed at the deluxe cabins which is closer to the mining but removed from the rest of the campground (across the street). Ended up being a good situation since the only thing to do (since it is off peak season) is to mine. All other activities typically held in the campgrounds are not yet available. We found a lot of jams and turned it into jewelry and the daughter loved it. We also signed up for their rock, gem and STEM summer camp in July. The staff was super friendly! read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Jewelry making (necklace and earrings) - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

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We came to mine for the Herkimer Diamonds. We reserved a "Kottage" which had a bathroom and small kitchen area. It was pretty expensive but the ability to make breakfast and lunch there did cut down food costs and because we came to mine, we were close to what we wanted to do. We arrived late but they left the key for us. We officially checked in the next morning and it was a quick process. We visited the gift shop/jewelery shop/museum/pay to mine building. We mined all day at mine 3 with limited luck in the cool rainy weather. Overall we went for the experience, but you did get the feeling it was a tourist trap. We spoke with some people who said the KOA mines were designed for things like families, tour buses, field trips, boy scout troops, etc. We were there off season which is a better time to do the mining because you aren't pounding rocks with hammers in blazing heat. The drawback is most of the camp ground is off season, too. None of the camp activities and programs were available - limited hours, no movies, etc. The off season price is not much of a break so you feel like you're saving a few bucks for nothing. If we were to do it again off season, we'd stay elsewhere to save quite a few dollars and go directly to the Ace of Diamonds mine (right up the street) where the crystals are much easier to find. Another of my pet peeves. When I went in there filthy dirty from the mines and soaked from the rain - with my hair a disaster and my make-up half washed-away . . . they ignored me when I asked questions about their better jewelry. When I showed up the next day, showered and appropriately coiffed, they were very interested in taking my money. I did buy a pair of earrings - totally overpriced - but you don't find Herkimer "Diamond" jewelry on every street corner and it made for a nice souvenir I can use for years. While hubby was inside paying I took the kids outside since they were bored. One of the women in there yelled at my kids for playing in the "Sluicing Station" water. I wouldn't let my kids sluice a $10 bag of almost worthless minerals but I did let them pick up the ones next to the station where others had dropped them. We found some rough ruby, some tiny garnet, some bits of citrine, and three shark teeth. read more

We did not "mine for Diamonds" however had a great time at the KOA campgrounds. Some sites are a little tight however the campground is VERY clean and well maintained. Owners were very friendly and all of the staff we interacted with were nice. If you like the water get yourself a tube and enjoy tubing down the West Canada Creek. A mix of very mild rapids and calm water make it an enjoyable way to spend the day. There is a restaurant (Crystal Chandelier) across the street that we took advantage on our first night there food was rock solid. read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Great Place to Relax Tubing - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

Came here on a day off trying to get away from it all and decompress. I was looking for something new to do and came across this online in my search. It seemed like an interesting idea so I went for it. It was easy to find using GPS and the ride in was beautiful. Upon arrival, the site is tucked in with a nice little KOA campground. The building itself is very well taken care of and appears to be fairly new. The staff were friendly and gave us a quick rundown on how it works. Then we were handed 2.5 lb sledge hammers and off we went. There weren't many people there when we went (on a weekday) but some of those who were there looked pretty serious. Apparently you are allowed to bring in bigger hammers and chisels and rock hammers etc. No power tools that I saw so those are probably not allowed. I definitely recommend hiking boots or sneakers, steel toe if available and a cushion for your knees or your bottom (like a stadium seat pad). Also, bring some heavy duty screw drivers to help pick the diamonds out of the little tight crevices they're hidden in. After about ten minutes we were already finding the highly sought after Herkimer Diamonds. You learn pretty quick which rocks are more likely to contain the treasure. All said and done we stayed for over three hours pounding rocks apart and left with two ziplocks containing a small handful of diamonds each. You can keep whatever you find there. For $14 a person it was well worth the experience and the take away. I'm looking forward to going back with my kids and letting them play Minecraft in real life! Well....kinda!!! Hahaha read more

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This establishment consists of a gift shop, jewelry store, museum, snack bar, and diamond mine. It is indeed the touristy stop for your diamond mining needs. The staff is split between those under 20 and those over 60. The kids are all helpful and friendly, while some of the elderly staff were downright rude. After mining for a few hours in the hot sun, my party returned to the store to see if we could clean off the small number of diamonds we managed to procure. An older woman stated that the Sluicing Station (where you place rocks/dirt on screens and water runs over it, removing excess soil) was only for people who bought $10 bags of soil and "You can't put Herkimer Diamonds in there! You'll get too much dirt in it!" They are selling bags of dirt for the exact same purpose! Unfortunately, there are basically no diamonds to be found here. We had much better luck almost immediately at the Ace of Diamonds mine, just 300 ft. down the road. The KOA Kampground here is fine, but a little cramped. The best part is the river which runs alongside the campground. The camp store sells inner tubes for those willing to brave the shallow rapids, and the river bends in an arc around the sites, so you can start upstream and enjoy a 10 minute ride to the other end of the campground - it was really fun! read more

Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort - Children learning disappointment - Campgrounds Near Me - Herkimer, New York

I can't say enough about this gem in the mountains! Maybe it was the fall foliage, the air, the canal running through the side of the camp. Maybe it was what was left of the fresh herbs my daughter and I picked at the campsite. Could it have been the pancake breakfast on Sunday or the Zen garden? Even though no water ran through it's small pond, I felt at peace. Walking the grounds and looking at all of the different cabin themes, particularly the astronomy cabin was wonderful. The staff was helpful and very friendly. My daughter and I had fun at the playground. There's even a doggie playground! For baseball enthusiast, Cooperstown is less than 30 minutes away. My family and I went mining at the mining site across the road and we had a fabulous time. Even my 3 year old daughter took her turn at whacking the rocks in search of Herkimer Diamonds. We were successful in our quest and left extremely happy. Go. Breathe. Mine. Enjoy! read more

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What a dump!!!!! We decided to stay here rather than a rest area to get some Rest after traveling to deal with loud music, inability to open our slide out because of a campfire under it. After that experience we ditched the thought of trying the mining and will never be back. Additionally the pool was cloudy, cigarette butts everywhere.... not a camping experience I could handle for more than 10 hours and frankly would have been quieter to take a break on The interstate. read more

I love this campground. Could there possibly be a better one? Our deluxe cabin had AC, a bathroom, a kitchen, patio set and grill. Call it "glamping" but we would have otherwise stayed at a hotel and this was so much better! Not to mention the creek was in our backyard, so if it had been warm enough we could have tubed down the river right to our backyard. The grounds (and our cabin) were meticulous. They have volleyball courts, frizbee golf course, not to mention there is a mine across the street and another one basically right next to it. I would definitely recommend their creekside lodges, ours was a great alternative to a hotel while we were in the area. read more

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I just had a three day stay with this amazing establishment. I am not the camping type of girl but I was looking for a family friendly place to go mining with my seven-year-old son who the trip was based around. He is a rock and gem fanatic and the closest place we could do our actual on mining was five hours upstate. I looked at some yelp reviews and decided to take a shot. This adorable campground setup on the west Canada River was such an unexpected surprise. We stayed in the astronomy lodge that provides a high powered telescope in a viewing pod to really have a unique experience. The solar system themed cabin does not disappoint. The room is like a tiny house and it has its own fire pit, outdoor seating with an umbrella, and barbecue with propane for your use. They have many different themed cabins as well as glamping in adorable pods behind the river, KOA accommodates RVs and tents well. It's a sweet little village with tons of activities from volleyball to giant checkers, outdoor movies, peddle bikes, pool, multiple play grounds and on premise restaurants. The best part about this place...the sweetest sweetest staff! The front desk was happy face youngsters full excitement for our arrival and a sweet man that led us to our site via atv. Mining was beyond epic!! My seven-year-old thought he literally struck it rich when he found the sweetest most brilliant Herkimer diamond that he was able to make into a necklace that he is wearing very proudly! Eric at the mining trading post made sure that our kids left that shop with a smile and Jonathan who made the necklaces and most beautiful pieces out of the gems we found was incredible!! You cannot go wrong with this place.... these people ALL aIM to please and it's probably the best family outdoor fun you can have! read more

Saturday July 27, 2019, 90+ degrees Fahrenheit cloudless day midmorning. Two quarry sites separated by a small creek complete with waterfalls. Rocks and boulders with people of various shapes and sizes hovering over them with singleminded intensity. Backs and brows dripping with sweat and a fixed whimsical smile upon their faces...Huh??? This was the scene me my wife and children happened upon at Herkimer Diamond Mines. One of the ONLY places on this great earth that YOU can mine buy and find Herkimer diamonds. One the only crystals You can mine that will come out of the earth as beautiful as any polished gemstone. You keep what you find! Not into playing amidst a Herkimer diamond quarry? Don't worry you can still experience the thrill of exploration guaranteed to produce results just stop by their shop and purchase one of their Herkimer Diamond dirt bags. You get the thrill of discovery without passing out in the hot Sun. Still unmoved and not interested in gems that are rarer than diamonds. Right across the road they have a full featured KOA campsite right beside a miles long lazy river for tubing. The icing on top cabins with A/C. One cabin that's actually a tree house. We stopped by expecting to have a good time. Thanks to Alex and staff we had a great experience. Thank you so much we look forward to returning soon. The Vaughn family. read more

My family and I just got back from our second trip to Herkimer Diamond KOA and it was as wonderful as we remembered. The facilities are clean and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. There are so many activities that there's no reason to leave the resort except to walk across the street to go mining. I loved that the activities are appropriate for all ages. The first trip, we stayed on a tent site. This time, we decided to upgrade to a basic cabin which was small but delivered more than expected. We were told to bring our own linens but when we arrived, there were fresh sheets and blankets folded at the bottom of each bed. Nice bonus! The basic cabin also included a mini fridge and tv. It's still pretty cool there so there was also a small space heater which kept our cabin very comfortable. We were happy we decided on the cabin. Our family had a blast and we'll be back again and again. read more

Great experience with mining "diamonds" ...they hold a homeschool day every year and every time we go, we learn something new! They do a presentation at the beginning and the end to tell you what to expect and to go over what you learned. They have a museum, a jewelry making counter, a sleuthing Station, a picnic area, an area for cabins and camps with special cabins that have solar panels and even a telescope, a restaurant on site and most importantly...the diamond mine! Which you mine yourself and you can take home everything you find and want to carry out. There is a fee, but it is very much worth what you are getting out of the experience. It is a wonderfully unique experience that you don't want to miss! read more

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Great place for the family for the day. They do a nice job of having a bit for everyone with gem panning, ice cream and junk food, mineral shop, and of course, the "mine" where you can get your pent up anger out on some unsuspecting rocks in hopes of finding a little herkimer "diamond". We didn't find anything larger than about 1/2 inch but even the small ones are beautiful and fun to find. Personally, I found more hunting through the float than breaking myself but either way, highly recommended! read more