Best day ever!! I can't say how I loved this! Took 2 kids 5 & 7 yrs old and they loved it. We found so many crystals of all sizes. I should have stayed for 4 hrs or more instead of 2. Wear long pants, bring gloves, chisel, and be prepared for fun. Our host was soooo friendly and helpful. And I bought more crystals inside their store. I am definitely coming back! read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

See all

Been there many times. 2 weeks ago Saturday, phantom mine, a real dud. Not one crystal found. Mine running dry. I would try Avatar or Coller Creek for crystals read more

We flew from Denver for our first ever crystal mining adventure and had no idea what to expect. We went to 3 different mines on this trip and the Wegner Crystal Ranch was by far the best experience. Solely because we took the tour and simply because Lance was our guide. Lance was a superstar on every level. Not only was he very personable and pleasant, he was extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions about anything. From how crystals are formed to what type of berries were growing in the woods to the harmless nature of the few giant horseflies we saw (and he caught and released). Lance was eager to help and did everything he could to please everyone on our tour. To say he was attentive is a gross understatement. In this regard he was an over achiever. I watched him as he literally ran form person to person to help carry heavy items. He went above and beyond to make this a memorable experience that we will never forget. And it was very obvious that the reason he did it was because it's his nature. It's in his DNA. His enthusiasm was contagious and uncommon these days. Lance is an absolute gem! My only regret is that I didn't have more cash to give him as a tip. We left the mine with not only a haul that exceeded our expectations but wonderful memories of a day spent with a great person. Lance's reputation precedes him. After our tour in the day or two that followed, we had to mention him to strangers we were talking with at two other mines. The instant we mentioned his name, they all said we know Lance, he's a great guy! He is also a fantastic tour guide. Lance if you are reading this I want you to know you made our trip and you made memories that will indeed last a lifetime. I am not a rock hound. I took this trip because my daughter and wife wanted to try it. I am into it now. We are seriously considering coming back again next year. It was well worth the price of admission and then much more. If you are thinking about going to this mine, check and see if you can get on the tour. If Lance is your guide, do not think twice. Book it! You will have a very good day! read more

We had a great time. Definitely recommend taking he truck ride up to the mine. It's only a 10 minute drive from the site We spent 2 hours and found a ton of fun quarts. Can't remember his name but our guide had a beard ( maybe Chris?) and was super friendly and helpful. This was so much more satisfying than diamond crater because here you are guaranteed to find quartz. My husband was hard core digging and found some fun pieces. I was just surface digging and found tons of fun pieces Highly recommend hiking boots and jeans no matter how hot. Also recommend bringing your own shovels small picks and strong screwdrivers. We had a ton of fun and am taking back a bag of rocks read more

See all

We brought a group of 8 to go dig for crystals and we were all pleasantly surprised by Wegner. We found buckets of crystals. And a few large hand size points. Chris was a great host to take us up to the mine dig and was very informative. The rest of the employees are really nice also. We felt the value for the paying to go up to the mine dig is worth it and a fun experience. We would go again without hesitation. Make sure to bring plenty of water to drink. Also, listen to the advice of the guide driving you up to the mine. Chris was very helpful in guiding us where might might have the best luck digging. read more

We planned on doing some quartz mining here. You pay 4 hours of digging in a tailing mine. You will get dirty, and you will find quartz pieces. Bring plenty of water, shovels, and 5 gallon buckets. We went home with beautiful pieces of quartz and rocks with quartz in it. read more

We went there this morning first thing and before we could even get to digging for crystals there was a drenching rain. But at least it was a break from the high temperatures we had been experiencing and since we had dressed in clothes that we did not care if they got dirty, we still had a ton of fun! The guides were so great. Chris was our driver and he was giving tips and walking around the whole time helping people and making suggestions on where to look. Lance was the other driver and he let me know they would help load bigger rocks so we got a couple yard rocks to take home. Lance got a big one loaded on the truck and Chris helped us get our stuff to the car. The rocks in the shop were beautiful and the woman there was friendly. People were there so nice. Good time had by all! read more

A seriously swell two hour dig! We loaded out buckets of large boulders with attacked clusters, points, and baby clusters. Come prepared as your car is not by the mine. You need water, knee pads, food, PROTEIN drinks, sunscreen, full coverage in clothing, hiking boots, tall socks. Responsible mining. Which, I appreciate. Things that were a bit of a bummer.. PLEASE READ IF INTERESTED IN THE PHANTOM QUARTZ MINE. The hype around the Phantom Quartz mine is not properly explained and honestly, hyped up. You will not leave with buckets of Phantom Quartz points that are clear OR AT ALL. Also, it is not like the two hour dig they offer. Do not allow the guides to fabricate the truth and tell tou this as they did us. This is not the same mine. This is a Commericial mine with BROKEN pieces everywhere. We visited the day after rain AND them turning the mine over. They were very insistent on telling us this. However, these factors did not matter as the Phantom Quartz were practically one in a blue moon. What I found the most of? Itty bitty baby Crystal Quartz points that I made into earrings. I only found three itty bitty Phantom Quartz points in five hours. I'm talking 1/10 of my pinky fingernail. Not large enough for earrings. Heads up: You will be digging up extremely milkY Crystal Quartz and Phantom Quartz. The Phantom Quartz is very difficult to find. It is also $40. So, if you are looking for better quality Crystal's, I do not recommend it. If you are open to a six hour dig to find a baby point with Phantom growing inside, awesome. I did this dig once and wouldn't again. We were lied to about the quality and offerings. But again, IF you find something that isn't broken, all power to you. I love this mine and I do not want this review to stay you from visiting. However, large families spending hundreds of dollars on this mine were extremely upset, had driven 18 hours to visit Mt Ida for two days. And, they saved all of their time and money for this dig. So, this is an honest and needed review. Also, the biggest bummer is that kids do not have discounted prices. That would be an awesome and kind gesture, as this mine does make PLENTY of money. The workers even say that! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I planned to do the Crystal mining at the mine but we got there 30 minutes early and the bus was full so we'd have to wait for the next ride up an hour later. We decided to go with the tailing option instead. We were a bit nervous bc we have a 2014 Hyundai Sonata which rides very low. It was about a half mile in gravel and the car did great! We just drove slowly. We were super happy with the tailing option since we had the flexibility to be there as long as we wanted vs at the mine it's 2 hour increments. It was perfect for our first time mining! Things you need: -tools (shovel and/or rake) -gloves -bucket -clothes you don't care about including shoes -sunscreen -hat -WATER! -snacks or full lunch for tailing to picnic there -something to sit on would be a bonus If you come unprepared like we did: -ask the hotel managers for tools/buckets (we stayed at Royal Oak inn & let us borrow stuff so kindly!) -family dollar has $13 shoes and $7ish shirts read more

See all

We had an amazing time here! The staff here was nice and Dakota, our driver was so kind and helped us as we loaded and unloaded the truck. The ride out to the mine site was fun and very bumpy! We laughed most of the way and felt like bobble heads. It is so peaceful here. The smell of the forest, digging in the dirt looking for the earths treasures, and the wonderful sunshine just made it such a memorable place to make memories. We will definitely be coming back here! Tip: bring gardening gloves so you won't cut your hands and a blanket or a gardeners mat to sit and dig. Also we brought our own tools and that helped, too. Wear clothes that you don't mind being stained red from digging in the dirt! read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Beautiful quartz in front of the gift shop at Wegner's Crystal Mine - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

Had an incredible time at the Phantom Mine Tour with Lance! He made sure we found what we were looking for and even carried a 73lb Quartz/Sandstone boulder out for me! We had a group of six for our Annual Sorority Sister Summer Trip and we would come back again but only if we can ride on Lance's bus! read more

See all

We had the best time at Wegner Crystal Mines! We spent 2 days here mining in the Crystal Forest. It was so fun, and we came back with 3 bucketfuls of awesome quartz crystals and big pieces to put in our garden after 6 hours of mining. Everyone was so friendly and kind. We loved chatting with Charlie, and he was so great about answering questions and making sure we were having a good time. We also walked away from their crystal shop with another $150 worth of amazing wholesale crystals, polished crystals, crystal clusters and jewelry. They have an amazing selection of crystals! I would recommend Wegner's Mine 100%. read more

See all

We were headed to the National Crater to dig for diamonds and decided to do a 2 hour crystal dig the night before. OMG! I just walked the road for a few minutes and my pockets were full of crystals. We were allowed 2x 5 gallon buckets a person. We wore boots, hats, water, and our sunscreen in hand. Our shovel, trowel and garden claw came in handy. We wished we had a chisel/rock hammer too.$42 for 2 people for a 2 hour dig. we parked in the parking lot and Chris drove us up after a clear safety lecture. Once up there he gave a short talk on what to look for, beware of and made us feel welcome to seek advice if we needed help. There is a Port O Potty up there. Look you are under direct sunlight and there are many areas far spaced you can choose to pull rocks out of the ground. No matter how crowded- you should find some good loot. If not, move around. You won't feel too crowded or controlled. It was fun and we put some hard work in to get what we wanted. There are both clear and milky quartz in the ground. You won't find other stuff than sandstone. The gift shop is a rock collector's dream. Wholesale prices for most so be prepared to expect to pay a bit more. (It makes more sense when you see it). Tons of big and small rocks and minerals to buy. I left my Black Obsidian on the counter. darn. Great people, great land. read more

Wegner mines is a dream experience. We have traveled 3 times to visit them from California and always bring a group of people with us from all over the United States. Each time we have visited has been exceptional. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. Richard Wegner himself, is very kind and informative, and always gets so excited for us when we find crystals. Lance is our favorite, thankfully we have had lance as our guide the last 2 visits and we are so so grateful to him. He always makes sure we are taken care of and he is probably one of the kindest people I've ever met. Thank you lance! You are a rock star!! We can only hope you'll be there again next time. Thank you again! read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

We had a great time at Wegner on the Crystal Mine experience. The ride out to the mining area and back is a fun experience in and of itself. We and other guests all joked that they should put like fake bigfoot, animatronics, an actor to scare people or other hidden surprises in the woods a la Disney to make it even more fun. When we arrived we got first dibs at freshly added tailings. We got lots of beautiful pieces including lots of water clear points, clusters etc. They did not care if people chipped off the walls or broke rocks. However, be aware that the crystal mine price has increased to $19 per 2 hours as of last month. Still not a bad deal. We all kept our Ron Coleman findings separate from our Wegner ones. The difference was night and day with Wegner blowing Ron Coleman away. read more

This place is amazing! The best part along with finding so many awesome crystals was our guide Constance! She was the best!! Definitely try to get her on your team when you visit! It wouldn't have been the same without her! Here's an example of what you might find out there. - Charan, Cheyenne and baby meadow read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Quartz! - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

We visited over the 4th of July weekend. We bought one of each of the pails and added on digging in the tailings. We didn't find much in either the tailings or the pails. Maybe we didn't know what we were doing... but I would have thought for the price we would've found more gems. Maybe we will try again next tome we go to hot springs. There was no restroom at the tailings or sluice which made for a very unhappy little boy when he had to potty. When we made it back to the front where the restrooms were, they were unbelievably hot. read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Picture of the Mountain View from this location. - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

See all

We had a great time at the mine. The staff was very helpful. We did the trip where they take you in the back of a truck up a bumpy, dirt road about a mile to the actual mine. They drop you off and leave you for 2 hours, which was plenty long as it was 90 degrees. We would highly recommend this mine. They also had a large barn with all kinds of rocks for sale. read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - This is one of the clusters that my husband found! - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

3 days of great finds! Some of the clearest crystal quartz we have ever dug in the crystal forest. The phantom mine was more challenging but the guide was incredibly helpful. The truck rides up to the mind were bumpy but with good weather it adds to the adventure. I highly highly recommend! The entire staff is exceptional, give you all the information you need and don't try to upsell you. It was relaxing and professional thats what brought us back day after day. Other mines you do not get your monies worth but 2 hrs in the crystal forest made up for lost time at Crater of Diamonds. Best advice make Wegner Crystal Mines your FIRST Choice...skip the hype at other mines. read more

See all

You can expect to find quartz crystal just like they say. Mostly clouded quartz. We had 4 people searching two hours in the tailings which is an area of bulldozered dirt sprinkled with the leftovers of what the owners found in the open pit mine and didn't put in their store. We searched 2 hours at The open pit mine which is picked through first by the owners, we get what's left. A total of what's in these pictures for $120 worth of tickets. My advice is save your ticket money and buy online or in a shop. They do have nice stuff in their shop, and overall it was a great experience just don't expect to get boatloads read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Small thing of crystal crumbs broken in the small one and the big one some clouded crystal chunks. - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

We went and did the Crystal Mine dig with our 8 yr old son had had a blast! The staff was so helpful and friendly. Great facilities considering what you're doing. The mining area has TONS of shade, port-a-potty, and place to ice down drinks. Would HIGHLY recommend to anyone wanting to go! We came out with TONS of crystals and quartz. read more

See all

Great place to dig quartz ! The gift shop was awesome. I'll definitely visit there again. read more

We had a great time looking for crystals, and everyone working for Wegner Mines was so patient and nice. We did the crystal forest (husband and I and our two elementary-aged kids). It's not the most child-friendly location (sharp crystals and some unstable ground, as one would expect), so husband mainly helped the kids and I focused mostly on the crystals. I was able to find quite a few nice crystals, including double points and super-clear ones. We visited in the summer on a Saturday, and it was hot but there is shade to take breaks in as needed. It was a bit slow to get checked in and pay (only one person at the register), but the employee was super-patient and helpful to everyone. I was worried about the line causing us to check in and pay after 9:30, but the trucks were making a few rounds so it ended up not being a problem. We only did the two hours because of the kids, but I think four hours would have been about right if it was just the adults. I'm still working on cleaning what I found, but the picture is about 1/3 of the best ones I found. It's difficult to tell in the photo, but almost every crystal has a nice point on it. read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Some of the crystals from crystal forest - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

Definitely worth the trip! We did the diamond and gem package and went into a darkened air conditioned room with lighted base and overhead light to search our bag for diamonds, we found 3! Store has excellent array with some of the best prices I have seen. read more

See all

Imagine the perfect customer service. Now double it and you'll have Lance and the Phantom mine. Lance is fantastic and Wegner is great!!

This place was so cool. We did the Forest Mine and so much better than the Crater of Diamonds!!!! By a long shot! We arrived and the ladies were super nice. We borrowed their tools and the drove us to the Mine. Once we got there, we dug. We came back with a lot of crystals. The even grow some on top for the little kids to grab. Definitely worth the trip and cost to spend two hours of digging, which was more than enough. We will be back!! read more

See all

Made it just in time to go down to the mines to dig. Lance our tour guide was cute, funny, and informative. Clear Quartz were everywhere! I wasn't fortunate enough to find a huge find but everywhere you looked the quartz shined in the sunlight. When we got back to the shop I was able to find several cheap gems to add to my collection. I was amazed at the prices! read more

We had such a great time there today. They staff was super nice, we found lots of crystals and really just had a fantastic time. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Our group of four went here on Friday in the afternoon group and had a blast! Everyone there was so friendly and helpful. Chris was exceptionally awesome and made the experience even more fantastic. The short bumpy ride through the trees was also lovely. Lots of amazing finds here! Ten out of ten would recommend. Thank you all. read more

Excellent experience. We did the crystal forest mining option. Large Crystal everywhere after previous days rain. Definitely recommend.

I have to admit to being pretty disappointed. I read the reviews and saw that this was one of the better places to mine crystals, especially at the Crystal Forest Mine. Unfortunately I never got the chance because what I didn't know, is that 1 person alone can not go mine. And if you are a solitary traveler at the beginning of December when no one else is visiting, you are SOL. I arrived at 10, knowing I'd have an hour to kill but figuring I could peruse the store and minerals. What I didn't know is that I'd spend that hour hoping and praying that someone else would show up. No one did. ): I could have mined the tailings, but that wasn't what I came for. On the brighter side, the folks were relatively friendly, and they have a pamphlet/tour that will guide you around the store talking about the various gems/rocks/minerals and where they came from. That was nice. They have a great selection. The location is easily accessible, just a little ways out of Mt. Ida on paved roads. The dogs run loose but are were friendly. The Phantom Quartz is amazing. read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

We came here on a Monday during our vacation to have an exciting adventure but after an hour drive (and waking the teenagers early) were very disappointed to find that they are closed on Mondays (Sundays too)....even though their website and even the sign on their front gate says they are open on Mondays. read more

Wow!! What an amazing experience! This business definitely knows how to deliver a productive crystal hunting opportunity to their customers! We signed up for the Phantom Mine tour, which is well worth the extra money and time. Prepare yourself for a 45-minute, bumpy ride to the dig site...seating is open-air in the flatbed of their trucks (the ride is part of the adventure!). The mining itself is the best in the area: we came home with BUCKETS of museum quality specimens! You'll want to pack a lunch, drinks, snacks, bug spray, etc since this tour is all-day in the field. Also a good idea to pack rain gear since the tour happens rain or shine (in fact, rain washes out the crystals and makes them easier to find!). Plan on getting really, really dirty, so only wear clothes you are comfortable parting with. Boots and gloves are also a necessity. We had Mike as our tour guide, who was AWESOME! He gave great advice and helped point us to the best areas for finding high quality pieces. Definitely recommend this business! read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - One of our big quartz cluster finds! - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

So happy to have found such a special place! We were surprised at how many crystals we found in just two hours. Would recommend to anyone who loves rocks and doesn't mind getting a little dirty. Steve drove us out to the site and gave a great demo on how to find good crystals. A great deal, $20 for all the quartz you can carry. The shop is worth checking out as well. read more

This place is so cool. My family and I had the best time!! We found three buckets of crystals and enjoyed all the activities

Wonderful experience! We did the $20 natural mine and found lots & lots of crystals to take home. Worth every penny for not only the crystals, but the fun memories. The staff was incredibly kind too! read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - colored glass crystals in the souvenir shop :D - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

See all

Both the tailings and the mine trip are fun and will lead you to find stuff. You have to look though. It's not easy stuff. In the tailings, a 4-5 hour day you could dig for an hour and not find anything big enough worth keeping but then you find something amazing. My favorites are the clusters (see pic). Plenty of single crystals too, some 3-5 inches long. read more

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines - Clusters - Hobby Shops Near Me - Mount Ida, Arkansas

My wife and I were kinda disappointed by this mine. The people were nice which was great. We did the 2 hour Forest mine. The price was $18 per person. Thats expensive for only 2 hours. You could do Ron Coleman's for all day for $20. The truck ride was so bumpy and those unfortunate to sit on the side of the open truck got whacked by branches. After the two hours we walked around the place and decided to try the mystery $28 diamond bag. I was under the impression by the website they go with you to help you determine if you got a diamond and than appraise said diamond. That wasn't the case. We were told where to go and it shouldn't be difficult to spot a diamond. While in the hot room my wife and I couldn't tell what was a diamond and what was gravel. I had to go back and ask for help. A nice young man helped us out. But we had to see someone else for the appraisal. She didn't say how much or how many carrots just that it was a nice diamond. I was a little dissatisfied with the whole experience. I can't say we'll be back. We did find a lot of cute little crystals but nothing bigger than a baseball. I wish you good luck and maybe try the 4 hour tailings instead that they also offer. I did love the doggies Laurel and Hardy. And the prices for the stores crystals were very affordable. read more

See all

Very friendly staff. Constance was great and helped my daughter and husband with their rock. You can literally see Crystal's all over the ground. We had more fun in 2 hrs there than we did at the diamond mines. Will be back for sure. read more

I absolutely loved everything about the place. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable. Found a lot of points and clusters. I am going back tomorrow before I leave town. I absolutely recommend read more