ace of diamonds mine

The Ace of Diamonds mine was everything we expected. It was not easy breaking the ruble to find the crystals but it was fun. It took a little bit of time to find the right rocks to break, but once we did we were not disappointed. For our first time mining, I think we did well. We will definitely be making a return trip to Ace of Diamonds Mine.

If you are willing to go out with a 3 pound hammer and rock chisel this is the place for you. We were there about 2 hours and got 5 stones. 4 good size ones and a small one plus some pieces of rock with small stones in them that we can display.The stones are called Herkimer diamonds and one of our stones is a yellow quartz. You keep all the stones that you gather.

We fell in love with ACE OF DIAMONDS! honestly we were not feeling the Herkimer Mine at the KOA where we stayed. The cabin was great--But we were not feeling it ---UNTIL, the second day when we went to ACE OF DIAMONDS. Totally different atmosphere, and you can FEEL IT. The staff there is wonderful and the owner nicknamed Mr Crabby, was a wonderful guy despite his gruff reputation, They showed us exactly where they had just put out fresh material, and what to look for, how to hit the rock to get the diamonds out or to leave them if we wanted to. We also fell in love with the gift shop, and the lady there that helped went above and beyond to assist and was just great to chat with-AND when we left so excited about our beautiful diamonds and left our license, she remembered where we were staying and brought out license back to US! MY advice? you have to go to the ACE OF DIAMONDS if you are serious about finding some herkimers. Thank you Ace of Diamonds for making our mining experience! They have tools but i would advise bringing a little camping seat or plastic seat, a screwdriver, and sledgehammer, and chisel--but they have screens, and these tools and all sizes of sledgehammers and other items.It's also important to stay hydrated, and they have drinks and some snacks. The bathrooms are clean. If you are into 'crystals' and jewelry making--then this is the place for you, because they have amazing crystals AS WELL AS beautiful herkimer jewelry- and other amazing gifts in the shop-WE ARE COMING BACK!! thank you Mr. Crabby and staff for a wonderful day LOL

We spent about five or six hours at the mine. We ( hubby and I) brought a small sledge hammer, chisels, claw hammer, eye protection and gloves. At first all we could find were pieces, and the pile of rocks seemed like it was not going to yield anything, but one we got the hang of breaking the rocks, we found a few very nice crystals. We kept a few in the rocks, and took out others to show off and maybe make into jewelry later. Its fun, and a good workout too ;-)

What a great choice for a weekend road trip. We used a discount website to get a hotel and off we went. We arrived to the mine before the crowds so had our pick of places to stake out. It seems pretty big at first but when the folks start coming in it gets crowded fast. The owners are very helpful and seem to enjoy giving advice how to find the right stones to find the diamonds in. We only spent a few hours but the grandsons said they want to come back again. Wish there was a bigger parking area, but with how many people showed up, I think there is a parking area I just didn't see. There is a nice pizza place within walking distance or food available through the shop, or bring a picnic lunch or camp out on site. Everyone had a great day and walked out with treasure.

We had a great time at the Ace of Diamonds mine. Breaking open the rocks is hard work, the men with me enjoyed it, but it was too much for me (a small woman without much muscle).We stayed at a hotel in Utica. The camp facilities at Ace of Diamonds were very basic. The bathroom was small and clean. Driving by the KOA Mine, I'd say the camping there looked like it would be nicer.The mining at Ace of Diamonds was great. We walked up the hill to the back area. It was sunny, spacious, and much less crowded than the front section. I found a lot of very small diamonds just by walking around and picking up anything that sparkled. The guys had some good success finding larger diamonds in almost any rock they picked up. Getting it out of the rock without breaking it was much harder. If you will only be there for a day or two, don't think you'll be chipping away at the quarry wall looking for a huge cashe of crystals, it's just too much work for that short a time.You can rent tools there very cheaply. If you are going to bring your own, I recommend: a hammer, large chisel, very very small chisel, sledge hammer, tweezers, small zip lock bags, and a bucket to carry it all. The ground is too rocky for anything with wheels. Wear weather appropriate clothing, sturdy nonslip shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring water and a snack. Bring some basic first aid supplies.There were little kids there and they seemed to be having fun. Bring some outdoor toys for them. There is a field and grass they can play in. They will probably loose interest in picking up rocks after an hour or so.

We've gone twice (this year and last) and while sifting and picking is fun, the people around you are just as delightful, and generous, as finding diamonds. lol They're diamonds of another sort!It's true I'm not shy and will talk to just about anyone, but the eager and willing responses from prospectors around me only add to the fun. Everyone has a story, advice, and a pocket full of diamonds to brag about. I've been given as many diamonds as I've uncovered, as others are so happy to share.We sat in the drizzling rain today, ate our lunch on a sodden picnic table and laughed a lot with our neighbors. You can watch children working on a good nights' sleep, older folks scratching at surface rock and dirt, and diehard fans breaking boulders with sledge hammers. There is literally something for everyone; every age, every level of activity.It is dirty work. There's bathrooms for washing up, and a gift shop with goodies, supplies, and soda and snacks for sale. Bring gloves, several shovels, a hammer and work boots if you wanna really get into it.Me? I sit at the picnic table with a screen and a bucket of dirt to play with. It's a delightful way to spend the day. And might I suggest the Bellinger Rose B&B for the night.

After trying the other Mine , we came here the next day and found it MUCH better. They had a greater range of available types of "Minable" material. From huge rocks to huge piles of siftable dirt/rock. The sifting was a lot more age appropriate for my 7 year old and at this mine we found handfuls of Herkimer Diamonds instead of 3-4 at the other mine. We went to the other one since it was supposed to be more "family friendly" (which may be true about their camp ground), but the Mine here is the place to bring your kids (and let them sift), while you smash some rocks - Fun Stuff!

Having taken cub scouts, my kids, and other people's kids to hunt for Herkimer Diamonds I know that kids do not have to be rockhounds to get caught up in the fun (and hard work) of finding those elusive quartz crystals. I've visited both the mines, which are very close to each other on the west side of Route 28, just south of the village of Middleville. My preference for this facility is not based on amenities, but on the fact fact I've had more success finding diamonds here. The very first rock I cracked open at Ace of Diamonds contained one of the nicest crystals we found that day, still embedded in a small piece of the limestone matrix. Of course that was lucky, and there were other times when I hammered or dug for an hour or so without finding much. Some of our best and largest loose crystal finds came from simply digging in the dirt on top of the central pile of rocks which are blasted out of the bedrock and piled up for visitors to break open. Tip for beginners who are able to swing a sledge hammer: Look for smaller chunks of limestone which are riddled with black pockets. Those smaller rocks are more likely to contain crystals, and they are easier to break. Bring sledges and eye protectors if you have them, otherwise the rental rates are reasonable here. Most smaller items can be rented all day for $1. For smaller children and anyone who doesn't want to hammer, brink your garden trowels and dig in the dirt. You might do better than those who can break rocks. My two grandsons were totally absorbed in the hunt the day we visited. They stayed out in a couple of rain showers and did not even want to stop for lunch. Each of us found a nice array of crystals with a few large loose ones and some still in their pockets in the rock. Regardless of the temperature you'll want to bring lots of water or drinks. I wished I'd thought to bring a plastic 5-gallon pail for each of us to carry tools and rocks. Some plastic bags are useful to secure loose crystals. A note about camping here. Don't! There is a real campground just to the south and across the road, with much nicer restrooms and showers that work. My five-bar review of Ace of Diamonds is based on the mining, not on the amenities. The customer service is OK in some respects, sub-standard in others (see Debbie H's review about their camping experience).

We went on a family vacation and camped here and mined. We rented hammers and tools of the sort to dig for "diamonds". Fine.. the sites for our family of 16 were all together and nice with water and electricity (we preferred). The guy behind the counter was grumpy. Showers are quarter operated and decent. On day two of the adventure, while using a sledge hammer to bust open a big boulder a piece shrapneled off the boulder and went into my husbands shin boring a hole. We visited the local "hospital" in little falls I believe .. umm yea.. we will bandage and pass next time, insurance company would not even pay them, we have a bill from the hospital. Upon check out we had extra rented tools that we cleaned up at the end of the day but another person picked up the sledge hammer. THE MAN BEHIND THE COUNTER would not take the other rented tools we were trying to turn in and charged us $20.00 for the missing sledge hammer (that someone else probably turned in). He would not give back the driver license until we paid him $20 for a used old hammer and rail road spike. We liked we were on the first steep road by the mine and bathrooms and we had water, but the service and the guy running the place was an gerk altogether. said he dint care if he got sued for the injury and was a jerk about the tools, real con artist there. Wont recommend to anyone.

It's the heavy equipment that makes this mine a winner over the competition. Don't judge it by first impression, it's a "diamonds in the rough". We were skeptical upon driving in and seeing the rustic setting, but as soon as we started mining, we were convinced. They have bulldozers and other heavy equipment which keeps visitors happy because there is always a fresh pile of rocks to sort through. Some miners simply look for Herkimer diamonds on the ground, and others find success by smashing rocks. Either bring your own equipment, or rent on site. The owner was patient and knowledgeable, and we enjoyed chatting with him. The shop could also be a destination for people who like rocks, minerals and crystals. And there was a surprising selection of new age and healing-type books. We spent over an hour browsing. I should also mention the prices... Between 30 & 40% lower than the competition. Save $4/ person on the entrance fees alone. If you are mining, definitely give the Ace of Diamonds a try. My teenager found the largest gem we had ever come across on this visit, our FIRST at Ace of Diamonds. Sadly we had been mining at the competition for a dozen years before we gave this place a try. Don't make the same mistake!

We visited the mine after reading reviews which suggested that this was the more authentic mining experience of the two main facilities. Certainly it did not fail in that aspect. It was pretty much open season to mine where you wanted and there was plenty of raw material available all over the place. The gift shop was small but nice, and the tool rental was very economical at $1 per tool. You keep what you find, and the management does not inspect your findings before leaving. The bathrooms could have been a bit cleaner and the roads could have been a bit better, but its a working mine so I guess what can you expect? Definitely kid friendly and we'll be going back again.My 6 yr old had a blast but much younger might not be recommended.

We have always went to Crystal Grove to mine and for a change we wanted to try our luck at a different place. We went to the Ace of Diamonds. When we got there we rented a camp site for 2 days. We were sent to a site that was full of poison ivy and a long hike to get water and bathrooms. I went down and asked for my money back and the lady told me to move down to the lower site. That site was next to a very busy road. It was like camping in a parking lot. The camp site was the worst we have ever camped at. We had planned to stay longer if we had luck or we would head to Crystal Grove at that point. The next day we some good stones but due to the rain it took away from the fun. ( I do not blame Ace of Diamonds for that). I went to take a shower and took my quarters to pay the meter and it did not work. I then went to the other shower and it did not work. (each costing me a dollar.) I then got my husband to stand outside the men's restroom and the showers did not work in there. At that point I washed my hair in the sink and baby wiped myself down to get cleaned up. The only good part of our stay was a kind man who was camping next to us. We ended up going back home and cut our trip short. We also did not have a cell tower so our phones did not work.

We stayed at the campground about a half a mile from the mine.Went to the Herkimer Mine the first Day and were quite dissapointed and were then told by fellow cabin neighbours to visit the Ace of Diamonds.We had a really good time.Cracked a lot of Rocks and found some Herkimers.Got superdirty and sunburned,didnt think sitting on some rocks would get you this burned.It is a smaller mine then the other one.but we felt more comfortable here.They bring fresh rocks from the pit and you dont have to dig into the rockwall,if you dont want to.We will definitly return here.their Website is a little rough,but the actual mine makes up for it.And wear old clothes.

We visited the Ace of Diamonds mine over Memorial Day weekend 2014. The day was partly cloudy - not the best for crystal hunting, but that's the day we had! We left due to 1. Crazy rain/thunderstorm and 2. Fatigue from breaking rocks. :)The folks @ AoD were super friendly. They have a great shop at the mine where you can rent goggles, hammers, buckets, chisels, screens, etc. Each tool is about $1-2 to rent and you return them at the end of the day. Be prepared for some hard labor to break the rocks. We did find some small crystals on the ground. But I think the good stuff is still hiding in one of those rocks on the hill!We'll definitely be heading back to Ace of Diamonds again!