Hunt Aliens And Dig For Crystals At The One-Of-A-Kind Board Camp Crystal Mine In Arkansas
By Carol Ann Carson|Published February 21, 2020
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Arkansas has no shortage of crystal mines but this one is rather unique. Board Camp Crystal Mine offers the opportunity to dig for crystals and hunt for aliens! Let’s learn more about the pleasant daytime activities as well as the spine-tingling night tour at this Arkansas mine.
Board Camp Crystal Mine is one of the few public digging mines outside of Mount Ida.
You'll find this one on the southeast outskirts of Mena, in the community of Board Camp. It is unusual to find a crystal site away from Mount Ida but that's not the main reason for today's feature.
During the day, your family can dig for crystals to take home.
The Murphys opened their land to the public in 2012. Today guests can leisurely dig for the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $25/person (ages 16 and under are free). Bring your own tools or rent from Board Camp. We're particularly fond of this mine since nearly all of the dig site is shaded!
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You can even spend the night at this crystal mine!
The mine also features a cabin, the Crystal Cottage. The two-bedroom, one-bath retreat can comfortably accommodate 4-6 guests. Couples can take advantage of their weekend special that includes the cottage, two-day passes for digging, and two-night tours!
Have a chance to hear the full story of the first encounter during this unique tour. In addition to the retelling, the tour also retraces the steps of Travel Channel's Josh Gates. He came to the area to film episode four of "Expedition Unknown: Hunt for Extraterrestrials." Visitors can either take the partial tour during the day for two hours or the full nighttime tour that's four hours long.
Up until the early spring of 2017, the mine has been just another crystal digging site. On February 18th, 2017, the Murphy family had a life-changing experience. The family witnessed three huge beams of light that appeared to be shooting out of the mine and about 300 feet into the sky. This event brought out special investigators as well as paranormal researchers.
Since the beams of light in 2017, other odd things have occurred at the mine. Orbs (like this one pictured), strange lights, and even levitating rocks have been documented at the mine. You may experience something out of the ordinary during your visit!
This gem of a mine has a different adventure for everyone.
Whether you're an avid alien investigator, crystal digger, or Arkansas explorer, Board Camp Crystal Mine has something for you and your family. The mine will be open beginning February 29th, 2020. For more information about daytime digging or nighttime tours, head to their website. For more pictures, you can follow their Facebook Page.
We would love to hear about your experience (both recreational and paranormal) at Board Camp Crystal Mine! Share with us in the comments below!
If you need a palate cleanser from the creepy alien encounters, then head into town! We love Mena since they really do have a little bit of everything.
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