Ace of Diamonds Mine & Campground, Herkimer

Had a fantastic time! Found lots of beautiful clear Herkimer Diamonds, some just laying on the ground waiting to be picked up. Three levels of Camping. The middle and top have the best view of the stars at night, as the security floodlight drowns most of them out on the main level. Good, hot showers. Fair prices for tool rental and mining. We rented the lean-to on the main level and it was so worth it! Not just a water supply, but also a sink! Great view of the mine and sluice. Felt like I owned the place! Note- Cell service is not so good on the main level even though you can see a tower at the top of the hill. Upper levels probably have better service. It was really cool to meet the other campers, as well as seeing families come and go with their kids all day. Especially hearing the little ones get so excited when they find their first Diamond!

This is my second time visiting the Ace of Diamonds, and it was even more fun than the first! We stopped at the Herkimer Diamond Mine with the KOA Resort down the road, which was a blatant tourist trap in comparison to AoD. Although it has beautiful facilities and a stunning archive of various minerals, the prices are outrageous at Herkimer KOA. Ace of Diamonds feels like a true, down to earth mine. Reasonable admission and equipment rental prices; it features a quaint shop with a surprising variety of unusual items. This rockhound gleefully perused the store, marveling at the selection of hard-to-find stones. The staff were super nice, salt of the earth folks. They were very friendly, helping us choose the proper tools and digging locations/techniques. There are a few options: hard rock mining at the ledge, which is for more experienced miners. Breaking up smaller rocks at the base of the ledge, or sluicing the tailings at the top of the hill. You can bring your own equipment if you choose, but they offer a large selection of tools such as sledgehammers, chisels, buckets, and shovels. Prices are very fair. Be aware that the driveway is easy to miss, and depending on the direction from which you're coming, it is a sharp turn into the parking lot. This is a fantastic experience for a family, especially on a budget. It's almost a guarantee that you'll bring home souvenirs. If you're looking for some wholesome fun, check out the Ace of Diamond Mine!