Grandfather finds hidden treasure in plain sight as park officials 'dumbfounded' by discovery

Barry G. Smith, a 68‑year‑old grandfather from Germantown, Tennessee, and his two granddaughters, Sage and Juniper, discovered a yellow diamond while hunting for gems at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County, Arkansas. The family was out searching on Aug. 16, and the find was announced by the Arkansas State Parks Department on Aug. 29.

The trio rented a wagon and a basic digging kit from the park, “not expecting anything more than a fun time,” according to the park’s statement. After roughly thirty minutes of searching, Smith spotted a glimmering object in the East Drain section. He first mistook it for mica, a common mineral, and slipped the piece into his shirt pocket. When he brought it to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center for inspection, staff confirmed it was a “gorgeous 2.29‑carat yellow diamond.”

Park supervisor Ralph Hall said he was “dumbfounded when I first saw the diamond,” noting that its shape and color reminded him of the Pearadin Schumacher American Dream Diamond that had been found earlier in the year. Hall added that yellow diamonds are the rarest variety at the park; most visitors unearth brown or white stones. Yellow diamonds form when nitrogen is absorbed into the crystal structure during formation, a process that causes the crystal to reflect yellow wavelengths.

Smith, who was “absolutely excited” about the discovery, remarked, “I never expected to find a diamond here. The potential was there, but you never come here expecting to find one.” He named the gem the Sage Juniper Diamond after his granddaughters.

The park described the stone as about the size of a black‑eyed pea and noted that it was the third‑largest diamond found at the park in 2026. According to the release, a total of 351 diamonds have been registered by park guests this year, with an average of one to two finds per day. The park’s officials did not release an estimated value for Smith’s diamond and reminded visitors that staff are not trained to grade or appraise gemstones. Those who wish to have their finds evaluated can contact a certified gemologist.

While the park has seen a string of notable discoveries—such as a 3.09‑carat diamond found by a grieving Pennsylvania woman earlier this month and a 2.09‑carat brown diamond uncovered by a Texas family—Smith’s yellow stone stands out as one of the most striking finds of the season.