Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast is located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The town is known as the site of Crater of Diamonds State Park, a 37.5-acre plowed dirt field where mineral deposits can be found. Visitors can keep any diamonds or stones they find at the state park. The owners of Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast offer tools for mine guests to use free of charge. Additionally, the bed and breakfast features an outdoor pool and a firepit area for visitors to relax. Four rooms are available at the home, each with king-size beds and private bathrooms. Three of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms. The fourth room, the Velda Rose, has a bathroom across the hall, but it remains reserved for the guests of that room and is not shared with other guests.
Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast is located in the "very small town" of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, according to Buddy, the owner of the property. It is about a mile away from Crater of Diamonds State Park, where guests can dig for diamonds on a "finders, keepers" basis. Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast has four rooms for guests to rent. Each unit offers a king bed, microwave, refrigerator, TV, free Wi-Fi, high thread count sheets, and a private bathroom. All bathrooms are ensuite, with the exception of the Velda Rose which has a bathroom across the hall. However, the bathroom remains private for visitors staying in The Velda Rose. The Embassy Suite offers a queen bed in addition to its king bed. Airbeds are available for those who require additional accommodation in their rooms.
Other areas throughout the bed and breakfast include the furnished living room with a couch, rocking chair, and recliners. Visitors can socialize in the dining room, which is connected to the living room. They may also use the outdoor swimming pool—which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day—or the firepit area. Overall, Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast is about one acre in size.
A continental breakfast is provided each morning at Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast. It is done on a self-serve basis and typically includes frozen breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, fruit juice, fruit cups, coffee, cereals, Pop-Tarts, and pastries. Anybody with dietary restrictions or food allergies can make a request over the phone, and Buddy and Karen will do what they can to accommodate the need. Buddy and Karen also offer bottled water, microwave popcorn, and cookies at the home.
Nearby attractions include fishing, hiking, and biking. Visitors can fish for trout along the Little Missouri River or visit KA-DO-HA village, a prehistoric site about a mile from Murfreesboro. Lake Greeson State Park is another common attraction, particularly for boating, camping, and fishing. The most popular attraction to Murfreesboro is Crater of Diamonds State Park, according to Buddy, which is a 37.5-acre field that is occasionally plowed to facilitate digging by visitors. It is one of the few places in the world where the public can openly dig for diamonds. As previously mentioned, Crater of Diamonds lets visitors keep whatever stones they find. Buddy and Karen can lend their tools to guests wanting to visit the park without an additional cost. Some restaurants that Buddy recommends guests visit Southern Dine, Feed Bin Cafe, and Telinga's Mexican Restaurant.
Buddy, one of the Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast owners, says guests should feel "like they can give what feedback you'd give to relatives." He adds that he wants them to feel comfortable, laid-back, and able to experience Southern hospitality. Buddy says he and his wife Karen try to make visitors feel like family from the moment their visitors enter the door. He likes to be cordial with guests in his interactions with them. Although Buddy and Karen sometimes have limited interaction with their patrons, they do their best to strive to make themselves available to respond to guests' questions or concerns.
Regarding guest reviews, Buddy notes that many revolve around the comfort of the home and its proximity to Crater of Diamonds State Park. One guest said, "[The room] was very nice and clean. [... it is] close to The Crater. The swimming pool was great to have on a hot summer afternoon. Buddy was as nice a host as you could ever ask for." Another visitor reported, "We stayed in the Majestic room. It was spacious, quiet, and comfy. The pool was refreshing after a day of digging, and we had it all to ourselves. The breakfast was typical prepackaged self-serve, but the options and selections were numerous."
Visitors are asked to follow a few policies at Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast. Children 12 years or older are welcome to stay at the bed and breakfast. Buddy also mentions that the Embassy Suite is the "designated pet room," meaning visitors can bring dogs into that room. Smoking is not allowed indoors, but guests may smoke in an appointed outdoor smoking area.
Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast is open year-round. Buddy states that March and October are the busiest months of the year. Although he explains the business aims to target couples as its primary clientele, children over the age of 12 are allowed to stay there as well. He notes that "99.9 percent" of Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast's activity comes from couples visiting Murfreesboro to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park and find minerals.
The house that serves as Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast was built in the mid-1970s, according to Buddy, one of its current owners. Buddy and his wife, Karen, entered the lodging industry when they moved to Murfreesboro, later feeling they could contribute to the town's hospitality needs. They bought a restaurant in 2005 and purchased the house that would become the bed and breakfast the following year. Together, Buddy and Karen began operations at Diamond Oaks Bed and Breakfast on Memorial Day weekend, 2007. They originally bought the house to be their private residence, however shortly after moving in they began to consider opening the property as a bed and breakfast. Besides a few motels, Buddy and Karen thought "there was not much," and they could even add "something new" with their own style to Murfreesboro.
Before owning a bed and breakfast, Karen had worked as a teacher for 45 years, retiring in 2016. Buddy is a Vietnam-era veteran and had a career in social work. They were married in 1979 after meeting at an Arkansas Razorbacks football game in 1977. Their website states, "[Buddy and Karen] remain fanatical about each other and the Razorbacks!"
1701 South Washington
Murfreesboro, Arkansas 71958
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Buddy and Karen Richardson
