Location: Mount Ida
Top Things to do in Mount Ida
The 10 Best Things to do in Mount Ida, Arkansas (AR)
Mount Ida is a city in and county seat of Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1842, the city saw a silver boom in the 1880s bring early prosperity and economic development to the area. A slowly growing small town ever since, today, the economy is largely ranching, poultry farming, silviculture, and tourism around Lake Ouachita. It is officially known as the quartz crystal capital of the U.S. and is known worldwide for its quartz deposits. The population had grown to 1,076 by the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Mount Ida
1. Turtle Cove Spa
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By arkiemommy - Little Rock, United States
Turtle Cove is perhaps the best spa in Arkansas. Very clean and skilled therapists. Highly recommend! If with a group, call ahead and order food to snack on between treatments - they prepared an amazing charcuterie tray, spinach dip, and other fun foods - their catering menu is extensive.
2. Front Porch Stage
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
3. Ouachita Kayak Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Guided Kayak Tours on Lake Ouachita. Relax! Explore! Enjoy! Half-Day & Full Day Tours, Individual & Group Tours. Call to Book Your Tour: 501-725-2925
4. Atlantis Found!
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By S3500NGbethg
Great local place and owner was very helpful and informative! Make sure you visit the back room... Would def recommend
5. Real Earth Creations
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
We are a crystal, rock, and gift shop in the heart of crystal country, near Mount Ida, Arkansas. We sell quartz crystal and other minerals found in the local area and have hundreds of other rocks, minerals, and fossils from around the world. We also handcraft our own jewelry and a selection of other natural and handmade items. Other services include: Rock cutting; cabochon making; wire wrapping; information on where to mine your own quartz crystals and methods for digging and cleaning. Whether you are a collector, specialist, or just want to connect to or learn about rocks and crystals, be sure to stop and see us.
Reviewed By sairam66 - Hot Springs, United States
This is a very pleasant rock shop with terrific specimens, a lovely owner, and reasonable prices. They have items in every price range, polished stones to rough specimens, wind chimes, jewelry, etc. Something for virtually everyone, when house guests want to purchase souvenirs (or rocks or crystals) we bring them here. Love this place.
6. Indulgence Salon and Spa
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
The Salon and Spa to pamper you for all your hair, massage, tanning and nail needs. If you’re vacationing on the lake or living here day to day, we strive to give you the best spa experience!
7. Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 361 reviews
A great place for the family, where everyone is welcome and guaranteed to find crystals! Open 8:00-4:30 / Tuesday-Saturday Crystal Forest Mine Digs: 2 hour digs $18/person Trips leave daily at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30 Arrive 15 minutes early to sign up + have a safety meeting. Tailings Area: All day digging. $10.50/Adults $6.60/Kids (under 10) + Seniors (62+) Arrive by 2:00 pm for entrance. Gemstone Sluice: $4.50 Sluice Fee, then priced by the pail! 5 Pails to choose from ranging in price at $5-$15/pail. Diamond Experience: $29/bag Guaranteed to find 1/2 carat or more in total weight per bag = approx. 1-3 diamonds per bag.
Reviewed By Des022916 - Mamou, United States
Lance was a fantastic guide as be gave us tips and added humor to an enjoyable two hours at the crystal mine. Our adventure here was the best part of our vacation, and our granddaughter was especially excited with her megalodon tooth purchased in the gift shop!
8. Two Spirits Ltd. Canoe Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
We offer Riverfront primitive campground and Mini Cabins w Air Condition, Indoor bathrooms w hot showers, Canoe and Kayak Rentals, Covered Pavilion for meals and trip packages with advance notice
9. Fiddler's Ridge Rock Shop
10. Twin Creek Crystal Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 210 reviews
Twin Creek Crystal Mine, is a beautiful mine with loads of healing energy, and crystals, crystals, crystals.. bring your lunch and stay all day!!! Parking is right at the pit, shaded picnic tables, porta potty, and friendly hostesses!! We blast and bench the walls so that yall can really dig!! If you are an experienced rock hound, or just want to dig in our rich blast off piles, come on out!!! We got something for everyone!! Weekends get a Special dig for just $100 (we will use trackhoe to get you IN CRYSTALS!! or buy a whole pocket! Call for that! Group rates too!
Reviewed By JBLSTL - Saint Louis, United States
We just got back from a tour of the region; Mammoth Spring, Mt Ida, Hot Springs and Crater of Diamonds. My 5 year old thinks Twin Creek was the best of the lot, and I'm inclined to agree. I bought a $300 pocket by calling Bobby in advance, and it was ready when we arrived at 9am on the day of the dig. By 2pm I was beat from hammering and breaking rock to excavate the vein area's we were specifically assigned, which were around 20 or feet of wall. Crystals were everywhere, but it took a bit of time for me to figure out how to find the best material without breaking it up and packing it for the trip home. We left with about 3 buckets of wrapped material, plus many handfuls of points found on the ground and donated by the family who runs the place to my daughter. I've never seen my kid so sad to leave a place and she wanted to go back again each day after that. I'm sure we'll return to Mt Ida based on our time at Twin Creek. One final note though; the roads into the mine area aren't horrible if you drive something with ground clearance like a truck or SUV. If not, proceed with care. Pro tip: ask to see the material for sale in the mine office. Pricing is probably 70-90% off what they're asking in the shops in town, and the quality is extremely high too. So even if you don't want to mine, stopping by the office just to buy makes sense if you are a casual to more serious collector with an eye for quality.
