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I stopped at an Arkansas Rock Shop

September 3, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner 19 Comments

I stopped at a Rock Shop

There are lots of quirky things about Arkansas and the rock shops near Hot Springs rank right up there. As a kid, I remember our family stopping at rock shops while on vacation in the Ouachita Mountains. Last week while driving on Scenic Highway 7 to Hot Springs, I began seeing signs for Coleman’s Rock Shop. 

I couldn’t resist stopping.  

Deja vu for sure. I’m certain my younger self walked through Coleman’s in 1970-something.

I don’t know why, but I’ve always had an affinity for rocks. I’ve been known to drag rocks home in my suitcase from vacation destinations to use in the garden. I imagine that even our videobsessed* kids of today would enjoy stopping at a rock shop to explore. Boy oh boy, Coleman’s has every imaginable and unimaginable crystal, glass, rock, geode, and stone available, not only in a natural state, but also blown into vases, formed into eggs and paperweights, and shaped into earrings and pendant necklaces. 

Whew.

Coleman's Rock Shop on Hwy 7

You know how typically when you return (as an adult) to a childhood place, everything seems minuscule and swallowed by time? This was NOT my experience at Coleman’s Rock Shop. Not only was the retail store crammed with shelves and displays, but out back, the rock yard was just that—yards and yards of rocks organized by category and color.

And bonus!—for a mere ten bucks, customers can mine crystals at the Coleman quartz mine (15 miles away) keeping every treasure found. I seriously intend to do this soon. Anyone want to join me?

I stopped at a rock shop

Let me take you back for a moment…

For years and years, a small, glass jar of rocks (bought possibly at Coleman’s) sat on the window ledge in the bedroom I shared with my sister. Although my jar of rocks somehow disappeared over the years, I remember it clearly. The jar had originally been a baby food jar, and the rocks were assorted and sparkly and magical. How I managed to lose something so special, I have no idea. 

I wondered if Coleman’s still sold those jars? I began searching, certain I had fallen into a time warp. I met my younger self around every rock display and heard my own words trapped along the paneled walls. Momma, can I get this jar of rocks? Pleeeeeease?

Just before giving up and returning to my car, I spotted an entire bottom shelf packed tightly with baby food jars of rocks. The same rocks? I’m gonna say YES because they were exactly as I remembered. The lids may as well have been covered in 1971 pixie dust.

My heart did a flip flop.

jar of rocks

I searched for the perfect jar, the one most like my original with a black lid and containing a lump of fool’s gold inside.

And I found it.

For the bargain price of a jar of rocks, I took a trip back in time. My new jar of rocks sits on the windowsill of our bedroom, just as it should.

jar of rocks

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

*made up word

[tweetthis]Coleman’s Rock Shop – a trip back in time. #OuachitaMountains #HotSprings #MicroVenture @VisitHotSprings [/tweetthis]

Check out these other area rock shops.

Musical Pairing:

The Who, Bargain (1971)

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Filed Under: Arkansas, Simple Pleasures, Travel Tagged With: Coleman's Rock Shop, Hot Springs, Ouachita Mountains, rock shop, Scenic Highway 7

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Comments

  1. fay guinn says

    September 3, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    Sweet, Talya. There is an asterisk at end of post indicating a made-up word. Couldn’t find one. Did I miss it?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 3, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      Yes, videobsessed (the word before the asterisk) is made up. At least I think I made it up. LOL.

      Reply
  2. Colene says

    September 3, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    This is so special. Seriously!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 4, 2015 at 7:20 am

      Thank you, Colene!

      Reply
  3. Jenny Marrs says

    September 3, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    We stopped at a rock shop on the way home from AWBU too! We couldn’t resist! I had never been to south AR and I was sort of mesmerized by the shear number of shops selling ROCKS. 🙂 it was fascinating and fun! I love how special and nostalgic your stop-in was!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 4, 2015 at 7:21 am

      Thank you, Jenny! Glad to hear I’m not the only person with a rock fascination- LOL. So great to meet you at AWBU!

      Reply
  4. Geezer on the Go says

    September 4, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    I love rocks! I’ll go with you!

    I qualify because I spent hours and hours finding nothing at
    http://www.rugglesmine.com/

    and I baked my brains out, all for naught, at
    http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 5, 2015 at 7:45 am

      Hmmmm, maybe I should take someone who has better rock finding luck? 🙂

      Reply
  5. Mel @ Adventures of Mel says

    September 8, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    Talya, that is a beautiful memory… My breath caught when you said the new jar now sits on the windowsill of your bedroom. This is yet another place my boys would love to explore. Thank you for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue and on Instagram tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 8, 2015 at 6:04 pm

      Aww, thank you so much Mel!

      Reply
  6. Jenn says

    September 9, 2015 at 8:11 am

    It’s always fun to find another rock enthusiast. I like to find mine on the banks of the Buffalo River. My kids and I always buy the geodes to crack yourself from the rock shop. Wondering what your going to get is so much fun! I have them on my mantle and multiple window sills around my house. I sometimes wonder what non-rock people think when they come over.

    Reply
  7. Sarah Shotts says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Apparently I never commented, but I love this post! Thanks for linking it up. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 1, 2015 at 7:33 am

      Thanks Sarah! I think you tweeted it:)

      Reply
  8. Kristen says

    April 20, 2021 at 11:29 am

    Hi all , I have a rock that was given to me as “rock glass” can anyone on here tell me if it is or not definitely “Rock glass”. Thank you

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. #feedthehippy Most Inspiring Posts of Week One says:
    September 6, 2015 at 9:07 pm

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  2. #VentureLinkUp | October 2015 - A Love Letter to Adventure says:
    October 2, 2015 at 10:08 am

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  3. Federal Blog says:
    May 21, 2017 at 2:12 am

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

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GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Oct '22)

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