Renee Shevat, the owner of Herkimer Diamond Mines, tells the Utica Observer-Dispatch her family has owned the mine since 1979. An early morning fire on Oct. 14 gutted a museum and retail store.

Terrible clouds. That’s what it is,” said Dr. Renee Scialdo-Shevat, owner of Herkimer Diamond Mines. According to the Campgrounds of America, RV purchases have significantly increased.

You can search for diamonds at the Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA Resort, but there's still more to see in the area. Here are a few more gems to unearth when you visit this diamond-in-the-rough.

The Herkimer Diamond Mines gift shop and offices on Route 28 in Herkimer caught fire around 6:20 a.m. Saturday, WKTV News Channel 2 in Utica reported.

I have been to the Herkimer Diamond Mines only twice — the first time, 20 years ago when our son Mark was 2 years old.