OKEECHOBEE — Could rock painting be making a comeback? Two women are working hard to make this happen. Tabitha Crawford and Sursha Reyna began by starting a new Facebook Page called Chobee ROCKS. The introduction on the page reads, “Welcome to our Community Rock Hunt! We paint rocks, hide them around the community, and brighten someone’s day with a little surprise. Everyone is welcome—kids, adults, beginners, and pros! Find a rock? Share a photo! Hide a rock? Give us a hint! Let’s spread creativity, kindness, and fun one rock at a time.”

For most of the country, rock painting was unheard of until 2015 when the craze spread across the nation. Megan Murphy’s Kindness Rocks Project is credited with starting it in the United States. The trend spread between 2015 and 2018, and was even seen in other countries before slowly fading out of popularity.

In Okeechobee, there were several Facebook pages dedicated to the hobby, and hundreds of men, women and children invested in rocks and paint so they could join in the fun. Home Depot struggled to keep up with the demand for smooth rocks, normally used as garden supplies. Painters bought bag after bag, painting the rocks and then hiding them all over town. The informal rule was that if you find a rock and take it home, you should hide your own rocks so others could find them.

Sursha said she began painting rocks long before the craze hit the world. Her mother, Helen Hayes, had a stroke when she was only 37 years old, and she began painting rocks because she enjoyed it, and it was something she was able to do to make others happy. “She spent the nights with me on Friday nights, and we would paint rocks together,” said Sursha. “My mom would put encouraging messages on them like John 3:16. She would go to the courthouses, hospitals, churches — anywhere she thought somebody might need a word. —  and hide them for people to find.”

When Sursha’s son married Tabitha, Sursha was thrilled. “I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law. She’s my best friend,” said Sursha. The two enjoy many of the same hobbies, and rock painting is one of them. Tabitha’s daughter Mya also has the rock-painting bug and loves to hide them and see people find them. (People are encouraged to post on the Facebook page when they find rocks so everyone can enjoy their reactions.) 

On the fun committee at work, Sursha often hides painted rocks there. She and Tabitha came up with a challenge for the community of Okeechobee. They painted several rocks based on the children’s book, The Hungry Caterpillar and placed them in the butterfly Garden with hopes that the community will add on to the caterpillar. A sign nearby reads, “Please add to me.” They were eager to see how long the caterpillar would grow. Unfortunately, they went back the very next day and found the entire caterpillar gone.

Trying to remain upbeat about it, the women said they just hoped whoever took the caterpillar enjoys it.

Rock painting can be a relaxing hobby and creates joy for the person painting, the person hiding and the person finding the rocks.

If you are interested in joining in the fun, check out the Chobee ROCKS Facebook page. “We don’t care if the rock is a masterpiece or just a squiggly line. Come post a photo of your rocks and then go hide them,” said Sursha.

“We were really excited to find this beauty at the Christmas tree lighting! What a surprise! We used to love finding and hiding rocks but hadn't been involved lately. Made me smile BIG! We will surely be starting up again. Thank you for the motivation! Really appreciate your time and effort out there encouraging families to get involved. It is a great activity and gets you outside moving around! Will be rehiding and adding to the circulating rocks soon. Thank you! Merry Christmas!” wrote Crystal Raulerson on the Chobee ROCKS page.