Florissant Fossil Quarry — Attraction in Four Corners States

Let me explain the experience so you understand why this really isn't worth it in my opinion.

When you arrive, you are given a crate of slate that is mined for you, a few tools for splitting said rock, and a box to put the pieces you find in to take with you. They give you a little instruction, but it really is up to you to figure it out. Once you finish with your crate of rock, you're allowed to pick some from piles near the tables. You pay $20 per adult per hour, cash only.

Pros: is shaded. They're more forgiving on time than just an hour.

Cons: the shale they handed us was wet and we had a hard time finding any fissures to split the rock along. Some of the rock was quite heavy with sandstone, so not as much shale to pick through. I set some aside and went to find some more shale on the ground around the tables that was presumably drier and easier to find fissures. I quickly realized that what's on the ground is just the throw away from previous folks, and there were slim pickings of good pieces.

It was at this point that I realized what you're paying for here. It's a single box of shale that's probably wet because they just dug it. That's per table, so if you have more people, you're getting less fresh material to work with per person. Beyond that, it's the throw away stuff from everyone else, which really isn't much to choose from. If you manage to find some animal or something beyond just plants, you can't even keep it.

This business model can be seen clearly on their website, where they sell boxes of shale that they will mail to you with some tools for $20. At least if you order that, each $20 is getting you the same amount of shale to pick through rather than splitting it with everyone at the table.

In my opinion, the only way this would be worth it is if they gave everyone the same amount of shale with no time limit, just like if you bought it and had them mail it to you. I do not think this is worth...

Showed up from out of town. Spent the night in a hotel. Arrived at site 15 minutes after it opened to be rushed at the gate by some old woman waving at me that they were full! What!?!

Website says NOTHING about it being full and you might not get in… or, you might be told to come back in a couple of hours … mind you… you are in the middle of the mountains with hardly anything else around.

After taking my two boys up here for a fun filled day of digging, now we are sitting at the gate waiting to be let in .

YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOU WEBSITE AND TELL THE TRUTH TO YOUR POTENTIAL VISITORS!!!

Edit: While waiting I heard the lady yelling at another visitor who pulled in behind me and got out to ask me questions about what was going on. The lady told the new visitor they only accepted cash! WHAT?!?! What kind of business does not take any form of electronic payment. So, I had to go into the little town a second time, the first to use the bathroom after not being allowed entrance upon arrival… not like I just drove an hour up into the mountains to come to your place of business. Now I’m going back to the gas store I went to use the restroom at and drain their ATM for cash!

The price point of your fossil dig is EXPENSIVE! people don’t carry that much cash anymore!

And what topped everything…. Talk about a BUNK fossil dig. I spent $120 for me and my two adult sons to dig for two hours and basically found twigs and a few leaves.

DISAPPOINTED TO SAY THE LEAST. HOW ABOUT $20 for the whole day!!! That’s more reasonable for what this place...

If I could give 0 stars, I would. My family and I drove 3 hours to come to this quarry. We pulled in, got out of the vehicle, and were applying sunscreen when we were met by an insane woman, ranting and raving, completely unprovoked. It turns out that (very likely mentally ill) person was the owner. When I told her that we drove three hours to come to the quarry and that negative interaction was off-putting, she let me know that everyone comes from somewhere and that she could act as unprofessionally as she wished, because she was the only business who offered fossil hunting in the area.

Please listen to me when I advise you to take your business elsewhere. The owners have no professionalism, tact, or respect for their customers.

In addition, the only fossils you will find will be a leaf here and there. They offer broken pieces of stone to search through, and that is pretty much it. If you’re looking for excitement or basic human decency, you will find neither here.

However, there is a very cool fossil and rock shop next door! The owner of that store...