Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming
Duration: 3 Days
Price: $2400 per person
Step back in time and uncover ancient treasures with the Green River Formation Fossil Dig Adventure! Perfect for adventurers, families, and fossil enthusiasts, this immersive paleo-tourism experience offers hands-on excavation, expert-led workshops, and luxury amenities. Explore one of the world’s most significant fossil sites, uncover pristine specimens, and enjoy gourmet dining and charming accommodations.
Package Highlights
Luxury Accommodations:
Stay at the historic Opera House in Kemmerer or opt for a beautifully remodeled private home tailored to your group.
Gourmet Dining:
Enjoy delicious gourmet dinners at the Quarry all beverages provided alcoholic non-alcoholic and start your mornings with locally brewed coffee from the Fossil Fuel Coffee Shop (vouchers included).
Guided Fossil Digs:
Discover fossil-rich layers under expert guidance, from delicate split layers to mass mortality zones filled with Knightia and other prehistoric specimens. This will include "Eight" different fossil bearing layers options. And a couple of these layers are only available on a few quarries within the Green River formation.
Exclusive Workshop:
Participate in a hands-on Master Class, learning professional fossil preparation techniques to clean and preserve your personal discoveries.
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Adventure Itinerary
Day 1: Digging into History
Afternoon (3 PM Arrival):
Begin your adventure with a warm welcome at the gallery, where you’ll meet your guides and enjoy a charcuterie board while learning about the evening’s events. Travel to the Quarry by private transport or your own vehicle.
Afternoon to Evening:
Get introduced to fossil excavation techniques before diving into the famed split layers, known for beautifully detailed specimens. Explore mass mortality zones, rich with ancient fish like Knightia eocena.
Evening:
Indulge in a gourmet dinner as the sunset transforms the Quarry into a breathtaking backdrop.
Night Dig:
Venture into the legendary 18-inch layer, the deepest and most enigmatic part of the site, to uncover rare, larger fossils preserved in stunning calcium carbonate.
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Day 2: Unlocking Ancient Secrets
Afternoon: (3pm Arrival)
Continue your excavation journey by exploring unique layers, including:
The sandwich layers, marking the lake’s decline.
Swamp layers, abundant in ancient plant life.
Insect layers, where delicate fossils of bees and nymphs await discovery.
Evening:
Enjoy another gourmet dinner under the open sky at the Quarry.
Night Exploration:
Choose your adventure by digging through gastropod layers, Phareodus zones, or return to the 18-inch layer for more rare finds.
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Day 3: The Art of Fossil Preservation
Morning:
Conclude your adventure with a personalized Fossil Preparation Master Class. Spend 1–3 hours mastering professional techniques to clean and preserve your treasures. Prefer expert help? Take advantage of preparation services to ensure your fossils are ready for display.
Each night, your specimens will be moved to a controlled environment for processing and retention. Specimens that don’t require further processing will be trimmed to specimen size (Boxed and packed) for you to take with you or have shipped to you later. For specimens you choose to have prepared by us, a detailed inventory will be created, and a knowledgeable guide at the quarry will provide a full breakdown of preparation costs.
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Reserve Your Spot Today
This exclusive adventure blends education, excitement, and relaxation for an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a budding paleontologist or simply curious about the prehistoric world, the Green River Formation Fossil Dig Adventure promises extraordinary discoveries and lifelong memories.