About Us
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The Only Quarry Where You Keep Every Fossil You Find!!!
American Fossil (FishDig.com) is an affiliate of Fossil Shack and Paleoland Holdings. Only with us can you dig and keep real fossils. We have been operating for several decades as fossil preparators and fossil retailers. We have recently acquired the South Dempsey Quarry, in the Green river formation and want to make it the most exciting destination in the world for families and everyone who loves fossils.
Our quarry is located in Kemmerer Wyoming, only 45 minutes from Bear Lake, 45 minutes from Evanston, 2 hours form Park City and 2 hours from Yellowstone National Park and Salt Lake City. This is a world famous quarry, and one of only two locations in the world where a complete 3-Toed horse has been found. You can also find stingrays, shrimp, gar, paddlefish, amia, pike, diplomystus, knightia, and even turtles, crocodiles, bats, birds, ancient rhinos and camels, primates, and much more. It truly is a fossil expedition 50 million years in the past.
Unlike most fossil dig locations, here at our quarry you will have the opportunity to keep every fossil you find. We have a variety of packages available to meet any budget and love to help accommodate large groups.
We do our very best to utilize the stone in our quarry and find every fossil. The rock is a non-renewable resource and we do our best not to waste it. We expect our guests to have a great time and split the rock as thin as possible to find all of the fossils hidden within, and maximize their experience. We also ask that you do not smash rock, or beat on it with your hammer. Please be kind to our staff and be conscious of the incredible resource we are making available to the public.
Please also note that we are not able to control the size of the rock as it comes out of the mountain and the rock that is there is the rock we are able to make available to our guests. All of our rock is fossil rich, regardless of size, shape or location. We want you to enjoy your visit and find plenty of fossils.
Any individual fossil valued over $100,000 will have a 50% Premium that will go to the landowner.
Our quarry is located in Kemmerer Wyoming, only 45 minutes from Bear Lake, 45 minutes from Evanston, 2 hours form Park City and 2 hours from Yellowstone National Park and Salt Lake City. This is a world famous quarry, and one of only two locations in the world where a complete 3-Toed horse has been found. You can also find stingrays, shrimp, gar, paddlefish, amia, pike, diplomystus, knightia, and even turtles, crocodiles, bats, birds, ancient rhinos and camels, primates, and much more. It truly is a fossil expedition 50 million years in the past.
Unlike most fossil dig locations, here at our quarry you will have the opportunity to keep every fossil you find. We have a variety of packages available to meet any budget and love to help accommodate large groups.
We do our very best to utilize the stone in our quarry and find every fossil. The rock is a non-renewable resource and we do our best not to waste it. We expect our guests to have a great time and split the rock as thin as possible to find all of the fossils hidden within, and maximize their experience. We also ask that you do not smash rock, or beat on it with your hammer. Please be kind to our staff and be conscious of the incredible resource we are making available to the public.
Please also note that we are not able to control the size of the rock as it comes out of the mountain and the rock that is there is the rock we are able to make available to our guests. All of our rock is fossil rich, regardless of size, shape or location. We want you to enjoy your visit and find plenty of fossils.
Any individual fossil valued over $100,000 will have a 50% Premium that will go to the landowner.
Staff Biographies
Patrick Hogle - Owner
Patrick is the owner of Paleoland Holdings. He is the father of 4 children, and along with his wife, they spend their family time together Rock hounding and hunting fossils. He loves the excitement of discovery and this passion is shared by his wife and kids.
Patrick worked as s wildlife biologist, biology teacher (12) years and as a public school administrator for 2 year.
In his heart, he is an educator and is most excited about sharing the fossil resources of our quarry with families. He truly believes these fossils are a national treasure and the opportunity to dig and keep them is not found anywhere else on earth. His hope is that some of the children who leave our quarry will do so with enough excitement they will choose careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.
He is personally committed to the educational quality and enjoyment of every guest we have the honor of serving. He looks forward to seeing you in beautiful Wyoming and if there is anything he can do to make your time with us better, please let him know.
Patrick is the owner of Paleoland Holdings. He is the father of 4 children, and along with his wife, they spend their family time together Rock hounding and hunting fossils. He loves the excitement of discovery and this passion is shared by his wife and kids.
Patrick worked as s wildlife biologist, biology teacher (12) years and as a public school administrator for 2 year.
In his heart, he is an educator and is most excited about sharing the fossil resources of our quarry with families. He truly believes these fossils are a national treasure and the opportunity to dig and keep them is not found anywhere else on earth. His hope is that some of the children who leave our quarry will do so with enough excitement they will choose careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.
He is personally committed to the educational quality and enjoyment of every guest we have the honor of serving. He looks forward to seeing you in beautiful Wyoming and if there is anything he can do to make your time with us better, please let him know.
Seth Sorensen - Owner
Seth is a veteran of the fossil industry. He is the owner of Fossil Shack (www.fossilshack.com) and has been digging, preparing and selling fossils for years to clients all over the world. His wife and 3 daughters spend a lot of their time at the quarry and love finding ancient treasures of the earth.
Seth is the author if History's Aquarium, Head Full of Rocks, and The Utah Story.
Seth helped excavate one of only two 3-Toed horses ever discovered. He has dug fossils across the country and worked with several museums and universities in setting up exhibits.
Seth attended Snow College, Utah State University and Walden University. He an educator by profession, specializing in Data and Statistics, and is an adjunct faculty member at Southern Utah University.
Seth is a veteran of the fossil industry. He is the owner of Fossil Shack (www.fossilshack.com) and has been digging, preparing and selling fossils for years to clients all over the world. His wife and 3 daughters spend a lot of their time at the quarry and love finding ancient treasures of the earth.
Seth is the author if History's Aquarium, Head Full of Rocks, and The Utah Story.
Seth helped excavate one of only two 3-Toed horses ever discovered. He has dug fossils across the country and worked with several museums and universities in setting up exhibits.
Seth attended Snow College, Utah State University and Walden University. He an educator by profession, specializing in Data and Statistics, and is an adjunct faculty member at Southern Utah University.
Jeff Peterson - Owner
Jeff is the newest member of our team. He has a lifelong interest in fossils and history and has joined us in sharing this adventure with everyone. He is an educator turned attorney and is a key member of our team.
Jeff is the newest member of our team. He has a lifelong interest in fossils and history and has joined us in sharing this adventure with everyone. He is an educator turned attorney and is a key member of our team.
Quarry History
Fifty million years ago, three large lakes covered Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. The smallest, now called “Fossil Lake”, was 50 miles long and 20 miles wide at its maximum. Unlike modern Wyoming, the climate was subtropical with verdant forests of palms, figs and cypress. Willows, beeches, oaks, maples and ferns grew on the lower slopes of mountains that rose near the water. The warm lake waters supported 25 kinds of fish and stingrays, insects, crocodiles, snakes and turtles, bats, birds, the first primates and dog-sized horses and rhinos.
When the animals died, many settled to the bottom of the lake. Over time, a constant rain of calcium carbonate, which precipitated out of the water, dropped to the bottom of the lake and covered the organism in layer after layer of fine grains. Without air, the organic layers could not rot. The mud thickened and pushed down on the organic material with increasing pressure. The temperature of the organic material also increased as other processes in the Earth produced heat. Mud sediment was buried by more sediment. Sediment changed to rock as temperature, pressure, and anaerobic bacteria—microorganisms that can live without oxygen—increased.
Although the lake once covered 1,000 square miles, the richest fossil beds only cover about 15 square miles. More rich fossil beds may be buried, but that is all that are exposed on the surface today.
The great 19th-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope was one of the first to excavate at Fossil Buttes. He worked there in the 1870s.
Although the lake once covered 1,000 square miles, the richest fossil beds only cover about 15 square miles. More rich fossil beds may be buried, but that is all that are exposed on the surface today.
The great 19th-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope was one of the first to excavate at Fossil Buttes. He worked there in the 1870s.
Today, Visitors from around the world come to both enjoy and dig in the remains of Fossil Lake in the American Fossil "FishDig" Quarry.
Each year, scientists, movie stars, athletes, and families join the staff at our quarry and unearth ancient treasures from 50 million years ago. This is one of the few locations in the world where visitors are allowed to *keep the fossils they find and add them to their collections.
This quarry has produced thousands of rare and unique fossils including one of only two 3-Toed Horses ever found. Come see what is waiting for you at the American Fossil "FishDig" Quarry.
Each year, scientists, movie stars, athletes, and families join the staff at our quarry and unearth ancient treasures from 50 million years ago. This is one of the few locations in the world where visitors are allowed to *keep the fossils they find and add them to their collections.
This quarry has produced thousands of rare and unique fossils including one of only two 3-Toed Horses ever found. Come see what is waiting for you at the American Fossil "FishDig" Quarry.
Directions to the Quarry
From I-80
- From I-80, Exit 18 at Hwy 189 to Kemmerer, proceed north about 36 miles, then through Diamondville to Kemmerer.
- Just past the center of town you will come to a Ridley's grocery store on the right.
- Past that you come to a junction with Highway 30. At that junction turn right and remain on Hwy 189.
- You will pass over Hamm's Fork River. Just beyond the base of the hill you will find a Sinclair station on the right.
- Not far beyond that is the junction with Hwy 233. You will see a sign there on the right indicating a left turn to Lake Viva Naughton. Take a left there.
- Pass through Frontier and follow Hwy 233 for approximately 3 miles after the speed limit increases to 55 mph. At about that point you will see a large ranch on your right. You will take a left on Dempsey Road, a dirt road indicated by a county sign saying Dempsey Road at the point where the road narrows and the river is on one side and a hill on the other. The river is near the road on the right at this point. Do not cross the bridge. Do not continue on Hwy 233.
- Follow the dirt road for approx. 8 miles. You will cross four cattle guards and be on a plateau. From the last cattle guard, proceed about three miles. On the left you will see a well-worn dirt road with a large pale boulder and a large white sign saying American Fossil. Turn left here. Follow the main track. Another sign will guide you as the road starts to bend. The road becomes rutted for about the next half mile. You will then see two signs.
- Take the left fork at the American Fossil sign and the quarry will be in view. Follow the last sign to the left and take the hill down to the American Fossil Quarry.
From Bear Lake
1. Take US-89 South toward Wyoming
2. You will turn right onto US-30 and travel for about 22.3 Miles
3. You will come to a junction with Highway 30. At that junction turn left on Hwy 189 for approximately 2.2 miles.
4. Continue for 3 miles
5. You will pass over Hamm's Fork River. Just beyond the base of the hill you will find a Sinclair station on the right.
6. Not far beyond that is the junction with Hwy 233. You will see a sign there on the right indicating a left turn to Lake Viva Naughton. Take a left there.
7. Pass through Frontier and follow Hwy 233 for approximately 3 miles after the speed limit increases to 55 mph. At about that point you will see a large ranch on your right. You will take a left on Dempsey Road, a dirt road indicated by a county sign saying Dempsey Road at the point where the road narrows and the river is on one side and a hill on the other. The river is near the road on the right at this point. Do not cross the bridge. Do not continue on Hwy 233.
8. Follow the dirt road for approx. 8 miles. You will cross four cattle guards and be on a plateau. From the last cattle guard, proceed about three miles. On the left you will see a well-worn dirt road with a large pale boulder and a large white sign saying American Fossil. Turn left here. Follow the main track. Another sign will guide you as the road starts to bend. The road becomes rutted for about the next half mile. You will then see two signs.
9. Take the left fork at the American Fossil sign and the quarry will be in view. Follow the last sign to the left and take the hill down to the American Fossil FishDig.com Quarry.
2. You will turn right onto US-30 and travel for about 22.3 Miles
3. You will come to a junction with Highway 30. At that junction turn left on Hwy 189 for approximately 2.2 miles.
4. Continue for 3 miles
5. You will pass over Hamm's Fork River. Just beyond the base of the hill you will find a Sinclair station on the right.
6. Not far beyond that is the junction with Hwy 233. You will see a sign there on the right indicating a left turn to Lake Viva Naughton. Take a left there.
7. Pass through Frontier and follow Hwy 233 for approximately 3 miles after the speed limit increases to 55 mph. At about that point you will see a large ranch on your right. You will take a left on Dempsey Road, a dirt road indicated by a county sign saying Dempsey Road at the point where the road narrows and the river is on one side and a hill on the other. The river is near the road on the right at this point. Do not cross the bridge. Do not continue on Hwy 233.
8. Follow the dirt road for approx. 8 miles. You will cross four cattle guards and be on a plateau. From the last cattle guard, proceed about three miles. On the left you will see a well-worn dirt road with a large pale boulder and a large white sign saying American Fossil. Turn left here. Follow the main track. Another sign will guide you as the road starts to bend. The road becomes rutted for about the next half mile. You will then see two signs.
9. Take the left fork at the American Fossil sign and the quarry will be in view. Follow the last sign to the left and take the hill down to the American Fossil FishDig.com Quarry.