Resist the urge to expose more.
Do not try to clean or reveal more of a fossil in the field. Keep a generous amount of surrounding rock and save every broken piece. Wait until you are home—or leave preparation to a professional.
MOUNT ORAB, OHIO · ARNHEIM FORMATION
Your next
great find.
Bring your tools. Spend a day in the shale. Discover the trilobites of Ohio’s ancient sea.
Booking reopens April 2027.
First digs tentatively June 2027.
BRING YOUR OWN TOOLS.Gloves, safety glasses & sturdy closed-toe shoes are required. Ages 8+ only. Signed waiver required.Read the full rules before booking →
Flexicalymene retrorsaFound by Jacob Music
790 Ellis Road · Mount Orab, Ohio ↗Reservation only · Weekends in season, 8 AM–4 PM
READ THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE THE TRIP
Come prepared. These are requirements.
- Bring your own toolsThis is a BYOT dig site. Pack your own approved hand tools and materials to protect your fossils.
- Wear your safety gearGloves, safety glasses or goggles, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. No Crocs, sandals, or open-toed shoes.
- Ages 8 and older onlyNo children under 8. Under 16s must stay with an adult. Under 18s need a guardian’s waiver signature.
- Reserve & sign your waiverNo walk-ins. Register every guest accurately and bring or email the completed waiver before digging.
FIND US IN SOUTHERN OHIO
Find us.
Then find fossils.
REGULAR IN-SEASON HOURSSaturday & Sunday
Saturday & Sunday
8 AM – 4 PM
Reservation only—not walk-in admission. Scheduling is closed for 2026 and reopens in April 2027. The first 2027 digs are tentatively planned for June; regular in-season hours do not mean the site is currently accepting visits.
BRING YOUR OWN TOOLS
BYOT means
bring your own tools.
Flat Run Fossils is a BYOT (Bring Your Own Tools) site. Visitors must arrive with the equipment needed to split shale, work rock layers, and transport fragile specimens safely.
MANDATORY: gloves, eye protection & sturdy footwear.
All participants must wear gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and sturdy closed-toe footwear at all times. Rock fragments can break off unexpectedly. No Crocs, sandals, or open-toed shoes.
Your field checklist
- Geological hammerFor careful splitting of shale.
- Medium to large chiselsFor breaking apart rock layers to reveal fossils.
- Pry barsFor loosening larger slabs and accessing fossil-bearing layers.
- Bucket, padded containers & wrappingBring a sturdy bucket, padded containers, newspaper or foam, and plastic wrap for fragile shale specimens.
- Knee pads or a foam padA much kinder way to spend time close to the ground.
- Brushes & picksDo not use them to clean or expose fragile trilobites in the field. Save detailed preparation for home or a professional.
2027 DIG RATES
Pick your
dig session.
2027 rates for ages 16 and older: $60 for a 4-hour dig or $100 for an 8-hour dig. Scheduling reopens in April 2027. The first dig dates are tentatively planned for June 2027.
2027 scheduling updateHalf day4 hours · age 16 and older$60
Full day8 hours · age 16 and older$100
Young collectors: up to two children ages 8–15 dig free with a paying parent. Children under 8 cannot be accommodated. All children under 16 must stay with their adult.
IF PLANS CHANGE
Cancellation policy
Flat Run Fossils may cancel a visit at any time, especially for severe weather or unforeseen circumstances. If we cancel your booking, you will receive a full refund.
If you need to cancel, please give at least 48 hours’ notice.
For cancellations or rescheduling, email flatrunfossils@gmail.com. You may also use the link at the bottom of your reservation confirmation email, but you must still email us so we can review the cancellation and initiate any eligible refund through our payment processor. Refunds are not automatic.
PLAN A VISIT TOGETHER
Group / Club Digs
Groups of 10+
We offer group rates for groups of 10 or more and routinely accommodate clubs, families, and friends.
If the minimum group size for group rates isn’t met, we reserve the right to open the dig to the public to fill the remaining spots.
Contact us for group pricing and arrangements.
flatrunfossils@gmail.comBEFORE YOU DIG
The full site rules.
Please read every one.
These rules apply to every participant. Please read them before booking. Failure to follow them may mean removal without a refund.
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Safety Gear
Please bring gloves and safety glasses with you — they are required for all participants at all times. All guests must wear closed-toe, sturdy footwear such as boots or work shoes. No Crocs, sandals, or open-toed shoes are permitted.
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Supervision
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This is an active dig site with sharp rocks and tools — children must remain with their adult.
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Age Restriction
Due to the nature of the site and potential hazards, children under the age of 8 cannot be accommodated.
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No Running
The site has sharp rocks and uneven terrain — running can result in injury and is not permitted.
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Tool Usage
Only approved tools provided by or authorized by Flat Run Fossils LLC may be used. Participants must follow proper usage instructions for all tools.
Hand tools such as hammers, chisels, and similar equipment are permitted.
Power tools of any kind are strictly forbidden unless explicit consent is given by Flat Run Fossils staff and their use is supervised.
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Environment Respect
Participants must respect the natural environment and avoid causing unnecessary damage to the quarry/pit. This includes not disturbing wildlife and vegetation.
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Area Boundaries
Participants must stay within designated digging areas and respect all marked boundaries.
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Respect Others' Dig Spots
Please do not walk through or disturb another guest’s digging area.
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Waste Disposal
All trash and personal waste must be disposed of in designated receptacles.
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Injury Reporting
Any injuries or accidents must be reported to Flat Run Fossils LLC staff immediately.
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No Alcohol or Drugs
The use of alcohol or drugs on the premises is strictly prohibited.
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No Pets Allowed
We do not allow pets on site. The quarry environment is not suitable for animals due to heat, sharp rock, and lack of shade.
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Behavior
Participants must conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner towards others at all times.
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Compliance
Failure to comply with these rules may result in immediate removal from the premises without a refund.
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Waiver Requirement
Before participating in any fossil-hunting activities, all visitors must complete and submit a waiver.
How to Submit:
- Option 1: Print, sign, scan, and email the completed form to flatrunfossils@gmail.com. Please include the registrant's full name and event date in your email.
- Option 2: Print and bring the signed form with you on the day of your visit.
⚠️ Important: A completed waiver is required for participation. Failure to provide a signed form will invalidate your visit.
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Reservation Accuracy
Please be accurate when completing your reservation form, especially regarding guest count. This is critical for planning and safety. Unregistered guests may be turned away if we cannot accommodate them.
Collect for the experience — no on-site solicitation
Flat Run Fossils is a place to enjoy fossil hunting, learn, and share the excitement of discovery—not a marketplace. Please respect that experience. Soliciting fossil purchases or sales on site is not permitted.
THE DIG SITE / SOUTHERN OHIONOT BEHIND GLASS. UNDER YOUR BOOTS.
An ancient sea.
A very hands-on day.
Long before there was an Ohio, marine life flourished here. Today, the limestone and shale of the Arnheim Formation preserve that world—and Flat Run offers a place to look for it yourself.
Split shale, study the layers, and slow down enough to notice the details. From your first fossil to your next trilobite, the search is part of the experience.
Get to know the formationORDOVICIANARNHEIM FORMATION
A world held in shale.
Named after the village of Arnheim in Brown County, Ohio, the Arnheim Formation is made up of interbedded fossil-bearing limestone and shale. Its layers record an ancient marine environment roughly 445 million years ago.
The “Mount Orab butter shale” is a soft claystone layer known for exceptional fossil preservation. Trilobites including Flexicalymene retrorsa and Isotelus maximus share the formation’s fossil record with brachiopods, bryozoans, and crinoids.
FROM THE EXISTING FLAT RUN COLLECTION
Look a little closer.
A few finds to get your eye in. Every day in the shale is different; these photographs are not a promise of what you’ll find.
FIELD NOTES / HANDLE WITH CARE
The best field prep?
Don’t.
A fragile fossil can be damaged before it ever makes it home. Protect it now. Prepare it later.
Wrap it. Let it dry slowly.
Prone or semi-prone specimens in fragile shale should be wrapped in plastic wrap as soon as they are uncovered. The original care guide recommends keeping them wrapped for 2–4 weeks, or longer for larger pieces, until fully dry.
Do not rinse dried or prepared fragile shale specimens with water. Enrolled specimens or those in harder calcareous nodules may be more stable and can sometimes be rinsed gently at home; if in doubt, ask before cleaning.
Keep the slab. Save the pieces.
These trilobites can be extremely fragile when exposed. The existing guide recommends a thin stabilizer such as Starbond or PaleoBond if the shell starts to flake or crack. Ask staff or an experienced preparator before applying a product, and follow its safety instructions.
Retain a generous slab around the fossil, wrap the entire slab in plastic, and allow it to dry slowly. Do not rinse with water. Wrap enrolled specimens immediately, and keep all broken parts—even small genal spines—for a preparator.
2027 SEASON · PLAN AHEAD
A new season.
More to discover.
2026 scheduling is closed. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the shale.
Booking is not available right now. Please check back when scheduling reopens, and follow Flat Run Fossils for updates.
Follow season updatesApril 2027
This is when reservations reopen—not the start of digging.
June 2027
Our first digs are tentatively planned for June 2027. Exact dates are not yet confirmed and may change.
2027 rates: 4 hours — $60 · 8 hours — $100
Ages 16+. Up to two children ages 8–15 dig free with a paying parent. No children under 8.
A PLAIN-LANGUAGE NOTE
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Read Calendly’s privacy notice ↗
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Questions
Contact flatrunfossils@gmail.com.