deutscheben Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Are any other TFF members planning on going to the ESCONI Braceville dig this weekend? I was hoping to try and hit up the Fossil Rock campground for some digging on Saturday afternoon afterwards, too, if the timing works out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Won't be coming up to the area for a couple of weeks so won't make it this weekend. If you go, do post some photos--we'd all love to come along vicariously and see how your trip goes. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Sorry I'm in NY scooping up all the trilobites lol. This is completely my opinion, but I'd think you'd be better off just going to the camp grounds. Again, just my personal opinion. Oh if you go, take some deep woods off with deet. ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Russell Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 I just spent the last two days digging with Esconi in Braceville. The hunting was good. The construction company that owns the property has removed several thousand tons of hill exposing new places to dig. It was a good haul for me. Hopefully many nice worms and such. Unfortunately, the campground is closed indefinitely. Wilmington township has forced them to remove all the campers, and close their doors due to the fact their water well has dried up. The current owner has no intention of digging a new well. I was told their may be an interested buyer for the property. It'll take a new owner, and new well, and a lot of luck in order to hunt there again. 1 Finding my way through life; one fossil at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBOB Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 I just spent the last two days digging with Esconi in Braceville. The hunting was good. The construction company that owns the property has removed several thousand tons of hill exposing new places to dig. It was a good haul for me. Hopefully many nice worms and such. Unfortunately, the campground is closed indefinitely. Wilmington township has forced them to remove all the campers, and close their doors due to the fact their water well has dried up. The current owner has no intention of digging a new well. I was told their may be an interested buyer for the property. It'll take a new owner, and new well, and a lot of luck in order to hunt there again. Well I missed the Braceville dig this weekend... strike 1. And the campground closed... strike 2. No good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Unfortunately, the campground is closed indefinitely. Wilmington township has forced them to remove all the campers, and close their doors due to the fact their water well has dried up. The current owner has no intention of digging a new well. I was told their may be an interested buyer for the property. It'll take a new owner, and new well, and a lot of luck in order to hunt there again. That's a bum deal. If they get a new owner and reopen there is no guarantee that they'll be fossil friendly. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Russell Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Unfortunately, I believe you're right, Ken. There is so much work that needs to be done on that property I honestly don't see it opening back up to the public any time soon, if ever. Time will tell. That said, I understand you'll be in town in a few weeks. I guess pit 11 will be the destination. Lol. Hope it works out where I can get out and hunt with you while you're in town. Finding my way through life; one fossil at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 While that campground was a great source of Pit 2 fossils (ferns and other plant material) there is a lot more to Mazon Creek than just what could be had at Fossil Rock. Was hoping to hit that as well as some other places in the area but it looks like my options have narrowed slightly. Will still try to go home with a suitcase full of rocks--packed to 49.999 pounds. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) Dang, that is tough news. I had noticed last week after I started this thread that the Fossil Rock website said the campsite was closed, but I was hoping it was just temporary. I should have gone last year I guess! I was only able to go on Saturday to the Braceville dig, but I had a great time. I saw some folks showing their fossils to a "Rob" and I wondered if it was the Rob who had posted so many stellar Mazon Creek fossils here, now I know! I was the tall skinny quiet dude in a blue shirt and army surplus pants. I found more than I did on my first trip here last fall, and much better-shaped nodules as well, now that I know what to look for. I think my favorite part of the day, though, was hearing a young girl exclaim about her discovery of a "Tully Monster's knee"! It was great seeing so many kids excited about collecting fossils, it gives one hope about the future of the hobby. Finally, here is a pic of the spoil pile- there were a lot of comments during the day about how much it has dwindled over the years, and as Rob says above, a big chunk was gone from the right side just since last fall. Compare the picture below to those in this ESCONI album to see how much smaller it is now than 10 years ago: http://www.esconi.org/photos/field_trip_pit_11_51207/index.html Edited May 24, 2016 by deutscheben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 OK, who wants to chip in for the $850,000 we need to buy the campground at auction? http://www.landandfarm.com/property/Fossil_Rock_Recreation_Area-2779323/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Russell Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 With all due respect to Rob Coleman (RC Fossils), he's the rob with the killer collection, and the incredible knowledge of the specimens. I'm just an amature with equal passion for them. . I'm fairly certain RC wasn't at the spoil pile this past weekend. I didn't see him. You may have seen either Andrew, or Keith, identifying people's finds. I was the heavy set middle aged guy wearing jeans, a black t Shirt, and pulling a wagon. LOL! Finding my way through life; one fossil at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smt126 Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I was thinking of joining ESCONI just for the mazon digs. Do they always do 2 digs a year there? I was looking at their webpage and it seems like some years they only have 1 posting of a trip. I'm just curiuos if there will be another this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 It is always a sad day when a nice site closes its doors. Can we please pay our respects with a moment of silence.................................... I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Russell Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Yes, smt126, they hunt there two weekends out of the year. One weekend in late May, or early June. And one weekend at the end of September, or early October. Welcome to the forum! Finding my way through life; one fossil at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smt126 Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Thanks Rob. I think I might go with the 3 year membership. Even if we only got 1 trip in it seems like a steal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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