Eastern NC GMR and Aurora Festival

[bubbardl 0]

My family lives in the NC mountains and we are planning on coming to the Aurora fossil festival after finding it on accident this spring....we have always hunted indian artifacts and the fossil hunting is new to us....thinking of hitting the GMR that friday on our way down...we are staying in oriental...any tips for a dad with 8 and 6 year old sons?  Also any other places that we might look in? sons are dying to find a meg tooth...found 2 partials at aurora this spring....Thanks in advance and thanks for letting me join this board...we are new here

[sixgill pete 2,352]

First let me say welcome to the forum. Be sure to come by the community center to see the great fossil displays, including myself and several other members of the forum. As far as other places totake kids, not really. GMR and the piles at the museum and in the field is about it.

[bubbardl 0]

Thanks Pete...do you work at Aurora? Is that the community center you are referring too?  We came down in April for the boys spring break and did well in the pits at the fossil museum in Aurora...My oldest is dying to find a Meg and think the creek may his best chance....the place we are staying in oriental has a couple of creeks near by....are they worth a look and also how bad are the snakes in GMR?

[sixgill pete 2,352]

No I do not work there. I display with the North Carolina Fossil club. Honestly, your boy probably has a better chance of finding a meg in the spoil piles in Aurora. Though, I have several from GMR. Snakes, I have only ever seen a couple of snakes at GMR, but just be aware of your surroundings.

[Plax 816]

Minnesott Beach just up the road from oriental used to have fossils but heard it wasn't any good in recent years. Any high banks along the Neuse that you can get to around Oriental may have a few fossils but you'll be doing R&D, not going to a definite site. Look for dark colored gravel in the wash along the river.

  See ya'll at the Aurora Fossil Festival next week!

[NCSTer 61]

Welcome, and have fun at Aurora. Lots of great displays at the Community Center, much to see at the Museum, and usually some good finds from the spoils piles! GMR is heavily hunted and can be hit or miss, but usually worth the trip. Had my Grandson there last week -- plenty of smaller teeth and bone frags but no "show stoppers" this time.