You Can Take Home Everything You Find For A Flat Fee At This Florida Gem Mine
The beautiful Sunshine State is known for its expanse of beaches, but who'd have thought that you could mine for your own gemstones here too? Those looking for some unique things to do in Florida may want to give this a try and unlock your inner gemologist!
Located in Okeechobee, Ruck's Pit at the Fort Drum Crystal Mine sits tucked away among the landscape just southeast of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, where the stargazing is unreal.
It's here that you can unlock your inner miner and dig for crystals and fossils, taking home everything you find and can carry in your bucket for a mere $60 — and they give you all the supplies you'll need to dig into the ground and unearth these shimmering treasures.
Google reviews have said that they found more than they could manage to fit in their car and that the owner, Eddie, was a super knowledgable "true rock dude", friendly, and even offered to clean up their stunning specimens for them!
What you can find buried in the dirt and limestone will vary from day to day, from fossilized sea life to rare gemstones and even calcite crystalized clamshells.
Be prepared for a full-body workout and dress comfortably, you will be digging through the earth after all!
Previous visitors recommend packing a lunch, water, and coming prepared to get dirty. If you don't want to messy up your car on the drive home, pack a change of clothes for when you finish.
Animal lovers will feel right at home here too. After working hard to fill your buckets, visitors can spend some time with the owner's farm animals that roam about the property.
Whether you're a first-time gem hunter or a seasoned pro, you'll find some exquisite crystals to add to your collection and head home with a one of a kind experience you're likely not soon to forget.
Fort Drum Crystal Mine
Price: $60 to take home all you can carry.
Address: 28320 NE 55th Ave, Okeechobee, FL
Why You Need To Go: Mine for your own fossils and crystals on a beautiful secluded property near Orlando. You can even hang out with the horses and other farm animals afterward if you're a true animal lover.
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