Fort Drum Crystal Mine

New & Improved: Owned + Operated by That Camping Couple (since Nov. 2024)

Review our Dig Options, Rates & Discounts below.

Visit us near Okeechobee, FL to dig your own Calcite Filled Fossil Clams!

Keep everything you find!

Location

Fort Drum Crystal Mine

28320 NE 55th Ave

Okeechobee, FL 34972

Hours of Operation

Fridays & Saturdays

10:00am-3:00pm

*Mining Season*

November 6 - December 12, 2026

Reservations Required

Please click the link below to review our

Booking Calendar:

https://booking-thatcampingcouple.as.me/

Annual 48-Hour Dig Event!

Dates: Friday, Nov. 6 - Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026

Price: $300/Person

(Active & Veteran Military, please use code “NOV11” for 30% off)

Kids 15 & Under Dig Free!

Event Details:

  • 48 Hours Access to Digging

  • Keep Everything You Find!

  • Free Camping

  • Live Music by Kyle Keller AKA “Wild Kyle”

  • Astronomy Lesson and Telescope Viewing in Florida’s Designated “Dark Sky” by Derek Demeter

Reservations Required | Limited Spots Available

Click here to place your reservation!

Access to the Following 4 Dig Options!

Grizzly Screen

Quickly process material with our heavy-duty “Grizzly Screen”.

Screen is loaded by machine with fossil-bearing dirt. The large screen readily removes sand and rock, allowing you to search through tons of material.

Using a hose, wash material and search through rock with a hand rake.

Larger specimens are found with this option, such as Fossilized, Calcified Clams and Whelks.

This process is how we commercially mine.

*Unlimited scoops - search through as much material as you can!

Screen Table

Slower process, but this option allows you to find the rare and unique specimens.

Screen is loaded by machine with fossil-bearing dirt. The screen removes sand and rock, allowing you to search through material.

Using a hose, wash material and search through rock with a hand rake.

Smaller specimens are found with this option, with a wide variety, such as: Fossilized, Calcified Clams, Whelks, Snails, Olive Shells, Sharks Teeth, Bone, Coral, Barnacles, Sand Dollars, Sea Urchins, and more! Plus, more Calcite Crystals than you can handle!

*Unlimited scoops - search through as much material as you can!

Clam Island

Cool off in the shade at Clam Island.

Screen through material with our Elevated Sifters and Wash Barrel.

Slower process, but a fun change of pace from the Wash Stations.

This option allows you to find the rare and unique specimens, with a wide variety, such as: Fossilized, Calcified Clams, Whelks, Snails, Olive Shells, Sharks Teeth, Bone, Coral, Barnacles, Sand Dollars, Sea Urchins, Calcite Crystals, and more!

*Unlimited scoops - search through as much material as you can!

Mine Piles

Access to dig through large piles on-site.

Great surface collecting, especially after a rain.

This option allows you to find both large specimens and small, rare specimens.

All-Inclusive Dig Package

*Available Dig Dates: Fridays & Saturdays, November 13 - December 12, 2026

Access to 4 Different Dig Options for 5 Hours

Keep Everything You Find!!!

Complimentary, Cold Gatorade and Water

$500/Person (Kids under 15 dig free)

Available Fridays & Saturdays, 10:00am-3:00pm, Nov. 13 - Dec. 12, 2026 | 5 Spots Available Per Day*

Veterans & Military Members

Thank you, Veterans & Military Members, for your honorable service to our country!

Enjoy a 20% discount. Apply coupon MILITARY at checkout.

Click here for Reservations

Kids 15 & Under

Kids 15 & under dig FREE. Bring the whole fam!

Click here for Reservations

Senior Discount

Enjoy a 10% discount ages 55+.

Apply coupon SENIOR at checkout. |

Click here for Reservations

Grizzly Screen

Grizzly Screen

Screen Table

Screen Table

Clam Island

Clam Island

Mine Piles

Mine Piles

Grizzly Screen

Grizzly Screen

Screen Table

Screen Table

Grizzly Screen

Grizzly Screen

Screen Table

Screen Table

Screen Table

Screen Table

Mine Piles

Mine Piles

Reserve your dig today!

Get your hands in the dirt and find some treasure!

Fort Drum Crystal Mine

A geode with a rough outer shell revealing yellow crystalline mineral inside against a black background.
Close-up of a mineral or crystal specimen being held, with the sun shining through it, outdoors at sunset or sunrise.
Person holding a large, rough, muddy, and rocky mineral specimen with a visible geode or crystal formation inside.
Hand holding a piece of petrified wood or mineral with crystalline formations, background shows sandy ground and a red bucket.
Close-up of a large, salt-encrusted volcanic rock held in hand against a blurred outdoor background with blue sky and some cars.
A person holding a large, dark gray fossilized shark tooth with a wide, triangular shape and serrated edges. The tooth has a smooth, shiny surface and is held between the person's thumb and fingers, showing the texture of their skin and a wedding rin
Person holding two opened oyster shells with pearls inside, outdoors on a beach or rocky area.
Two large mineral or fossil rocks with crystalline formations inside, placed on a flat surface with shadows cast on the ground.
A close-up of a piece of coral held by a gloved hand against a sandy beach landscape during sunset.
Close-up of a mineral or fossil specimen held in hand, with a sunset sky in the background.
A person holding a cross-section of a fossilized, large, layered marine organism, possibly a shark tooth, with a rough outer surface and a hollow interior, outdoors in natural lighting.
Close-up of a hand holding a large, rough, beige rock with dark, crystalline interior on a sandy background.
Person holding a large crystal-filled geode on a dirt ground.
Close-up of a gloved hand holding a fossilized shark tooth embedded in a small rock.
Person holding a geode with a glittering brown crystalline interior, dirt-stained glove.
Person holding a large, irregularly shaped oyster with a rough, textured shell, outdoors on a sandy or dirt surface.
Hand holding a large mineral or geode with crystals inside, set against a green leafy background.
Two people standing outdoors on a dirt field under a partly cloudy sky, wearing work hats and casual work clothes, smiling at the camera.
A smiling woman holding a baby in a baby carrier, standing next to a smiling man in a blue shirt, outdoors with trees and sunlight in the background.

Owned & Operated by full-time miners: That Camping Couple

We are Frank and Kyndall Stallings, “That Camping Couple”. We have made a successful living mining and selling gems, minerals, and fossils since April 2020.

We are excited to announce that we are the proud, new owners of Fort Drum Crystal Mine, as of November 2024!

We are passionate about ethically sourcing gems and invite you to our new mine to dig your own treasures!

A happy couple standing knee-deep in a shallow stream with arms outstretched, smiling at the camera, wearing matching outdoor jackets.

Experience That Camping Couple’s Unique Mine

We have personally mined in 24 US States and have visited numerous public, pay-to-dig mines. When visiting these mines, we value learning about the minerals, the ins and outs on how to find minerals, and most importantly - excellent customer service.

We look forward to you visiting our new mine and receiving a one-of-a-kind experience!

Two miners, a man and a woman, smiling and wearing yellow safety helmets in a rocky underground mine, with the man holding a large hammer.

In the past, Fort Drum Crystal Mine has been open to the public. However, a visit came with a host of problems, such as unkept property, unfit management, and poor customer service.

If you have been here before, you are familiar with the substandard conditions mentioned above. We have contributed numerous hours and funds into cleaning up the property to provide a safe, family-friendly environment. Additionally, we are personally on-site during dig hours to ensure you have a great time.

It’s essential for us that as the new owners of Fort Drum Crystal Mine, our visitors receive attentive care, are provided with the knowledge and tools to find their own treasures, and leave happy looking forward to their next visit.

A new approach

A mineral specimen with a hollow, geode-like appearance, featuring a rough, crystalline exterior and a hollow interior lined with shiny, translucent crystals.

Our mine features “tailings piles”, or piles of dirt, containing crystal-filled fossils. Visitors pay to dig through the piles and keep what they find! We offer 3 different dig options to choose from: a 36 foot screening/wash station, individual elevated screens with wash tub, or flipped piles to hand dig.

What you find depends on how hard you work! If you work hard, you are bound to go home with some beautiful treasures.

What to expect

A cross-section of a honeycomb showing honey stored inside hexagonal cells

What to bring

  • Tools: Small shovel, rake, garden hand rake, hand trowel (we supply tools on-site)

  • Buckets to keep your finds in

  • Wrap to protect your treasures

  • Gloves to protect hands

  • Appropriate clothes and shoes to dig in the dirt

  • Plenty of water and food

  • (Recommended: Sun Protection such as Sunscreen, Shade Tents or Umbrellas)

Located in Sunny Florida

Premier Location

A short distance from…

  • Approx. 1.5 hours

  • Approx. 2.5 hours

  • Approx. 1.5 hours

  • Approx. 2 hours

  • Approx. 2.5 hours

  • Approx. 30 minutes

  • Approx. 1 hour

Thinking about visiting?

Click the button below to view our Photo Gallery, or check out our Happy Customer Reviews below!

Photo Gallery

Reviews

  • “Frank and Kyndall are some of the most generous down to earth people I have ever met... there new mine is amazing and they make it a breeze for anyone to find treasures. Not to mention if you ever buy anything from the live shows you won't be disappointed ever. was shocked how much extras were just in the boxes that I didn't buy... they truly care about everyone's experience and are super genuine people, that is so hard to find in todays society... I will always do business with them and recommend anyone that wants to dig at their sites. Again just amazing people with amazing opportunities for anyone wanting to dig or even purchase from them, you will not be disappointed. Great job guys”

    Jacob Daigle

  • Person wearing orange gloves holding a large, open oyster with a pearl inside, two small plastic trays in the background, on a dirt or gravel outdoor surface.

    “Kyndall and Frank advised that we take what we found home and clean it if we wanted. Great suggestion, I ended up with a lot more calcite than I thought. However if you wanted to rinse what you found there, they put out buckets of water throughout the site. When the dig was almost over they set out buckets of water and chairs near the parking area so you could rinse and leave behind what you didn't want. Kyndall and Frank were out talking to and checking in everyone all during the day. Kyndall was bringing people water and Gatorade as well. Big bonus, they have a 4 wheeler that they would haul your rocks and you back to your car if you needed. They had a cooler with water and Gatorade for anyone that wanted it. They also had buckets and hand tools for you to borrow. And the porta potty was just a few steps away. You'll see from other people's posts how fabulous the machine dig was. I might have to save up and do that. Kyndall and Frank aren't just the owners of the mine, they are the consummate hosts. I am completely spoiled after dig at their mine.”

    Penny Edwards

  • A man with brown, curly hair and sunglasses is holding a large clam shell in an open outdoor area with a clear blue sky and a few clouds. There are cars and a field in the background.

    "If you're thinking of going JUST BOOK IT. The best part of the place is Frank and Kyndall, who are genuinely the most enthusiastic mine owners Ive met. They have all the tools you need for a great day of collecting fantastic pieces in sunny Florida - just bring a bunch of buckets because you will fill them up. Spending time with Frank is like getting professional mining lessons. Kyndall is like the kindest person ever and obviously the harder worker of the couple (wink). It felt like being hosted by people who really know how to do this well and want everyone to have a great time and find great pieces.”

    Caridan Bradley

  • Four people standing outdoors on a dirt area with trees, a loader with a bucket, a pickup truck, and a portable toilet in the background. The group is smiling and posing for the photo.

    “Well worth a visit! We left all smiles today. Frank and Kyndall are gracious and enthusiastic hosts. They had plenty of water, Gatorade, buckets, gloves, rakes, and even an ATV. They were constantly circulating among the guests asking if there was anything they could do to help us and make our visit more enjoyable. The machine diggers were supplied with fresh material all during their two hour dig window. The one-of-a-kind calcite clams and whelks are still here!”

    Christine Maberry Verdi

  • A man with brown hair, a goatee, and a smile, is wearing a light blue t-shirt and black gloves, and is holding a large arrowhead or stone artifact in an outdoor setting with clear blue sky, green fields, and some trees in the background.

    “The property is well on its way to being completely cleaned up. There are some ugly stories about what this place used to be and I want to stress: it's not like that anymore. Frank cleared the whole place and exposed big 6' deep tracts of never-dug material. He is using the front end loader to lay material out on the concrete building pads so it's as easy to go through as possible. The machine does not damage the specimens. There was enough new material in the hand-dig area to keep all the guests busy all day, but Frank added new scoops several times during the day anyway. The people who worked hard and moved a lot of material were finding excellent pieces right up until the end of the day and left happy with full buckets and cabinet specimens. I paid the extra for the machine dig and it was entirely worth it. I had to really work hard to get through everything Frank put out for me and I filled like 6 buckets with really great stuff. Thank you Frank and Kyndall, I had so much fun and I can't wait to come back!”

    Caridan Bradley

  • A woman with black wavy hair, wearing a patterned shirt, smiling and holding a large stone or mineral outdoors during sunset. There are two white folding chairs on a gravel surface, with a rural landscape in the background.

    “Frank and Kyndall will spoil you all day! They are over the top hosts! They have worked seriously hard and fast to clean this place up. I was there about 3 months ago and there's no comparison to now. Awesome job!!“

    Carmen Pollitz

  • Two men outdoors on a sunny day at an archaeological dig site, one holding a large piece of ancient pottery and the other taking a photo with a smartphone.

    “Thank you Frank and Kyndall Stallings for an amazing adventure. Reach out to That Camping Couple to reserve your dig! This was the easiest dig I have ever experienced!!!“

    Bob Summers

Reviews

  • “Frank and Kyndall are some of the most generous down to earth people I have ever met... there new mine is amazing and they make it a breeze for anyone to find treasures. Not to mention if you ever buy anything from the live shows you won't be disappointed ever. was shocked how much extras were just in the boxes that I didn't buy... they truly care about everyone's experience and are super genuine people, that is so hard to find in todays society... I will always do business with them and recommend anyone that wants to dig at their sites. Again just amazing people with amazing opportunities for anyone wanting to dig or even purchase from them, you will not be disappointed. Great job guys”

    Jacob Daigle

  • Person wearing orange work gloves holding a large oyster with a pearl inside, outdoor setting with blurred background.

    “Kyndall and Frank advised that we take what we found home and clean it if we wanted. Great suggestion, I ended up with a lot more calcite than I thought. However if you wanted to rinse what you found there, they put out buckets of water throughout the site. When the dig was almost over they set out buckets of water and chairs near the parking area so you could rinse and leave behind what you didn't want. Kyndall and Frank were out talking to and checking in everyone all during the day. Kyndall was bringing people water and Gatorade as well. Big bonus, they have a 4 wheeler that they would haul your rocks and you back to your car if you needed. They had a cooler with water and Gatorade for anyone that wanted it. They also had buckets and hand tools for you to borrow. And the porta potty was just a few steps away. You'll see from other people's posts how fabulous the machine dig was. I might have to save up and do that. Kyndall and Frank aren't just the owners of the mine, they are the consummate hosts. I am completely spoiled after dig at their mine.”

    Penny Edwards

  • A man with sunglasses and a blue t-shirt holding a large fossilized shell outdoors on a sunny day.

    "If you're thinking of going JUST BOOK IT. The best part of the place is Frank and Kyndall, who are genuinely the most enthusiastic mine owners Ive met. They have all the tools you need for a great day of collecting fantastic pieces in sunny Florida - just bring a bunch of buckets because you will fill them up. Spending time with Frank is like getting professional mining lessons. Kyndall is like the kindest person ever and obviously the harder worker of the couple (wink). It felt like being hosted by people who really know how to do this well and want everyone to have a great time and find great pieces.”

    Caridan Bradley

  • Four people standing outdoors near construction equipment on a dirt lot, with cloudy sky and sparse trees in the background.

    “Well worth a visit! We left all smiles today. Frank and Kyndall are gracious and enthusiastic hosts. They had plenty of water, Gatorade, buckets, gloves, rakes, and even an ATV. They were constantly circulating among the guests asking if there was anything they could do to help us and make our visit more enjoyable. The machine diggers were supplied with fresh material all during their two hour dig window. The one-of-a-kind calcite clams and whelks are still here!”

    Christine Maberry Verdi

  • A person with brown hair, wearing a blue t-shirt and black gloves, holding a large stone or artifact outdoors on a sunny day with blue sky and green landscape in the background.

    “The property is well on its way to being completely cleaned up. There are some ugly stories about what this place used to be and I want to stress: it's not like that anymore. Frank cleared the whole place and exposed big 6' deep tracts of never-dug material. He is using the front end loader to lay material out on the concrete building pads so it's as easy to go through as possible. The machine does not damage the specimens. There was enough new material in the hand-dig area to keep all the guests busy all day, but Frank added new scoops several times during the day anyway. The people who worked hard and moved a lot of material were finding excellent pieces right up until the end of the day and left happy with full buckets and cabinet specimens. I paid the extra for the machine dig and it was entirely worth it. I had to really work hard to get through everything Frank put out for me and I filled like 6 buckets with really great stuff. Thank you Frank and Kyndall, I had so much fun and I can't wait to come back!”

    Caridan Bradley

  • A woman with black, slightly messy hair wearing a patterned t-shirt, holding up a rock or mineral outdoors during sunset, with two white chairs in the background.

    “Frank and Kyndall will spoil you all day! They are over the top hosts! They have worked seriously hard and fast to clean this place up. I was there about 3 months ago and there's no comparison to now. Awesome job!!“

    Carmen Pollitz

  • Two men outdoors, one holding a large soil sample, the other taking a photo with a smartphone, in a field under a clear blue sky.

    “Thank you Frank and Kyndall Stallings for an amazing adventure. Reach out to That Camping Couple to reserve your dig! This was the easiest dig I have ever experienced!!!“

    Bob Summers