Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival Registration & Payment

You are hereby invited to register for the upcoming Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival where you will learn all about the geology and paleontology of this unique site, see displays and demonstrations of fossil preparation, and, of course, dig for some of the most beautiful fossils anywhere.

 

Now you have a chance to dig your own for only $400!

 

The participation slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. You are urged to complete this Registration as soon as possible so as to better your chances of getting the day or days you wish. When you complete this Registration, be sure to click SEND. Once we have reviewed your Registration, we will contact you directly via email. If your Registration is approved we will provide a link to the Payment Portal for you to make payment and complete the process. If, on the other hand, your requested times are not available, we will alert you and propose other options. Remember, there are no pets, no kids under age 13, and no unregistered persons allowed on the property without express prior written permission.

 

Even if you signed up earlier on the website, you must secure your participation by completing this Registration and making payment.

 

AT THE SITE
You must complete the Registration and pay for your Ticket before you come. There will be no Ticket sales at the door. When you Register you do not need to buy more than the one bucket that is included in your ticket price. But if you dig more specimens than you expected, you may buy additional buckets while you are at the Festival.

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REGISTRANT INFORMATION

No persons under the age of 13 allowed. Also, no persons under the age of 18 unless accompanied by a legal guardian who assumes responsibility for their welfare by signing the Liability Waivers on their behalf.

PREFERRED DATES

Please specify which days you wish to participate


NOTE: Priority is given to those that sign up for more than one day.  If you wish to participate for more than one day, please indicate all days desired in each choice.

Melvin Family Trust Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement

Melvin Family Trust Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement

In consideration of receiving permission to enter the property located on 304th St Okeechobee Florida, heretofore known as The Lake Property, I hereby RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE The 2019  Melvin Family Trust, and their officers, servants, agents, or employees (hereinafter referred to as “RELEASEES”) from any and all liability, claim, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or to any property belonging to me, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES, or otherwise, while participating in activities, or while in, on or upon the premises where activities are being conducted.

I VOLUNTARILY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RISK OF LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, that may be sustained by me or my family, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of being engaged in such activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise. I further hereby AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE RELEASEES from any loss, liability, damage or cost, including court costs and attorney’s fees, that they may incur due to my participation in said activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise.

It is my express intent that this Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind the members of my family and my spouse, if I am alive, and my heirs, assigns and personal representatives, if I am deceased, and shall be deemed as a RELEASE, WAIVER, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE the above-named RELEASEES, I hereby further agree that this Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.

In signing this release, I acknowledge and represent that I have read and understand it and sign it voluntarily; I am at least eighteen (18) years of age and fully competent; and I execute this Release for full, adequate and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by same.

I HAVE READ THIS WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.
Dated: 10/8/2025

Pacific GeoLab Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement

WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

In consideration of receiving permission to enter the property located on 304th St Okeechobee Florida, heretofore known as The Lake Property, and participating in an event known as the Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival, I hereby RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE, or make claim against, Blue Wave Enterprises, dba Pacific GeoLab, and its owners, officers, servants, agents, employees, or representatives (hereinafter referred to as “PGL”) from any and all liability, claim, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or to any property belonging to me, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF PGL, or otherwise, while participating in activities, or while in, on, or upon the premises where activities are being conducted.

I VOLUNTARILY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RISK OF LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, that may be sustained by me or my underage family members, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of being engaged in such activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF PGL or otherwise.  I further hereby AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS PGL from any loss, liability, damage or cost, including court costs and attorney’s fees, that they may incur due to my participation in said activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OF PGL or otherwise.

It is my express intent that this Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind the members of my family and my spouse, if I am alive, and my heirs, assigns and personal representatives, if I am deceased, and shall be deemed as a RELEASE, WAIVER, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE or make any claim against, the above-named PGL.  I hereby further agree that this Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.

In signing this release, I acknowledge and represent that I have read and understand it and sign it voluntarily; I am at least eighteen (18) years of age and fully competent; and I execute this Release for full, adequate and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by same.

I HAVE READ THIS WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.
Dated: 10/8/2025

Introductory Video

Here’s your chance to dig the world famous Rucks Pit crystal clams!
at The Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival

 

Incredible! – is the most common term used when people see this unusual combination of crystals and fossils. Discovered in the 1990s in Rucks Pit, an aggregate quarry near Lake Okeechobee, Florida, these fantastic crystal-lined fossil clams quickly became famous in both the mineral and fossil world. Alas, ten years after they were discovered, the mining played out, the quarry flooded, and the site was closed for good.

 

Several years later Pacific GeoLab researched this rare occurrence and arranged exclusive rights to the fossils at the old Rucks Pit quarry. Since then, we have discovered and opened several sites on the old quarry property where we excavate the crystalized clams that made Rucks Pit world famous.

 

Now you have a chance to dig your own for only $400!

 

The Digging – Pacific GeoLab staff will assist you throughout the day.  The digging is not difficult – any able-bodied person can do it.  You will use hand tools  – mostly rakes and trowels – to dig through the sediments.  As you find specimens, you’ll wash them off with one of the several water hoses we provide.  There are also matrix pieces which contain multiple clams.  You are welcome to split them apart and pare them down using hand mallet and chisels.

We will have tables and water hoses at each dig location for your use.  There will also be sun canopies, and a stock of cold water and sodas provided.  For your convenience Porta Potties will be on site. Once full registration opens you will be provided more details on what to bring and what to expect. Payment is not due until you complete the full registration.

 

What You Can Take – A WHOLE NEW APPROACH THIS SEASON!
We’re making some changes here that we hope will be more equitable and more rewarding for everyone.
You may keep whatever you find, except scientifically important specimens, which will be donated to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. But don’t get concerned about this caveat – this refers to only very rare specimens and not usually to crystal clams. The museum has plenty of them. In the April 2025 dig, for example, out of 80 persons digging over three days, only two such pieces were set aside for donation: A beautiful little sea urchin found by James, and a partial crab found by Brooke. For the record, any donation to the museum is in the name of the person who finds it. Thank you James and Brooke for supporting the science of paleontology!

 

In terms of volume, there are NO LIMITS to the amount you may take, but of course you will have to pay for whatever you remove. The $400 fee pays for your entrance Ticket for one day, and the first 5-gallon bucket or partial bucket. After that you may take however much you want at $300 for each additional bucket. Please note – this fee structure resets each day. So if you wish to come for more multiple days, you must pay the $400 fee for the first bucket each day. Keep in mind that you can fit a lot of clams in a bucket. For reference, on a recent trip in April 2025, we collected multiple buckets of 20 – 30 clams each. The photo at the start of this announcement was one of them.

 

Matrix pieces – There is no free matrix included in your Registration. The new fee structure applies to matrix pieces. As with the Bucket-o-Clams there are NO LIMITS in the amount you may take. You can take whatever matrix you wish but you will be charged for it based on size/weight. To be clear about this: Clams with just a little matrix attached are not considered “matrix pieces” but will be counted as part of your bucket. Whatever small matrix pieces you wish to take that are not in a bucket will be $4.00 per pound. If you find a large matrix piece that you would like to take, please don’t bash it to pieces to make it smaller! We’ll negotiate a fair price with you on the spot.

The quarry will never reopen, and the property remains closed.   However, we periodically arrange very limited opportunities for clients to visit and dig at our site once or twice a year.  Only a few dozen people will be allowed, and only for a few days.  The next festival dates on the calendar are:

 

October 23 – 25, 2025

March 19-21, 2026

 

If we get enough people signed up, we will run the festival in both October and March.  If there’s a shortfall in the sign-ups, we will not hold it in October, but will run it in March instead.

 

This is the REAL Rucks Pit – Make no mistake – this is the REAL Rucks Pit!  The actual place where the original discovery was made, not some place where you pay big bucks to sift through piles of dirt that other people have been combing through for 20 years.  This is the real McCoy!  You will be working at the original Rucks Pit Quarry mere yards from the actual hole in the ground, in sediments never-before explored.  This is an exclusive fossil and mineral digging opportunity open to only a limited number of folks.

 

Cost – THE NEW APPROACH
The price set by the landowner for this next event was originally supposed to be $550 per person per day. However he has agreed to try a new approach to the fee structure in the hopes it will be more equitable and allow a greater number of people to access the Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival experience. The Event Fee is now set at $400. per person, per day. This includes one 5-gallon bucket of fossils. You may purchase additional buckets at $300. per day, as well as any matrix pieces you may want at $4.00 per pound. Considering the severely reduced Registration Fee there are no discounts for multiple days.

Here’s the best part:  It comes with our exclusive Make-You-Smile Guarantee:

 

We absolutely guarantee you WILL find crystal clams and plenty of them!

 

But, if you are not completely happy with what you find, your money will be fully refunded  AND you will be given a nice crystal clam to take home besides!

       
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