Lake Arrowhead Jurassic Fossils

I went in today, thankfully without my toddler. I thought, given the mascot, that it would be more novelty than it was. It’s real fossils with little in the way of novelty. Be warmed.
I wanted to try to find some educational goodies in my budget. I’m a child development major and home with a 3yo, the 2yo i watch, asks my baby. A guy who turned out to be the owner and paleontologist asked if i was looking for anything in particular. I explained my budget, he showed me around the store, chatted, showed me dinosaur poop.
With my budget and intentions he put together a box of goodies that included teeth, minerals, and dinosaur poop. I’m sure for my budget it was more budget quality pieces, but given the original prices individually and what i paid vs target audience i got my money’s worth.
I really am glad my son wasn’t with me though. Someone complained about their 9yo breaking something, the owner’s reaction, and how things should be enclosed. It just wouldn’t be feasible. There’s a lot of oddly shaped stuff crammed into a small space. It’s a shop, not a museum.
Did i mention i now own dinosaur poop?

Ahhhhhmazing shop! Bought a very cool salt lamp to place on my night stand. Everything in this shop is awesome! (including the owner’s cute weimreiner dog) If you’re looking for one of a kind kinda of gifts, this is the place for you. My favorite shop in the village.

Best Fossil collection I have ever seen! The owner is extremely helpful and knowledgeable as he hand picks all of his pieces from Morocco. I purchased one of his Himalayan salt lamps and it is absolutely beautiful! You can even call and have him ship it to your home if you cannot make it to the shop. Always better to support our local businesses :)! I highly reccomend!

We went in with my 10 yr old cousin and her 9 year old friends. I was browsing when I heard the man who acted as the manager/​owner loudly and adamantly ask one of the 9 year old’s «WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?» The owner stood there with hands on hips chastising a 9 year old who looked like a deer in headlights. He asked loudly again, clearly intending for the entire store to hear.
I walked over and asked what was going on. The man said there was a «ring» that had been dropped & broken and must be paid for. To spare the children further embarrassment, I told the kids to leave the store. I would deal with this (highly inappropriate) man. He was acting like this was the assassination of Lincoln.
After the kids were SAFE from HIM and all the gawking onlookers he had attracted, I saw there was a little sign posted next to a small box of rings stating «KIDS DO NOT TOUCH». Curiously, the owner keeps the box of rings at kid eye level. Since this is obviously an ongoing issue for them, WHY DO THEY KEEP THESE DELICATE ITEMS visually and physically ACCESSIBLE TO children? The sign is a nice touch and clarifies this shop is aware of the problem. Furthermore, I don’t know many children who are in the habit of reading and abiding by signs.
May I suggest: — keep the rings near the register where an employee can
oversee ?
— keep the rings where children cannot reach them?
— place a fluffy rug underneath the box of rings so when they are
dropped they won’t break?

Yes, the 9 year old apologized and CLEARLY should NOT have touched the ring but she said she didn’t see the sign (She is 9 and was excited to be out with her friends in an afternoon that started out fun).
***NEWSFLASH*** Many kids touch things they shouldn’t and I will go out on a limb to state this man knows that, hence his sign.
He then told me that I owed $ 10.00. (For a ring that can’t withstand a 2 ½ foot drop!?) As an importer from China, I happen to know these rings run less than 27 cents each. He then told me that if I was a local, it was only $ 5.00 for his negligence, ahem, excuse me, er, I mean the child’s negligence.
I imagine these broken rings reap quite a profit.
Yes, this will come out of her allowance, no question. But the scene? He could have simply asked her who the adult was that she was with and handled it with involved parties only. The store had at least 25 patrons or more.
Ironically this store attracts kids then, humiliates them and shakes down the parents for 20 times the cost.
There were tears shed for such a simple mistake of a child turned into a public scene. Of course we will pay but, it is the last $ I will ever spend there.

Super duper cool shop…

Wow! What a. Incredibly unique shop! My boyfriend and I were in Lake Arrowhead on vacation and stumbled across this shop. The man working was very friendly and helpful. We came out with a fossilized fish to display for our fish wall. We will definitely be back!