Appalachian Fossil Museum

Part of the family-friendly Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine attraction, the Appalachian Fossil Museum comprises the largest privately-owned collection of fossils, minerals, and gemstones in North Carolina.

Founder Randy “Doc” McCoy has had a passion for paleontology ever since his mom introduced him to fossils as a young boy.

After a stint in the US Army as an Emergency Field Surgeon, he went back to college, majored in Geology, and has since taught Appalachian State University students.

Moving into an expansive Tanger Outlets location in 2020 gave McCoy and his team a chance to showcase treasured finds from decades of digs and collection efforts.

His collection is currently valued at over $10 million, and includes rare fossils and high-end reproductions of dinosaurs you’ll recognize from Jurassic Park films.

The museum‘s most prized pieces include the skull of a massive prehistoric alligator, which is perched above an equally large tyrannosaurus rex skull for size comparison.

You’ll also see a triceratops skull found in Montana, as well as a dromaeosaurus and a smilodon (a.k.a. saber-toothed tiger).