A Gem(stone) in the Desert

By Kyle Carter

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ocated on the west side of St. George, not far from the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, lies a little gem of a shop that recently opened up. Dixie Rocks and Fossils is a small business run by a local family that had its Grand Opening March 6th, 2020. This happens to be the same day Utah’s Governor Herbert declared a state of emergency in preparation for COVID-19 cases. The shop shut down for a few weeks until closure recommendations were lifted. Undeterred, the owners have been able to expand the inventory and feel the timing may have been the perfect opportunity to open.

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| VIEW ON MAGAZINE | Jan/Feb 2021

The idea of owning a store did not come about until about 7 years ago when they found that their daughter Kyla Jo, had a keen interest in rocks and lapidary. She would spend hours with her grandpa in his little shop cutting and polishing rocks. After he passed, Kyla Jo started selling the things they made and cut in the shop at fairs and festivals; catering to the kids. They soon were able to add fossils to their inventory, which include megalodon teeth, mammoth teeth,dinosaur bones and more. The family moved to St. George in June of 2016, with the intent to enjoy the nicer weather and open a rock shop. They now offer semi-precious gemstones, rough rock, slabs, and fossils they have spent several years sourcing.