Meet Ashby Gale | Owner and Chief Paleontologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashby Gale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashby, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The idea to start Charleston Fossil Adventures (CFA) came to me while I was working at the State Park on Edisto Island. While at the park, I led environmental programs and a fossil hunting and history walk where I engaged members of the public and showed them how to find fossils on our beaches. This program quickly became one of the most popular tours that I led at the park, which encouraged me to consider it as an option for a future business. Florida contains a similar fossil abundance as the South Carolina Lowcountry, with numerous operators that lead similar tours to the company I created. At the time, Charleston did not have any reputable companies established in fossil collection and education, so I saw my niche and decided to start CFA.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our main pillars of operation at Charleston Fossil Adventures are to provide 1) paleontologist-led tours to the general public, 2) acting as a link between academic research institutions and providing that education to the public, and 3) keeping our eyes out for scientifically significant specimens to donate for scientific studies. We take pride in the fact that our company operates within all South Carolina laws and regulations regarding the collection of fossil resources from our state. While other eco-tour companies provide options to find fossils with their guides, our main focus has been and always will be providing accurate identification and information about the fossilized remains that can be found in our state, and ensuring that our guests understand the proper methods of collection to ensure that future generations can also collect fossils in South Carolina.

In creating an eco-tour company, I understood the importance of having tiered options available because I didn’t want to exclude anyone from the experience of collecting fossils. At all stages of my business, I made sure that there was an introductory tour that would allow newcomers to the hobby a taste for what fossil hunting looks like, while also providing a longer or more in-depth trip for the seasoned fossil collector who may be looking to add fossils from the Lowcountry to their collection. Early on, this took the form of beach walks on public beaches and kayak trips to more secluded sites. Currently, we offer these scalable options as shorter and longer duration tours, as all of our trips now take place via power boat.

The most important lesson I have learned is that the greatest value comes from the overall experience a client has. Because we do not plant fossils ahead of time for our clients to find, we are relying on what the tide naturally washes out every single day. Some days the beach may provide us with an incredible number of fossils, which makes it easy to provide an exciting experience. Other days, the fossil material may be more spread out or require us to work harder to find the more desirable fossils, but by focusing on the overall experience, we can always ensure that our clients have a 5 star trip! Nearly every client comes in saying that they want to find a megalodon tooth, however, through educating them about the numerous fossils represented in Charleston, every client leaves with a deeper understanding and appreciation for fossils and animals that they previously did not know existed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A list of my must-try restaurants would definitely include Jackrabbit Filly, Wild Olive, Husk, King BBQ, Minero and Boxcar Betty’s. For a fun evening on the weekend during the summer, I recommend walking through the Night Market to take a look at all of the crafts made by local artists and vendors, and following that up with a drink and some hors d’oeuvres at the Gin Joint. For a walk on the wild side, take a drive south and visit the Angel Oak on Johns Island and then continue your journey south to Edisto Island where you can spend the day taking in the natural beauty of this undeveloped Sea Island. For the truly adventurous explorer, a day trip to Bear Island or Donnelley Wildlife Management Area will delight the bird nerds and wildlife photographers.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to credit a single person (outside of family) for my profession, it would have to be Rudy Mancke. Years ago, Rudy led a hike for my parents on the beach, and showed them how to find fossils. My parents then spent the next several years vacationing near Charleston for their anniversary, solely to go fossil hunting. That real world link to fossils helped fuel my desire to be a paleontologist, and helped me land a job at Edisto Beach State Park. Then from 2014-2020, my family worked on publishing our field guide to fossils, and we had Rudy write the foreword. Rudy always had the best way of communicating science to the general public to help them realize how everything in nature is interconnected. Rudy’s passion for our planet was unparalleled, and one that I can only hope to match.

Website: https://www.chsfossiladventures.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chsfossiladventures/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chsfossiladventures

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlestonFossilAdventures

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chsfossiladventures

Image Credits
All images are provided by Charleston Fossil Adventures.