EAST COAST’S LARGEST CAMPGROUND TO HOST 28TH ANNUAL SOUTH CAROLINA FOSSIL FAIR ON OCT. 29

October 17, 2011, Myrtle Beach, S.C. — Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Lakes Family Campground will host the 28th Annual South Carolina Fossil Fair on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. This marks the 11th consecutive year that this event has been held at Ocean Lakes Family Campground.

The Fossil Fair, which is presented by the South Carolina Fossil Association, features museum specialists from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History’s Department of Paleobiology, who will be on hand to identify fossils brought by participants.

The fossil and shell collections come from all over the world and will include shark teeth, prehistortic bones, and fossilized shells. Attendees can learn how to recover fossils with the aid of Smithsonian experts at a mock archeological dig site at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. They can dig for shark teeth through materials from the PCS Phosphate Mine from Aurora, N.C. Activities include making necklaces with sharks teeth, green eco crafts, educational videos and assembling giant fossil puzzles. Scout troops and school groups are encouraged to attend.

“We’re thrilled to again host the Annual Fossil Fair and draw in fossil enthusiasts from all over the state and region,” said Barb Krumm, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Ocean Lakes Family Campground. “The wide variety of fossils showcased and the hands-on experience for visitors has made this an increasingly popular event for families and students.”

Area fossil collectors who are interested in displaying their collections at the fair may contact the Ocean Lakes Marketing Department at (843) 828-4833.

To learn more about Ocean Lakes, visit www.oceanlakes.com or find the campground on Facebook.
To reserve a campsite, guests can call (877) 510-1413. To rent one of the campground’s 300 rental houses, they may call (800) 845-2229.

About Ocean Lakes Family Campground

Ocean Lakes Family Campground, a division of The Jackson Companies, is the largest campground on the East Coast and one of the largest in the United States. Located in Myrtle Beach, S.C., it has received numerous awards for excellence. In 2010, it received the Earth Day Award from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for its iCare Program. It is the 2008-2009 National “RV Park of the Year” and has received that honor from the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) four times.

In 2006, Ocean Lakes received the prestigious South Carolina Governor’s Cup for making a significant economic impact on South Carolina. Ocean Lakes covers 310 oceanfront acres with nearly one mile of beachfront. It offers 3,447 sites — 893 of which are large and pull-through to accommodate larger RVs. It was built by Mary Emily and Nelson Jackson and their five daughters, starting in 1970. It opened with 30 campsites and one bathhouse in 1971. On an average seasonal day, Ocean Lakes has 25,000 to 30,000 guests enjoying the countless amenities that have made it a local favorite and a national vacation destination. It currently holds a 9.5/9/9 ranking out of 10/10/10 from the Trailer Life Directory for its overall operation, recreational offerings, services and appearance.

Ocean Lakes Family Campground is a division of The Jackson Companies, a family-owned enterprise that includes Prestwick Golf & Country Club, Ocean Lakes Properties, Crystal Lake Mobile Home Village, Ocean Lakes RV Center, and the master-planned development SayeBrook.