As of Wednesday, it also gained the signature of Susie Crommett, 64, of Madison, who made her first trip here.
"Yes, I hate to admit it, but I've never taken the time to stop and see it - which was a mistake because this place is beautiful," she says. "And to make matters worse, I'm originally from Yazoo City. I've driven past the sign about the petrified forest on (U. S. 49) a million times."
Crommett came at the urging of her granddaughter, whose brother had visited here. "It's a shame, really," Crommett says. "We go all over creation - to Disneyland and the like - but never stop to look at the things in our own backyard. But this place isn't hyped a lot. You don't hear a lot about it."
The Mississippi Petrified Forest, located about two miles southwest of Flora just off U.S. 49, is the only one of its kind in the nation east of the Mississippi River. Here, you can see and touch logs and pieces of wood that are roughly 36 million years old. They are everywhere along a shady, clean walking path in the middle of about eight acres.
One should allow about 45 minutes to cover the half-mile trail. Points of interest are numbered and information about each is included in a pamphlet.
And, yes, that figure is correct: 36 million years old. Bob Dellar, resident expert who helps run the place, has done the math to put it in perspective.
"Scientists say the age of the earth is about 4.5 billion years old," he says. "If you put that in reference to a football field - 300 feet - the average human life span would be about the width of a human hair, or 12 millionths of an inch. These petrified logs, or 36 million years, would represent 2.4 feet."
Petrified wood is a tree that turned to stone beneath sediment, which was originally carried by wind, water or ice. All its organic material has been replaced by minerals. Over time, erosion causes the petrified wood to surface.
The petrified forest here was believed to have been first publicly recognized in an 1845 article written by a state geologist. National Geographic magazine featured the forest in a story about Mississippi in its September 1937 edition.
"In 1955, the Schabilion family - Bob and Shirl - came across the forest and felt it was something that needed to be preserved. Bob Schabilion had a keen interest in rocks and minerals," Dellar says. "Only problem was, it wasn't for sale. They were finally able to buy it in 1962 - mortgaging about everything they owned - and the forest opened to the public in 1963."
It is still owned by the Schabilion family.
In 1966, it became a Registered National Natural Landmark. The Legislature made petrified wood the official state stone in 1976.
"I really do believe we're one of the best-kept secrets in the state -even though there are signs along Highway 49 that direct people here," he says. "I continue to be amazed by the people in this part of the state who don't even know it's here. But once they visit, they're usually repeat customers."
A campground with spots for 11 RVs and four or more tents is also available. A gift shop is stocked full of jewelry made of petrified wood.
Visitors are welcomed to try their hand at fluming, which is similar to panning for gold except the prizes are gems and minerals. One recent visitor came away with colorful blue calcite, Mexican opal, peacock ore and a piece of quartz.
"I have driven past the petrified forest in Arizona but was never able to stop and go in," says Jim Wirshing, 54, of Montgomery, Ala., standing in the gift shop. "So when my wife and I came across this place a while back, we stopped and really enjoyed it. We were back in the area, so I decided to come out again.
"The petrified wood is beautiful and nice to see. But one of the things I love about this place is the trail you walk. You feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. You can't hear vehicles on the highway. I totally just let my brain rest when I'm out there. It's really a neat, relaxing thing."
Clarion Ledger
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