An Eye for the Prehistoric
By Kirsti Scott
Beachcomber Luke Fowler enjoys fossil and rock hunting with his wife and their two toddlers at Cheboygan State Park on Lake Huron and Wilderness State Park on Lake Michigan. They also have loved trips to Maui and Florida, where they pick up anything that catches their eye, including shells and sea glass. But back home, Luke mostly searches for rocks and fossils, especially Petoskey stones.
Petoskey stones, known around the world by many beachcombers, are 350-million-year-old fossilized corals from an ancient sea that once covered Michigan. These fossils are still uncovered by waves today. Easily identifiable by their unique honeycomb pattern (which appears even clearer when wet), these fossils can be found throughout Northern Michigan and all along Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Luke says, “I have found them on beaches, in rivers, and even out in the middle of nowhere in a state forest!” Luke says there are many rockhounds and beachcombers in his area, and that in recent years these treasure-seekers have begun to travel to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to hunt for Yooperlites along Lake Superior.
Considering himself more of a “ground scanner” than a dedicated beachcomber, Luke says, “I’ve always been the type of person who notices things on the ground that other people walk right past. One of my earliest memories is sitting in the shallow water along a small beach area at my uncle’s pond, finding little rocks and treasures and taking them home in a special jar.” Today, his whole family will stop often to pick up interesting items, and his mother-in-law loves to beachcomb when she can.
Though he doesn’t get to beachcomb as much as he’d like, Luke says he often just walks down his gravel driveway with his kids and picks up any rocks that catch his eye.
One of his most interesting finds was from the middle of a state forest. “I was out walking and saw a little bit of yellow and reddish-rust-colored stone sticking out of the ground. I went to pick it up and realized I had to dig. So, I found a stick and started digging. This thing was kind of triangular-shaped with two flat sides like it had been cut. I suspect it was something that split naturally because of where and how I found it. More than 20 years later, I still don’t know exactly what it is, which is probably part of why I still remember it.”
Other memorable finds of Luke’s are a pyramid-shaped stone with strangely symmetrical sides that he found in the same location and a small Petoskey stone with one of the best coral “eye” patterns he’s ever seen. Though he’d love to find a piece of gold someday, Luke says he enjoys the surprise of discovering something unexpected rather than searching for a specific thing.
Five years ago, Luke started getting into lapidary work to make jewelry and novelty items from Petoskey Stones and Yooperlites.
Through a combination of personal collecting and purchasing, Luke says he has around 3,000–4,000 pounds sitting in bins, totes, and stock tanks.
If you’re in Northern Lower Michigan, Luke says there are many beautiful places to enjoy nature, including hikes, kayaking opportunities on rivers and small lakes, and a chance to take a ferry over to Mackinac Island to spend the day. The closest city is Traverse City, about two hours from Cheboygan.
Luke says one of his favorite beachcombing trips was to Sanibel Island, Florida, along with a trip to the varied and beautiful beaches of Maui (even though he couldn’t take any treasures with him). He says he’d like to visit the Northwest Coast of the U.S. at some point.
Luke is the owner of an ecommerce-based business called The Petoskey Stone. “It’s a brand for people like me who always find themselves picking up little treasures when out in nature,” explains Luke. “A couple of years ago I created the ROCKIT Pocket, a collapsible collection pouch I designed to offer a better place to put finds instead of your pockets.”
Luke’s reason for beachcombing is simple. “I just get lost in the innocent fun of exploring and finding things...immersed in the present moment. These days I don’t necessarily have plans for any rocks, shells, or sea glass I may find. It’s being out there and losing track of time that I enjoy. It helps me reconnect with myself.”
Learn more about Luke and ROCKIT Pocket at thepetoskeystone.com.
All photos courtesy of Luke Fowler.
Learn more about beach fossils:
Learn more about fossils found on modern and ancient shores around the world. Fossil Articles ›
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 56, the September/October 2026 issue.
