This adventure is over. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Update 3
May 1, 2021. Congratulations to the Sporrer family on completing the Secret Trust Adventure and claiming the second-place prize of $200. The cache is still out there filled with 3D printed commemorative medallions for those wishing to still finish the adventure. Big thank you to everyone who participated—over 125 people joined the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County in the process.
Update 2
March 25, 2021. While the original treasure has been found, we have decided to keep things interesting by creating a second-place prize consisting of $200 in coins. However, in order to claim the prize, you will need to successfully complete all six weekly challenges in addition to finding the hidden cache.
Of course, the journey is often the reward. Anyone who finds the hidden cache described in the poem can claim a 3D printed Secret Trust Adventure commemorative medallion from the box. Happy adventuring!
Update 1
March 21, 2021. It was a whirlwind of a weekend! Scores of people joined the crusade to find the treasure at the end of the Secret Trust Adventure. The Longnecker family using a single segment of the GPS coordinates and their superior local history skills to decipher the poem located the cache this evening. Congratulations!
Secret Trust Adventure
Difficulty: 🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠
Distance: Unknown.
What to need: A decoder paper (get yours by purchasing a membership from the Historic Preservation Trust), an internet-connected device with GPS and built-in camera, paper for taking notes, and something to write with. The final challenge will require appropriate footwear.
“Fortune and glory, kid. Fortune and glory.“
In the proud tradition of Forrest Fenn, Byron Preiss, and James Halliday, the next great treasure hunt arrives here in Lancaster County on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
Overview
This game of skill is unlike any previous Uncharted Lancaster adventure because this one ends with a cache of real treasure! The victor in this first-to-find winner takes all adventure walks—er…hauls—away an 18-pound loot crate filled with over a thousand dollars in $1 coins.
In addition to a cash-filled box, the winner goes home with a painting by Lancaster County artist, Scott Cantrell, valued at $2,000. That means the entire treasure hoard is worth over $3,000!
Getting Started
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Final Challenge
How to Play
This exclusive adventure is available only to members of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.
Not a member? No problem. Click here and join at any level.
Members receive a decoder paper with how to organize the GPS coordinates, a location poem to help further zero in on the location, and a claim code riddle.
How it Works
Each week on Saturday at 7 am, the next clue and location to explore will be revealed. Adventurers will need to visit a series of historic and architecturally significant Lancaster County locations as they solve puzzles or complete the tasks to reveal a portion of the treasure’s GPS coordinates.
Those able to complete the quest unlock the resting place of a cache that redeems for the coin-laded treasure chest.
Its finders keepers for the first person to finish this treasure hunt. However, keep in mind that the treasure is hidden in such a way that only official participants will be able to find and claim it—so be sure to purchase your Trust membership.
If you want to examine a high-resolution copy of Cantrell’s painting for clues, click here. It’s password-protected, so you will need to enter the claim code riddle solution to see it
Never miss a treasure hunting update or clue by signing up below and following Uncharted Lancaster and the Trust on social media.
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Join the Trust today for a shot to claim your fortune and glory! The treasure hunt begins Saturday, March 20, 2021.
Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County
The Trust was established in 1966 to help “stem the rapid destruction of historic properties in Lancaster County.” Through the years, the Trust has been active in preserving many historic properties in Lancaster County that contribute to their respective communities as unique places for people to live, work, and play.
Their equation for success has been working for over 50 years. Look around you and know that our advocacy and direct action have resulted in saving hundreds of historic structures and other sites throughout the county. The flip side is that not everything can and should be saved. The Trust continually faces this delicate balance and works closely with all parties involved to reach an equitable decision for all. Sadly, it sometimes takes an irreplaceable loss to a community before preservation moves higher on the priority list.
Follow the Trust on Facebook for more architectural information and history from all over Lancaster County. Learn more at their website, or better yet, consider becoming a member of the Trust today.
Scott Cantrell
Scott Cantrell is a working artist and teacher at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.
He works mostly with traditional art materials such as pencil, paper, paint, canvas, photo, and ink, referentially commenting on the illusions created with these materials. Utilizing these common artistic tools, Cantrell attempts to provide a home for the concept of memory within a seemingly practical context.
Yet, Cantrell is always being reminded that memory is fleeting and that it is completely individual. Driven by the fundamental fear of forgetting, ultimately a fear of death, his work is part of a grieving process, personal and historical, seeking some kind of resolution.
Click here to visit Cantrell’s website. You can also see his stunning work on Instagram and Facebook.
Is this hunt inclusive of physically disabled folks?
Surprisingly, yes.