Quest for the Lost JBT Treasure: And the Winners Are…

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“Goonies never say die!” And neither did the treasure hunters in the fifth annual Uncharted Lancaster Treasure Hunt—Buzzard’s Booty: Quest for the Lost JBT Treasure! After 29 thrilling days filled with daring puzzles, hidden histories, and wild adventures, the legendary globus cruciger has been claimed!

Truffle Shuffle Time

In the professional tier, a massive congratulations to Team Strybos—a fearless three-generation family who channeled their inner Mikey, Data, Mouth, and Chunk to outwit the Buzzard Gang and grab the $1,500 grand prize! They reached the treasure chest just 15 seconds ahead of Great Minds, an incredible team of faculty and staff from The Janus School in Mount Joy, who walked away with $1,000 and serious bragging rights. Hot on their heels, Team JKLV scored the $500 third-place prize, arriving only five minutes later.

Shoutout to SMH, a family of four (including a 1st and 4th grader!), who dominated the leaderboard again this year with 95,700 points—a full 700 more than last year! For their relentless spirit, they earned the $250 leaderboard prize and were the sixth team overall to find the treasure. “Down here, it’s our time!” And clearly, it’s SMH’s time—again.

In the amateur tier, Danny and the Mole People struck gold (and the treasure!) as the first-place finishers and fifth team overall to complete the hunt, scoring $750. Not far behind, the 1732 Settlers secured $500 for second place, with Ben Gates and the Gang taking $250 in third—no word yet if they plan to declare independence from future hunts.

Topping the amateur leaderboard was HellerHighwater, whose epic 80,200-point performance earned them the $100 prize and a place in Uncharted Lancaster history.

As a bonus, both first-place teams also won a free trip to Lickity Split’s Buzzard Gang-themed escape room in New Holland—a $225 value and the perfect epilogue to their adventure.

Thank You

To all 464 participants across 109 teams—thank you! Your enthusiasm and relentless curiosity brought this adventure to life. From muddy trails to historical puzzles, your passion for uncovering the region’s hidden stories made this an unforgettable hunt. Because of your generous support through treasure diary purchases, we raised an incredible $5,000 for the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. The most ever!

Of course, a BIG tip of the fedora 🤠 to the incredible sponsors who made this year’s adventure possible! A special shoutout to our title sponsor, JBT, whose generosity didn’t stop at supporting the hunt—they also hosted an unforgettable after-party at their Lititz branch for all our treasure hunters. With light appetizers from Catering with Care and refreshing beverages courtesy of Roaming Libations, it was the perfect way to celebrate a month of clues, codes, and conquest.

Additional thanks go to our amazing partners: Brookfield Renewable U.S., White Chimneys, Lickity Split, Hammel Associates Architects, Keperling Preservation Services, LancasterHistory, Lancaster Troll Market, Pocket Books Shop, and Catering With Care. Your support helped turn this treasure hunt into an unforgettable journey through Lancaster County’s past—and made it more amazing than the time Michael Jackson came over to my house to use the bathroom.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without my guy in the chair—Stephen Spealman. A 99th-level Google Sheets wizard, Steve is the mastermind behind the magic of the leaderboard and the automated PIN generation. He’s my very own Data, crafting ingenious digital gadgets and behind-the-scenes wizardry that keep this adventure running smoothly. Every great treasure hunt needs a tech genius—and I’ve got the best.

Need Help?

Still scratching your head over a puzzle or curious how others cracked the code? Swing by the Buzzard’s Booty Facebook Group—it’s like a virtual treasure map of shared wisdom and “aha!” moments. If the answer’s not already posted, don’t worry. Just ask! One of your fellow adventurers will be more than happy to reveal the secret twist, clever clue, or hidden logic behind the challenge. After all, Goonies help Goonies. 🏴‍☠️

Secrets Reveals

If you’re looking for an in-depth breakdown of the treasure hunt, be sure to check out Anthony Hoover’s YouTube channel, Cypher House. In this multi-part video series, Anthony walks through each week of the hunt, uncovering clues and explaining solutions. Here is the first video covering the side quests and week 1:

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Here’s the second video covering weeks 2 and 3:

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Easter Egg Alerts

I’ve always had a soft spot for a well-placed Easter egg, and this year’s treasure hunt gave me more opportunities than ever to sneak them in. It all began with the cover art for this year’s adventure—an homage to that iconic Goonies moment when Mikey holds up the Spanish Doubloon, lining it up with the cliffs to reveal the path to One-Eyed Willy’s treasure. From there, the hidden nods and playful references only multiplied, rewarding those sharp-eyed adventurers who know where to look.

Each week’s cover art kept the Goonies spirit alive, drawing inspiration from iconic movie posters tied to the film.

Week 1 Cover Art

Week 2 Cover Art

Week 3 Cover Art

Week 4 Cover Art

Week 5 Cover Art

Buzzard Bones

It wasn’t until Week 3 of the treasure hunt, when players received their second laser-cut and engraved wooden piece, that the truth clicked into place—they were assembling their own Goonies-inspired Copper Bones. In our version of the tale, they were known as the Buzzard Bones, essential relics for unlocking the treasure’s final location. Each piece took nearly an hour to create, combining precision design, mechanized craftsmanship, and a healthy dose of 1980s movie magic.

Mysterious Globus Cruciger

Every great adventure needs a MacGuffin—and this year’s was the mysterious globus cruciger, a legendary relic stolen by the infamous Buzzard Gang and never recovered… until now. But in true Uncharted Lancaster fashion, the artifact was hiding a secret of its own. In reality, it was none other than the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch—the hilariously over-the-top weapon from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). Presented in the film as a divinely blessed relic, it’s said to obliterate foes into “tiny bits.” Of course, proper use requires strict adherence to the sacred instructions: “Thou shalt count to three. No more. No less.”

What other Easter eggs did you spot?

Adventure Awaits!

So here’s to the adventurers, the sleuths, and the dreamers who never stopped believing that “it’s our time down here.” Until next time… adventure awaits.

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Thank You To Our Sponsors

JBT | Brookfield Renewable U.S. | White Chimneys | Lickity Split | Hammel Associates Architects | Keperling Preservation Services | LancasterHistory | Lancaster Troll Market | Pocket Books Shop | Catering With Care