While it may seem like the only treasure hunts today occur in video games, books, or movies, I’m here to tell you that this isn’t true. There are five treasure boxes worth millions spread out across the U.S.—and you don’t need to be made of rubber or have a straw hat to get your share.
But not everything in life though is free. You do have to buy a book.
Did someone really create a treasure hunt? Yes, it’s not a joke. Specifically, the hunt was created by Jon Collins-Black, a web entrepreneur and an early investor in cryptocurrency. A lifelong lover of fantasy and games like Dungeons & Dragons, Collins-Black got the idea for the treasure hunt in 2015. At the time, he was looking for something to help him reconnect with the imagination he had as a child, according to CNN.
Collins-Black was inspired by the treasure hunt created by Forrest Fenn, an antiquities dealer who hid a treasure chest with $1 million in the Rocky Mountains. It remained there for 10 years and was finally found in 2020. Unlike Fenn, who hid his treasure in one spot, Collins-Black wanted to create a hunt that was spread out to give people across the U.S. a chance to find it.
“I hid a treasure somewhere in the United States, and it’s waiting for you to find it,” Collins-Black said.
There’s Treasure Inside. To find it, though, you’ll have to grab a copy of Collins-Black’s book, aptly named There’s Treasure Inside, which contains the clues to find the treasure boxes. The author spent five years on the book, working with experts to acquire a varied bounty and blacksmith to create the boxes.
Besides providing clues, the book also tells the stories and histories of the treasure hidden inside. It took Collins-Black five years to put the book and the hunt together.
The five treasure boxes. According to Collins-Black, there is no more than one treasure box in each state, and no boxes have been found so far. (If there had been, that would have been ridiculously fast, considering the book was published in November).
As for the treasure itself, the author curated it to have a bit of something for everyone. The boxes contain more than 65 rare and valuable items. He reveals some of the goodies inside on the book’s website, which include: a pendant designed by Picasso, a Michael Jordan rookie card, a Moon rock, a Greek gold wreath, a Pokemón Charizard card, and a sapphire and diamond broach worn by Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Are there any requirements? Collins-Black’s treasure hunt is designed for anyone. In his own words, “If the idea of solving clues, being in nature, or finding a hidden treasure sounds appealing, then this is an adventure for you.” Notably, the author points out that you do not have to be extremely fit or be Albert Einstein reincarnated to find out where the boxes are.
In addition, Collins-Black says the boxes are all located in safe places that aren’t dangerous to get to.
What if no one finds the treasure boxes? Online, people are already rubbing their digital hands together and starting teams. There are already subreddits and Discord groups dedicated to the quest.
Collins-Black says he doesn’t “need this to take forever.” If a few years go by without anyone finding the treasure, he says he’ll release more clues. He might even release a sequel to his book.
Images | Jon Collins-Black (edited)
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