A treasure hunt that captivated San Francisco for nearly a month has concluded after a winner unearthed a box containing $10,001 in cash. The hunt, titled 'Buried Treasure, San Francisco,' began on April 29 and ended on Tuesday, when the organisers announced the prize had been found.
Despite the city-themed name, the cash was never hidden within San Francisco. Instead, it lay across the Golden Gate Strait in a cave in the Marin Headlands, within a 7-mile radius of city hall. The anonymous organisers stated on their website that an 'intrepid problem-solver' had deciphered the clues, but they did not reveal the finder's identity.
The three-week search generated widespread public interest but also caused significant damage to local parks. Participants using shovels dug up lawns, damaged plants, and severed water lines at Ina Coolbrith Park, Francisco Park, and Washington Square Park. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department launched an investigation into the destruction.
Park officials and groundskeepers pleaded with the organisers to call off the diggers. A gardener at Francisco Park reported 'significant irrigation system and plant damage,' noting that holes were left uncovered. Angel Island park rangers also reported similar issues. In response, the organisers posted updates telling searchers to stop digging up manicured lawns and planters, insisting the treasure was not hidden there.
The organisers later posted the solution to the riddle, directing people to the Marin Headlands cave along with a photo of the box being buried. This was the second and final year of the self-funded hunt. Last year, a 22-pound chest of gold and artefacts valued at $10,000 was found in 11 hours. To make this year's challenge last longer, they toughened the puzzle but admitted it was a 'work in progress.' They described the project as 'a questionable financial decision the first time and downright idiotic the second.'
