We’ve built this FAQ specifically for the final $20,000 stage of our 2025 Michigan Treasure Hunt. For other FAQs covering our entire project, please click HERE
| Q: How will the Treasure Hunt Work? A: On Dec 1st, at 1700, we will release a riddle on the website. This riddle will have clues that point you to a specific location to find an object that will give you information. Once you have found that object, you will need to use the information it provides along with information from our artifacts to locate the final resting place of the treasure and how to access. The first person to access the treasure, keeps it. |
| Q: So you have to travel to two locations? A: Yes. There are two physical locations you will need to locate and travel to. Both are south of Interstate 96. |
| Q: How difficult will the riddles be and how long do you expect it will be before someone claims the treasure? A: The riddle and piecing together the final information was done to thwart Chat GPT and be fairly challenging. We expect this to take weeks to several months to solve, but we have been wrong before. |
| Q: What happens if nobody can solve it? A: It is no fun if everyone is stumped. We plan on releasing some pre-defined hints that will help reveal some of the meanings in the words and artifacts. This is our way of ensuring the game continues. The treasure WILL be claimed! |
| Q: What do you mean by “information from our artifacts?” A: We have been running smaller stage hunts since June 1st this year. Those hunt have led to certain items (2 coins, 2 QR codes, 2 sides of a leather page, a SD card, and a Wine Bottle. These items contained some information that was used to solve the mini-hunts. But several pieces of information from them has gone unused and will be needed to unlock the final treasure. The Eight artifacts can be viewed here: ARTIFACTS |
| Q: So what if I didn’t play the early stages? Will I be at a disadvantage? A: You will want to read the early stage solves to understand what information was already used. This is posted on our website and will be available to registered users. The main trick will be determine what information is needed and how to assemble it into something meaningful. Everyone will be on similarly even footing in this respect. |
| Q: Can you tell us anything more about the artifacts? A: Yes. Here are three things to keep in mind. 1 – The information is based on what you can visually see in the pictures. You will not need to access the QR codes or SD card 2 – On the leather page, there is one red herring that doesn’t apply to either the final stage or any of the earlier stages. 3 – Everything else on the leather page is meaningful to either the final stage or an earlier stage. |