SF treasure hunt ends after $10,001 prize found in Marin

A weekslong treasure hunt in San Francisco has ended after a box of $10,001 in cash was discovered Tuesday. But in a final twist, the booty was found outside the city.

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The endeavor was dubbed “Buried Treasure, San Francisco,” but the clues never actually claimed the coins were within city limits.

“It weighs more than 150 pounds, is buried under a foot of earth, and is located within 7 miles of San Francisco’s city hall,” the anonymous pair of organizers wrote.

The organizers of the hunt wrote on their website that the treasure was discovered after an intrepid problem-solver deciphered the clues and found the box of cash buried in a cave in the Marin Headlands. In an email to SFGATE, the organizers said they don’t “know too much about the finders.”

The hunt that started on April 29 was so popular in recent weeks that it reportedly caused problems at city parks as eager participants started to dig. KGO-TV reported the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department was investigating after damage was seen at Ina Coolbrith Park, Francisco Park and Washington Square Park in recent weeks. 

The organizers eventually issued an update advising eager hunters not to damage parks.

“If you find yourself wondering if the treasure is buried under some nice manicured lawn, or cared for planter, or under irrigation lines … it is clearly NOT,” they wrote.

On Tuesday, the organizers posted the solution to the riddle, writing, “The Treasure Has Been Found. Stop Hunting!” While the exact location wasn’t listed, they gave the “solution” to the riddle pointing to a cave in the Marin Headlands. A photo showed a member of the team burying the box in the cave.

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After a similar treasure hunt last year was solved in just 11 hours, the organizers said they wanted to set off another whimsical hunt.But this time they wanted the mystery to last and struggled to come up with the right clues.

“This hunt was also confirmation that making a satisfying puzzle is quite difficult! A brief poem that cleverly points to a single location would be quickly solved by a city of such great minds so keen to collaborate,” the organizers told SFGATE. “The thoughtful analysis of our clues, and the brilliant theories gleefully shared was proof of that. A puzzle that can be interpreted enough ways to slow the solve from hours to weeks is simply a less satisfying solution. That’s a tough mark to hit and figuring out how to maximize the experience for all involved is a work in progress.”

The pair of friends say this is their last treasure hunt, but are happy they got to set up an adventure and received hundreds of messages from people taking part in the search.

“It’s a real gift to tick this off the childhood bucket list and we’re so appreciative of how well it was received, even for those with the disappointment of coming up empty handed,” they wrote in an email to SFGATE. “We’re grateful to those who matched our energy and appreciated our effort and generosity, and we definitely hope to create similar experiences in the future, whatever shape they take.”