This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the contest will end Aug. 31.
Monday is the launch of the first Long Beach Post Treasure Hunt.
It wasn’t totally our idea. It goes back to the city’s old Sea Festival when, from 1966 to 1974, a citywide treasure hunt was held. It was tremendously popular until things got out of hand with treasure-seekers digging up private and public property in a frenzied quest for the prize of $2,000, which in those days was more than $12,000 in today’s money. We learned a lesson from that: Don’t have a prize worth that much.
Still, our treasure is pretty good, even if it’s not enough to let you quit your day job: The grand prize is dinner for four at Boathouse on the Bay and a Duffy boat rental for a cruise around Alamitos Bay and the Naples canals, all compliments of John Morris and the Boathouse. (For the full terms and conditions of the Treasure Hunt, visit here.)
The LB Post’s treasure hunt will conclude on Friday, Aug. 31, and it will require a modicum of tech-savvy: the ability to, ideally, post pictures that you take on Instagram, or, minimally, send them to us by email; plus the know-how, which most of us have, to grapple with Google searches. Follow progress on Instagram and Twitter, using the hashtag #LBPostTreasureHunt.
Happily, you won’t need a shovel. In fact, if we catch anyone using a shovel, or a jackhammer, or a Sawzall, that person will be disqualified, and possibly jailed for a long, long time. You will, however, need a stuffed animal and more, which will be detailed in the Day One clue on Monday.
Assisting the Post in the treasure hunt is John Robinson, president of Long Beach Locations, who urged us to resurrect the city’s old treasure hunt. Long Beach public libraries are also partnering with us in this adventure.
We will publish your first clue tomorrow at lbpost.com, followed by a new one every day until the prize is claimed. Good luck—and put down that shovel.