Armchair Treasure Hunting 2025
What are Armchair Treasure Hunts and Hidden Treasure Caches?
The treasure hunt community is ramping up! Multiple hunts have been released with treasures out there to claim in 2025. The most popular hunt at the moment being There’s Treasure Inside by Jon Collins-Black. A hunt for 5 different treasure boxes valued into the millions.
(Join MW Discord or Forum for discussions)
Many new searchers are getting involved in armchair treasure hunting. Welcome! With over 20 years’ experience in the hobby, MW is here to keep searchers updated with all that is happening - and to help.
First a note - the term ATH is a bit of a misnomer. It is often mistakenly thought that BOTG (boots on the ground) is not required in armchair treasure hunts. But that is not true.
An armchair treasure hunt is defined as a produced hunt with clues given to claim a hidden treasure. The use of the word ‘armchair’ implies at least some, if not all, of the sleuthing and solving can be done from home - in the armchair - not that BOTG is not needed. (Hunts listed on the MW Website)
Masquerade, the first hunt which coined the term, was a children’s book published in 1979 by Kit Williams. The book held clues to a hidden treasure - a jeweled hare - buried somewhere in the UK countryside.
Searchers worked to solve clues from the book to know where to find the treasure. The Hare was found a few years later.
Since 1979 numerous other produced hunts have been released. A lot can be learned from looking at these past treasure hunts. How were clues concealed? What types of puzzles were used? How did the clues come together to lead a searcher to the location of the hidden treasure or to answer the puzzle?
In the future, I’ll include a segment in one of the newsletters sent out each month, taking a look at past hunts to answer those questions. I’ll take deeper dives for those with paid subscriptions.
Of course, I’ll continue providing lots of information on current hunts. So let’s get to that!
THE HOPE CHEST: Q/A’s Released
The Hope Chest is a treasure hunt to claim $50,000 cash. Searchers need to solve clues in the book, The Hope Chest (available on the hunt’s website). Searchers need to locate 4 tags, and a treasure capsule to claim the cash.
Recently, Cris Dotson, the creator of the hunt, released Questions and Answers on the MW forum (must be logged in for full access). He noted no one to date has found the 2nd tag - and that that tag is NOT in Kentucky. There is still lots of time to get involved in this hunt!
Great US Treasure Hunt 2024: IVX
One hunt remains to be solved in TGUSTH 2024. There were a total of 10 different puzzles inside the book (plus one bonus hunt) - each leading to a token hidden somewhere across the US - each worth $1000.
One Token remains hidden. It’s puzzle: IVX proving difficult to solve. It is somewhere on the East Coast.
Masquerade Tribute 2025
It’s that time of year again! The 5th annual Masquerade Tribute begins soon! Over the years almost $15,000 has been raised for charity in the MT! This year’s charity is the National Park Foundation.
Teaser Puzzles by Forgotten History Hunts begin on 2/21 - More information coming soon - stay tuned!
A heartfelt Thank You! to the gracious contributors listed below!
Thanks for Joining The Quest Newsletter
Treasures are out there to find! You could be the one to find them.
Join discussions on the MW Discord or Forum
MW is here to help!
~ Jenny / Mysterious Writings - X marks the place to find treasures!
