Fun Fest 2011 Treasure Trackers – Friday

The medallion was found today by Candice Smith at Catfish Alley.  I don’t know where or what Catfish Alley is.  I tried to look it up online, but I didn’t find any useful information.  I’ll do my best to analyze the clues, but if anyone has any information about Catfish Alley, feel free post it in the comments section.

Clue #1:  The number thirty-six is one of your clues,
put some gas in the car and grab your dirty shoes!

My friend pointed out that the old Johnson City Highway is Highway 36, so that is what the first line of this clue refers to.

Clue #2:  There’s something creepy about this place,
take a left before the bridge to begin your chase.

Since I don’t know where Catfish Alley is, I can’t comment on whether or not it is creepy.

The second part of the clue does a good job of helping narrow down where the medallion was hidden.  Although I’ve traveled the highway between Kingsport and Johnson City many times, it’s been quite a while, and I can’t remember any bridges on that road.  But if I’d been out hunting the medallion, it would have been easy enough to find the bridge since the first clue made it pretty clear it was on Highway 36.

Note that the medallion was actually found before the third clue was given out, so the first two clues were all the finder needed to locate the medallion.

Clue #3:  What lies between the cities of Kingsport and Gray?
Where there was once a Market and Deli called Midway!

I remember the Midway Deli.  It is no longer open, and I’m not sure if the building is still there or not.  But to my knowledge, the entire area around where the deli used to be was known as Midway.  I can’t say if the medallion was hidden close to the old deli, or if the clue just meant that it was hidden somewhere in Midway.

Clue #4:  He once hosted a fishing show on TV,
the Louis Milhorn Bridge is the landmark you need.

I didn’t know who Louis Milhorn was when I read this clue.  But I looked him up online and learned that he was a Chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Commission, and a former Outdoors columnist for the Kingsport Times-News.  He was also active in many organizations that were dedicated to the outdoors, wildlife, and fishing.   A bridge in Midway was named after him.

Clue #5:  Above the lake lie cliffs so steep,
Inside the rocks, holds the treasure to keep!

This clue makes it sound like the medallion was hidden in rocks at the top of a steep cliff.  Does anyone know if that was the case?  I hope this hiding place wasn’t as dangerous as the clue makes it sound!

Fun Fest 2011 Treasure Trackers – Thursday

The medallion was found today on Long Island by Sabrina Holder and Amanda Spears.  Long Island is the area where Heritage Park is located.

To understand today’s clues, you need to know that Long Island was an important piece of land to the Cherokees.  They used it as a meeting place and treaty site, as well as a burial ground.  Long Island was also Daniel Boone’s starting place when he cleared the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap (credit to Wikipedia.org for this information).

Clue #1:  Water flows gently without an end,
lapping at the banks, round the river’s bend.

This clue refers to the Holston River.  The area where the river forks into the North Fork and South Fork goes around the tip of Long Island.

Clue #2:  Paranormal activity may give you a scare,
where rituals and wondering souls are cause to beware.

When I heard this clue, I thought it was referring to Rotherwood Mansion, which is rumored to be haunted.  Long Island is right across the river from Rotherwood.  But I’m not sure if the clue was a reference to Rotherwood, or if Long Island itself is supposed to be haunted.

Clue #3:  Surrounded by holy water and ceremonial grounds,
this meeting place is the setting for ghostly sounds.

The first line of this clue refers to the way in which the Cherokee viewed and used Long Island.  I don’t recall hearing any stories about Long Island supposedly being haunted, but this clue seems to make that implication.

Clue #4:  Blessed by the great Spirit, yet cursed by those forced away,
the island of treaties formed the laws of the day.

This clue attempts to further describe Long Island.

Clue #5:  Near the river’s jetty, in a tree so high,
look for the bird’s nest where the medallion lies!

I had to look up the word “jetty”.  It means “a pier or structure of stones or the like, projecting into the sea or other body of water to protect a harbor or deflect the current”.  I assume this most likely refers to the man-made concrete structure in the middle of Holston River where it branches into the two forks.

As for the rest of the clue, my friend who was on Long Island looking for the medallion heard conflicting reports about whether or not the medallion was actually in a tree inside a bird’s nest.  He also heard it was found in a pizza box inside a trash bag, but that doesn’t seem to fit the clue.  My friend also said there were about 20,000 people on Long Island looking for the medallion, but he later amended that number to 300-400.  That’s still a lot.

Fun Fest 2011 Treasure Trackers – Wednesday

The medallion was found today at the Colonial Heights Public Library.  I don’t know exactly where the library is or what it looks like.  So, I’ll do my best at analyzing the clues.

Clue #1:  Take a leisurely ride to the suburbs of town,
over hills and valleys, both up and down.

Colonial Heights is a suburb of Kingsport, and you drive up and down some steep hills when travelling there from Kingsport.   It’s a fairly straightforward clue, but still not specific enough to lead anyone to the exact location where the medallion was hidden.

This is the type of first clue that I like.  At best, you could have figured out that the medallion was in Colonial Heights, but you wouldn’t have known where.  A clue like this gives treasure hunters the chance to spend the morning looking around at various landmarks in Colonial Heights while trying to find the medallion, and that can be a lot of fun.

With that being said, I didn’t figure out that the medallion was in Colonial Heights after I read the clue.  But I can easily see how it refers to Colonial Heights after finding out where the medallion was found.

Clue #2:  You might see a graveyard, a church and a school,
a barn, maybe a park, let your eyes be your best tool.

Since I’m not sure exactly where the library is, I don’t know if this clue describes the area around the library, or places that you might pass while driving there.  My friend and I thought the medallion was most likely at the Appalachian Fair Grounds after we heard this clue.

Clue #3:  Cross over a bridge where the historical marker lies,
squeeze through the tunnel, but don’t close your eyes.

I believe there is a historical marker near the large bridge that you have to drive over to get to Colonial Heights from Kingsport.  I couldn’t think of any tunnels in Colonial Heights, however.  But my dad said there are couple of streets in Colonial Heights where you pass through a small tunnel, so I assume you have to go through one of those tunnels to get to the Colonial Heights library.

Clue #4:  Southeast is the direction you must go, to seek and find knowledge so your mind can grow.

Looking at a map, Colonial Heights is pretty much due southeast of downtown Kingsport.  The second line of the clue certainly describes a library.

The medallion was found after the fourth clue was given out, and they haven’t posted what the fifth clue would have been.  They also haven’t posted the name of the person who found the medallion yet.

That’s all for today.  I’ll be back tomorrow to talk about the Thursday Treasure Trackers!

Update:  After I posted this article, the 5th clue was posted on the Treasure Trackers web site.  I don’t remember many times that a clue has come right out and revealed the location of the medallion.  The clue was:  Pactolus Road is where the medallion lies, at Colonial Heights Public Library, now claim your prize!  There isn’t much analysis to be done with a clue that obvious!  But remember that the medallion was found before this clue was revealed.

Also, the medallion was found by Bryan Loring & Jacob Fry.

Fun Fest Treasure Trackers 2011 – Tuesday

Today the medallion was found at Borden Park by McKayla Johnson, Savanna Johnson, Emily Lawson & Darrin Riggs.  The medallion was actually found after the first clue was given out, but they posted the other clues on the Treasure Trackers web site, so we get to analyze all of them.

Clue #1:  Quiet neighborhoods surround this place,
use your best hunting skills and join the race.

The first part of the clue certainly describes Borden Park, but I can’t figure out how the second line applies.  After hearing the clue, I thought “join the race” could be a reference to Kingsport Speedway or one of the tracks at a local school.

This clue was given out around 6:45 AM, but I didn’t receive the text message notification that the medallion had been found until almost 10:30.  It must have taken a while for the folks who found it to scour the park and locate it.

Clue #2:  Follow the path and watch for things that fly,
this spot is near where the treasure lies.

This is a good clue that has a double meaning.  ”Things that fly” could certainly refer to the birds in the park, but I think it was actually a reference to the disk golf course and flying frisbees.

Clue #3:  Now look for a tree with a big gaping gash,
to find the medallion and qualify for big cash.

I’d have to go look around at the park to locate the tree in question.  But there isn’t much analysis to do on this clue.  Some of the trees at Borden Park have holes and gashes in them, so I assume the medallion was hidden in one of  them.

Clue #4:  Chiquola is a word that’s important here,
You’re getting much closer, the medallion is near.

If the medallion hadn’t been found in the morning, this clue should have let everyone know that the medallion was in Borden Park or nearby, as Chiquola was the name of the former mill across the street from the park.

Clue #5:  Tucked away and up inside,
the treasure is yours in this great place to hide.

This is a strange fifth clue, because it seems more vague to me than the previous two clues.  Clue #3 seemed to establish that the medallion was in a tree, and clue #5 seems like a more vague version of the same clue.  But since the medallion was found after the first clue, they might have accidentally posted the clues in the wrong order when they posted the rest of them on the Treasure Trackers web site.

An interesting thing to note about today’s Treasure Trackers is that the medallion was hidden in virtually the same spot (but maybe not the same tree) where it was hidden in a mid-90s treasure hunt that is the subject of one of the treasure hunt urban legends I wrote about in an older post.  Click the Fun Fest link on my blog if you are interested in reading that post.

That’s all for now.  I’ll be back tomorrow with my analysis of the Wednesday treasure hunt!

Fun Fest Treasure Trackers 2011 – Monday

As I write this, the location where the medallion was found has not been confirmed.  However, it is clear from the clues that it was found at the Bays Mountain Fire Tower.

The fire tower was an interesting location for the medallion to be hidden.  First, due to controversies in past years where damage was done at Bays Mountain Park by treasure hunters, it had been announced that the medallion would never be hidden at Bays Mountain again.  The treasure hunt had different sponsors at that time, though.

Secondly, it is a tough hike up to the fire tower for the average person.  The location would probably have eliminated many people from going after the medallion even if they knew where it was hidden.

With these things being said, I still think the fire tower was a good hiding place for the medallion.  But I  hope it is hidden in a more accessible place for the rest of the week.

Let’s analyze today’s clues.

Clue #1 - Beauty abounds in our own back yard,
to find the medallion, you’ll have to work hard.

I don’t see any information in this clue that could have led anyone to the medallion when the clue was given out around 6:45 AM.  But, I don’t mind a vague first clue.  Those can be fun, because there are a lot of places in Kingsport that this clue could have referred to.  Besides Bays Mountain, the Greenbelt and area lakes are other places that fit this clue.

After finding out where the medallion was found, however, I can see how “you’ll have to work hard” fits the location!

Clue #2:  Walk or run, it’s up to you,
on a clear day, you’ll see skies of blue.

I thought of the Greenbelt when I heard this clue.  I’m not sure if this clue contained enough additional information to help anyone further narrow down the location when it was given out around noon.  But it’s easy to see how the clue describes a trek to the fire tower once you know where the medallion was found.

Clue #3:  Take an eastern course and hike around the lake,
the path that leads upwards is the one you’ll take.

This was a good clue because it narrowed down where the medallion was located (near a lake), but it also left more than one place it could be.  I didn’t consider Bays Mountain after seeing this clue myself, because I was so sure it was referring to Duck Island at Warrior’s Path Park.  But in retrospect, hiking around the lake applies more to Bays Mountain.  At Warrior’s Path, you aren’t really hiking around the lake, since the island is in the middle of it.

Clue #4:  Built by the CCC in 1937,
this 2,405-foot view is a slice of heaven.

After I heard this clue, I thought I’d picked the wrong lake and that the clue was referring to Fort Patrick Henry Dam.  However, I  looked up the dam online, and learned it was built in the 50s.  I also checked Boone, Watauga, and South Holston Dams, but they were all built in the 40s and 50s.

I then searched to see what the CCC built in Kingsport in 1937, and I learned some things.  The CCC was the Civilian Conservation Core, which was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs in the wake of the Great Depression.  They built the fire tower in 1937.  I also learned that the name of the fire tower is actually the Garden Mountain Kingsport Tower, which is mentioned in the next clue.  My brother said that the elevation of the tower is 2,405 feet.

Clue #5:  You can see Virginia and Tennessee from this perch,
The Garden Mountain Kingsport Tower ends your search.

This clue pretty much revealed the location of the medallion – if you knew what the Garden Mountain Kingsport Tower was.  I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t learned it while I was researching the previous clue.  I didn’t know that was the name of the tower.

Hint:  Don’t look under the big rock in front of the fire tower.

I discovered this hint on the Treasure Trackers web site after the medallion was found.  I’m not sure exactly when it was posted, but I assume it was posted either along with or after the fifth clue.  I’m not sure why they didn’t want people to look under the rock, unless it is dangerous to do so.  I haven’t been up to the tower, so I don’t know what the rock looks like.

That’s all for now.  I’ll update this post when I find out who found the medallion.  Visit my blog again tomorrow for my analysis of the Tuesday clues!

Update:  It was officially announced that the medallion was found at the Bays Mountain Fire Tower by Jessip Sturgill of Kingsport.

Kingsport Fun Fest 2011

Fun Fest 2011 in Kingsport, TN is upon us once again!  As I’ve done for the past few years, I’ll be blogging daily from Monday through Friday about the Fun Fest Treasure Trackers contest.

As those of you who are familiar with the contest know, a glass medallion is hidden somewhere in Kingsport each day.  Up to 5 clues per day will be given out on local TV and radio stations to help treasure hunters find the medallion.  The clues will also be posted on the Treasure Trackers web site, and there is an option to receive them via text message.  Complete rules are available at http://www.treasuretrackers.net .

I like Treasure Trackers so much that I enjoy blogging about it each day.  Please note that I do not post the clues on my blog until after the medallion has been found each day.  My blog isn’t an official source for getting the clues.  Rather, I like analyzing the clues on my  blog after the contest is over each day.

If you’re in the area, I hope you enjoy Fun Fest, and I hope you enjoy my daily Treasure Trackers posts as well!

Fun Fest 2010 Treasure Trackers – Friday

Today’s medallion was found near the spot where the county lines of Sullivan, Hawkins, and Scott County, Va. meet.  I’m not familiar with exactly what this area looks like.  I did some research by looking at maps online.  While I was able to find maps of the the counties in Tennessee, the really detailed interactive maps such as Google maps don’t show the county lines.

Based on what I found on the maps plus what the clues said, the medallion must have been hidden on the TN/VA state line near the place where the Holston River crosses from Virginia into Tennessee.  It appears that the only way to reach that place from Kingsport is to drive down West Carter’s Valley Road and cross the bridge over the river, then continue down Carters Valley Road a short distance further,  turn north onto State Highway 714, and continue driving until you reach the Virginia line.

Here are the clues that were given out today:

Clue #1:  Cast your line and wait for a bite, Fish during the day or wait till night.

As a joke,  I told one of my friends that I thought the medallion was hidden in the same place it was on Monday – in the alley behind Stir Fry Cafe.  They sell sushi there day and night, after all!

But seriously, this clue would seem to refer to a place where you can fish and nothing more.  This clue could have referred to any lake, river, creek, or pond in the area.

Clue #2:  The North Fork shoals can be shallow in a boat, smart anglers keep fishing and stay afloat.

I thought this clue was referring to the North Fork of the Holston River, but since I’m not familiar with the part of the river near where the medallion was hidden, all I could think of is the really shallow and rocky part of the river behind Riverfront Seafood.  But it was a vague clue, as it could have lead to any shallow part of the river.

Clue #3:  Apples fall to the ground during a heavy storm, Near springs of flowing water, peaceful and warm.

This clue didn’t really mean anything to me, but a friend told me he thought there was an apple orchard near where the medallion was found.

Clue #4:  Now look for the sign where two counties meet, The third county lies across the river 300 feet.

This clue certainly made it clear that the medallion was in a place where 3 counties converge.  It also confirmed it was near a river, but the other clues had pretty much told us that already.  I think the medallion might have actually been found before this clue was revealed and it just hadn’t been turned in yet, because I saw the confirmation that it was found just a few minutes after this clue was given out.

Sorry I couldn’t provide more detailed analysis today.  I’m sure these clues held a lot more meaning for people who were more familiar with the area where the medallion was hidden than I was.

Remember that my site is not an official source for Treasure Trackers clues, and therefore, I don’t post them until after the medallion has been found each day.  I just like blogging about it because it’s one of my favorite Fun Fest events!

Fun Fest 2010 Treasure Trackers – Thursday

Today’s medallion was found in Laurel Run Park in the Church Hill and Mount Carmel area.  I’ve been there briefly a couple of times, but I don’t know much about it.  I understand that some of the scenes from the the movie “The River” were filmed there.  The medallion was found after just 2 clues were given out.

Clue #1:  Watch for traffic cameras and go the right speed, Keep an eye on the speedometer, that’s all you need!

The only thing I got out of this clue is that it was referring to the speed cameras on 11-W and the clue was meant to lead you in the right direction.  If there is any hidden meaning in it, I didn’t pick up on it.

Clue #2:  Go across the water, take a picnic lunch, A short drive in the country is good for the whole bunch.

For the first time this week, I actually figured out where the medallion was hidden before it was found.  I remember driving through Laurel Run Park with friends and family a couple of times many years ago, and I knew it was in either Church Hill or Mount Carmel.  I didn’t remember the name of the park until I was reminded of it, though.  And I still don’t remember exactly where it is.  I just thought it sounded like the place the clue was talking about.

Remember that my site is not an official source for Treasure Trackers clues, and therefore, I don’t post them until after the medallion has been found each day.  I just like blogging about it because it’s one of my favorite Fun Fest events!

Fun Fest 2010 Treasure Trackers – Wednesday

I learned some area history after I heard where the medallion was found today!  The Treasure Trackers web site said that it was found at the site of Stoneman’s Raid on Netherland Inn Road.  At the risk of angering my former history teachers, I must admit that I wasn’t familiar with Stoneman’s Raid, so I had to do a little bit of research on it.

Stoneman’s Raid was a Civil War battle that took place on banks of the Holston River.   On December 13, 1864, Union General Stoneman’s troops arrived on the west bank of the river and gathered in the fields near Rotherwood Manion.  A vastly outnumbered group of Confederate soldiers under the command of Col. Richard C. Morgan took up positions on the east bank and prepared to defend Kingsport.  The bridge that connected the two banks was in rough shape and the Union troops were unable to cross it.  However, a portion of the Union troops moved a few miles up the west bank, where they crossed the river at Cloud’s Ford.  They moved back down the east bank and surprised the Confederate troops, capturing Col. Morgan and killing most of the other Confederate troops.  I even found a reference to an unmarked cemetery a half mile from the battle site that is said to contain the bodies of the fallen troops.

Now that we know what Stoneman’s Raid was, let’s see how it ties into today’s Treasure Hunt clues.

Clue #1:  Look to the north and then to the west, Here the medallion lies hidden, so begin your quest.

Based on the description of Stoneman’s Raid, I assume this clue meant that you should go to the north fork of the Holston River and then concentrate on the west bank, where the Union forces gathered before the battle.

Clue #2:  Water and ivy surround hallowed ground,  Here spirits of fallen warriors can be found.

“Water and ivy” would certainly seem to refer to the river bank.  The “spirits of fallen warriors” could refer to the unmarked Confederate cemetery, or it could refer to the fact that Rotherwood Mansion is rumored to be haunted.  I would be interested to know the exact location where the medallion was found.

These were the only two clues released today, so that’s all I have to discuss for now.  See you tomorrow!

Remember that my site is not an official source for Treasure Trackers clues, and therefore, I don’t post them until after the medallion has been found each day.  I just like blogging about it because it’s one of my favorite Fun Fest events!

Fun Fest 2010 Treasure Trackers – Tuesday

After a long post and lots of analysis yesterday, we don’t have much to talk about regarding today’s Treasure Trackers.  The medallion was found after only the first clue had been given out.  It was found at the J. Allen Hurley Wellness Park next to Northeast State.  I’m not familiar with this location, because I didn’t know there was a Wellness Park at Northeast State.

Clue #1:  It’s time to get fit, there’s no need to wait, walk real fast, speed up your heart rate.

I thought it was pretty clear that this clue referred to either a walking trail, a track, or possibly a place with a treadmill.  I assume the Wellness Park at Northeast State has at least one of these things.  I’m not sure what time the medallion was found, but I didn’t receive the text notification until it was almost time for the second clue, so it must have taken a while.

Sometimes they post the rest of the clues on the Treasure Trackers web site even after the medallion is found, but unfortunately, they didn’t do that today.  So, I don’t get to analyze the rest of the clues.  Be sure to stop back by tomorrow to read my discussion of the Wednesday Treasure Hunt!

Remember that my site is not an official source for Treasure Trackers clues, and therefore, I don’t post them until after the medallion has been found each day.  I just like blogging about it because it’s one of my favorite Fun Fest events!