Solve these puzzles and you may find the long-lost treasure of Blackbeard the pirate.
View The Search for Blackbeard’s Treasure »Treasure Hunts
Bethesda Lawyers
Breathless with anticipation, you dial the number Karen Blixen left. To your dismay, you don’t get a human. It’s another of those damned menu systems: Thank you for calling Bethesda Lawyers, located in Offices 1 through 5 of the Civic Center Tower. If you know the extension of the party you are calling, you may…
View Bethesda Lawyers »The Two Dials
With your help, the police quickly arrest the thief, and all the stolen items are returned. The library director presents you with a small reward, which you happily accept. Back at the library, you ask to see any paintings the Gordons may have donated along with the house. The director shows you four or five…
View The Two Dials »Armand Ballpeen’s Mansion
Ballpeen’s mansion is an impressive neo-Georgian edifice that looks bigger than your old college. When you press the doorbell, a sonorous gong reverberates that you expect to summon a butler. Instead, the mail slot pops open, through which you hear a thin voice. I’m sorry I can’t let you in right now. The sad truth…
View Armand Ballpeen’s Mansion »The Griot of Woodmont Triangle
Arriving at 38° 59′ 19″ North, 77° 5′ 49″ West, you stare at the memorial to Bethesda’s victims of war in the center of Woodmont Triangle. How can you possibly get a permit to dig up the park? Just then, you feel a tug on your sleeve. Turning, you behold an elderly man in shabby…
View The Griot of Woodmont Triangle »Treasure Hunts
Over the years, I've created or competed in a number of puzzling treasure hunts. Learn about the history behind these events, and test your wits in online versions!
View Treasure Hunts »Hunt 1989: Scavenger Hunt
After serving behind the scenes for two Hunts, I was eager to compete for a change. Steve Williams took up the challenge of organizing the 1989 event, which was a scavenger hunt instead of the puzzle-centric events of previous years. Seekers were tasked to find the following items: Any Cleveland Indians or Tampa Bay Buccaneers…
View Hunt 1989: Scavenger Hunt »Hunt 1988: Spy Game
The second time around, we wanted to up the stakes a bit. Having teams compete was fun—but what if solvers could strike off on their own at any time? What if you couldn't trust your teammates? For this kind of backstabbing scenario, a secret agent theme felt natural. Participants could work together temporarily to solve…
View Hunt 1988: Spy Game »Hunt 1987: It All Starts Here
Unindicted co-conspirator Amber Blaha and I put together the first Hunt during the summer of 1987. It was a straightforward series of puzzles, with the answer to each being the location of the next clue. The prize—a basket of goodies, I think?—was hidden at the final location, a secret glen in Rock Creek Park that…
View Hunt 1987: It All Starts Here »Hunt 2017: Capture the Firebird
Move over, Beatles—Sgt. Pepper isn’t alone in celebrating an anniversary this year. It was 30 years ago today We made a Treasure Hunt so folks could play It’s been going in and out of style But I hope that you’ll still flash a smile When we send this invite to you To the Hunt you’ve known…
View Hunt 2017: Capture the Firebird »