TL;DR: Now anyone can create a treasure hunt. Our Fall 2025 hunt was a huge success ($26k in gold found, $21k raised for Hurricane Helene relief). Now we're not only planning next year's hunts, but we're opening the platform to everyone. Create your own treasure hunts with all the tools we use — maps, webcams, photos, community features, and more.
The Fall 2025 Hunt: Mission Accomplished
In October 2025, we hid $26,000+ in gold coins somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thousands of hunters joined the search. The community was electric. The treasure was found. And together, we raised over $21,000 for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
The hunt proved something important: people are hungry for real-world adventure, and technology can make these experiences incredible.
What's Next: Your Turn to Create
Today, we're launching Countdown Treasure 2.0—a complete platform for creating and discovering treasure hunts anywhere in the world.
What started as one hunt in North Carolina is now a toolkit for anyone with an idea and a prize to hide.
For Creators: Everything You Need
Want to run your own treasure hunt? Here's what you get:
🗺️ Maps & Clues
- Daily or even hourly shrinking search areas with interactive maps
- Live webcam integration
- Photo updates, videos, text clues — mix and match however you want
💰 Built-In Payments
- Free and premium membership tiers
- Automatic payment processing via Stripe
- Optional Kickstarter-style fundraising (all-or-nothing or keep-what-you-raise)
👥 Community Features
- Private chat channels for your hunters
- Real-time updates and announcements
- Member management and analytics
🎯 Full Control
- Public or private hunts
- Fixed prizes or growing prize pools
- Weekend event or month-long adventure — you decide
How It Works
- Apply to become a creator - Simple application, yearly platform fee
- Create your hunt - Set location, prize, rules, membership options
- Share & collect signups - Hunters join and pay through the platform
- Run your hunt - Upload clues, engage with your community, watch the magic happen
Whether you're hiding $100 in a local park or $100,000 in the wilderness, the platform scales to your vision.
For Hunters: One Hub, Endless Adventures
Countdown Treasure is now your central hub for discovering active treasure hunts across the country.
- Explore hunts near you - Filter by location, status, prize amount
- Join communities - Connect with fellow hunters and creators
- Track your participation - See all your active and past hunts in one place
Every hunt is different—different locations, different creators, different rules. But they all share the same spirit: real adventure, real prizes, and the thrill of the chase.
What People Are Saying
Our first hunt caught the attention of WSOC-TV, WLOS News 13, AVL Today, News Channel 9, 828 News Now, and Tiny
Money and more — proving there's serious interest in technology-powered treasure hunting.
The platform has been battle-tested with thousands of real hunters, real payments, and real stakes. Now it's ready for you.
Ready to Start?
For Creators: Apply now to launch your first hunt
For Hunters: Explore active hunts and join the next adventure