Explanations for the 2023 Nevada Day Treasure Hunt Clues

Clue No. 1
A harmonious duet, search only dawn to dusk,
This land holds treasures, more than reptiles and dust.
With sun’s golden rays and moon’s gentle hush,
Nature’s symphony plays, on public land we trust.

Explanation: This is an introductory clue reminding treasure hunters to only hunt during the daylight hours, and to stay on public property. It also refers to the fact that the treasure is hidden in a desert area.

Clue No. 2
Commence your pursuit, where legends reside,
Explore sage covered hills, trails beckon far and wide.
Where desert meets mountains, with nature’s beauty on display,
Press onward my friend, seek your fortune today.

Explanation: The Outlets at Legends is a popular shopping area in Washoe County, while the Nevada Desert meets the Sierra Nevada Mountains also in Washoe County. This clue tells hunters to start looking in Washoe County.

Clue No. 3
No love story for this year’s treasure,
No giants around for hunters to measure.
Volcanos created the landscape nearby
And quartz-alunite reaches the sky.

Explanation: “No love story” refers to both Pershing (Lovelock) and Storey counties, revealing that the treasure is not hidden in either of these counties. Additionally, Stephen A Douglas, for whom Douglas County is named, was referred to as “The Little Giant”, so treasure hunters know that the treasure is not hidden in Douglas County. This clue also refers to signage along the Sun Rock Trail that describes the volcanic landscape on which the park sits

Clue No. 4
This special place, one of seventeen,
It’s treasure at night, a murderer’s dream.
A refuge serene, in this land so dear,
For our cherished prize, southward we steer.

Explanation: One of seventeen (now eighteen) Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world, the Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary is located in Northern Washoe County within the traditional territory of the Northern Paiute. The Massacre Rim derives its name from the steep escarpment along the western edge of the volcanic plateau and its proximity to the Massacre Lakes. Although the origin of the name“Massacre Lakes” is unknown, most likely the name refers to stone markers under which weary travelers would bury their unneeded supplies. Later emigrants falsely interpreted these markers as graves. This clue tells treasure hunters that the treasure is located south ofMassacre Rim in Washoe County.

Clue No. 5
A daring heist ‘neath western skies,
The headless passenger met demise.
Twas the first in the West, a tale to be told,
The gambler’s tracks betrayed the treasure of gold.

Explanation: The first great Train Robbery of the West took place inVerdi, Washoe County on November 4, 1870. Smiling JackDavis and his band of thieves boarded the train when it stopped in Verdi, and decoupled the engine car from the rest of the train and made off with $41,600. WashoeCounty Undersheriff James H. Kinkead found a boot print in the snow–made from the kind of boot that gamblers typically wore. Knowing that the boot must belong to one of the bandits, he followed the tracks all the way to a hotel in Sardine Valley, California, some 10 miles west of Verdi, where he found and apprehended one of the robbers who quickly ratted out the rest of the gang.(Source: Nevada Magazine article, The Great TrainRobbery by Eric Cachinero. March-April 2018.This clue tells hunters that the medallion is hidden in Washoe County.

Clue No. 6
This treasure evades the city’s bright glare,
Within nature’s embrace it dwells with care.
The septentrions guard the treasure this year,
Find it quickly because winter is near!

Explanation: This year, the treasure is hidden just outside of Reno in the Sun Valley Regional Park on the Sun Rock nature trail.Sun Valley is north of Reno. Septentrions is a term to describe people living in the north.

Clue No. 7
George’s old flume became a dirt road,
He tuned up the town to carry the lode,
Fate took its toll and his ankle did break,
On that cold October day, his life did forsake.

Explanation: In 1895, George Wedekind settled in the Truckee Meadows, and worked as a piano tuner while he also searched for gold in an area north of Sparks…The trail into the Sun Valley area came up from Wedekind Road, an old flume path before it became a dirt road and then a paved road years later. The local residents described him as the”crazy piano tuner” until George discovered silver and gold in 1896.In July 1905, he was in a car accident onSouth Virginia Street and fractured his ankle, suffered other injuries, and he never fully recovered. He died as a result of his injuries at age 77 in October 1905