The Great Twin Cities Treasure Hunt (XIII) — July-August 2025

TCTreasure

CLUE #1

WHEREAS, the time has finally come
And now the deed is done...
WHEREAS, the clues already penned,
So let us start the fun...

WHEREAS, communities like ours
Are valuable and rare;
WHEREAS, we have collected
For the hundredth such affair

WHEREAS, the cache has been concealed,
The treasure has been put,
WHEREAS, let the games begin—
The hunt, at last, afoot...

NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor
Has proclaimed this hunt under way—
So best of luck, and have a happy
TC Treasure Day!

TCTreasure

CLUE #2

To narrow your search to a point,
Just follow this simple rule:
Separate the wheat from the chaff
By using an ancient tool.

TCTreasure

CLUE #3

Of six still-standing pioneers,
Just three may boast the bounty;
Rally the troops—first to the front—
And you’ll be in the right county.

TCTreasure

CLUE #4

Water, water, everywhere—
And not a drop to drink;
It’s like rain on your wedding day:
Ironic—don’t ya think?

TCTreasure

CLUE #5

Pacing through the placid park
To scout the spot to search,
Tick off tenths and work your way
Around the bowl of birch.

TCTreasure

CLUE #6

Pursue a path to a stone on the sly;
We want to take you higher—
From oaken plain to wetland marsh,
A hidden gem borne by the brier.

TCTreasure

CLUE #7

An altogether uncommon wit
Lay down to rest on the lawn;
He hadn't slept for ten days—
Because that would be too long.

TCTreasure

CLUE #8

Crawl along the forest floor
With spiders, ants, and beetles;
On two legs, four, six, eight, or more,
Approach on pins and needles.

TCTreasure

CLUE #9

Over hill and under dale—
Into the red pine woods;
‘Round the bend, a lucky charm 
Embraces the grounded goods.

Peering over the evergreen glen, 
Shield your eyes from the sun;
Lenses of a pinkish hue 
Ought to get the job done.

TCTreasure

CLUE #10

Off to the village of Roses—
Head for the high water mark;
Scoop up the satchel of victory
At Reservoir Woods Park!

From Alta Vista Drive embark,
And, past the Briar-Born seat,
Make your way into the forest—
Pine needles under your feet!

Descending from the overlook
To the bottom of the hollow,
There you’ll find the treasure trail—
The primrose path to follow! 

Twenty or thirty paces away,
At the foot of a fallen tree,
Find our 100th treasure cache—
The vaunted Great TC!

TCTreasure

CLUE EXPLANATIONS

Clue #1 commemorates TC Treasure Day and instructs hunters to search an area named for a Saint Paul mayor—in this case Alexander Ramsey (and Ramsey County).
Clue #2 instructs hunters to “narrow [their] search” for an “ancient tool” used to “separate the wheat from the chaff.” Rather than a flail, basket, or other traditional winnowing tool, this clue is meant to suggest defunct web search engine AltaVista.com, and in turn, Alta Vista Drive, which leads to the main entrance for Reservoir Woods Park in Roseville.
Clue #3 is meant to suggest searching in one of the “six still-standing” original Minnesota counties—specifically the three in our search area. The remainder of the clue zeroes in on Ramsey County, which is named for Alexander Ramsey—the first territorial governor of Minnesota who famously volunteered the Minnesota First infantry regiment to the front lines at Gettysburg in 1861.
Clue #4 is meant to suggest the “Ironic” nature of Reservoir Woods Park—which holds millions of gallons of drinking water, but no drinking fountains. The park also contains signage with the words “Water, water everywhere.”
Clue #5 is meant to suggest searching for a park devoted to still water—while avoiding the abandoned stone reservoir full of birch (or perhaps Aspen?) trees in its southwestern corner. Within Reservoir Woods, signs demarcate the primary trail every tenth of a mile. Roseville Cub Scout Troop #297 is responsible for stewardship of Reservoir Woods Park as part of the city’s “Adopt-A-Park” program.
Clue #6 is meant to suggest searching “the brier”—or Roseville—on high ground for a park containing both oak savanna and wetlands; a bench at Reservoir Woods Park reads “THEY CELEBRATE LIFE — Sandra Born and Briar.”
Clue #7 references Minnesota comedian Mitch Hedberg (who is buried at Roselawn Cemetery, adjacent to Reservoir Woods Park), his album “All Together,” and one of his jokes.
Clue #8 narrows the search area to the hardwood pine/oak forest area of Reservoir Woods and reinforces the jewel’s hiding spot on the ground.
Clue #9 further narrows the search area to a horseshoe-shaped section of trail near the park’s forest pier overlook.
Clue #10 points hunters to the spot, about 25 paces from trail’s edge, roughly in line with the forest glen.