Mysterious SF buried treasure has been found

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A mysterious treasure hunt that first surfaced on a San Francisco subreddit on Tuesday has apparently come to an end. In an update posted Tuesday night the organizers reported that the treasure had been found.

The treasure chest, which was said to be valued at around $10,000 and contain “gleaming ingots, currency, and San Francisco artifacts” was said to have been buried somewhere in San Francisco. About half the chest’s value, organizers said, was in gold.

A spokesperson for the treasure hunt who wished to remain anonymous told KRON4 that the group behind it had paid for the treasure themselves.

The Reddit post and the website it led to contained a treasure map, of course, and an elaborate set of clues.

“There’s a romantic allure to treasure burying and seeking,” the spokesperson told KRON4.com, when asked why they buried the treasure. “A rich lore and movie tropes that peppered our upbringing. We love adventure and this was a chance to have one ourselves and create one for others.”

But in the end, the treasure hunt appears to have been short-lived.

“Well, that went A LOT faster than anyone anticipated,” the treasure hunt posters said on Reddit Wednesday. “Months were hoped for, days felt possible, but 11 hours… wow.”

According to the treasure hunt organizers, a Reddit user who describes themself as a “value investor & tech guy from Europe” found the buried chest.

“Just wanted to say that we’ll let those who found the treasure tell their story and their solve,” the treasure hunt posters continued. “It’s their story to share. But afterward we’ll certainly post how the clues were meant to be read. We know everyone is curious. Just give it some time.”

The winner of the treasure hunt was reportedly interviewed by NPR with their story expected to air on “All Things Considered” Wednesday. In the meantime, the treasure hunt organizers explained how the original set of clues was mean to be interpreted.

How the treasure was found:

• “Eighteen Bold letters Preserved In a clearing” There are 18 gigantic concrete letters piled in a field near India Basin Park, remnants of a sign created by Michael Manwaring and removed in 2020. They’re intended to eventually be repurposed as park signage. The physical letters are uppercase I, B, and P, lowercase the rest. This wouldn’t be locatable from the Internet alone.
• “a dark room’s view…” Camera Obscura and its view to surfers, and surf fisherman, reeling.
• “dry ruin’s gate” Fleishhacker Pool. Only a meager doorway remains of this once great saltwater pool. For those looking at Sutro Baths, we’d note that those ruins are still quite wet.
• “solar’s tall mast” The Point of Infinity on what is technically Yerba Buena Island, but colloquially referred to as Treasure(!) Island. The sculpture is billed as a quasi-sundial by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Yes, this clue is within the city of San Francisco.
• “chart a historic cross” Draw lines between these points and, in true treasure hunting fashion, X really does mark the spot. The X lands just off the Historic Trail in Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve.
• “To trace the true route…night…pack a light” From the X there are small indicators which glow under UV light directing you about 5 minutes down the trail and up a side trail to a rock outcropping.
• “steadfast basin, where feet part and agree” The chest was buried about 8 inches deep, in a hollow nested amid large boulders. The trail briefly and clearly splits in two, parting around the rocks.

There is still very little known about the group — or individual — behind the treasure hunt.

The person KRON4 spoke to said they wished to remain anonymous, as “whimsy and adventure and mischief and hijinks does live in a sort of legal gray area.”

And if you missed out on the treasure this time, you might have another chance.

“This was a lot of fun and we’d love to do it again,” the treasure hunt organizers said Wednesday. “If any deep-pocketed collaborators are interested, please do reach out.”