LSU student’s Cash Stash game attracts 20k followers

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — If you spot people running around Baton Rouge while glued to their phones, they might be chasing more than notifications; they could be hunting for free cash.

LSU student Dylan Garcia is the creator behind cashstashbr (Cash Stash Baton Rouge), an Instagram-based scavenger hunt he launched on Sept. 3. As of Wednesday, Oct. 3, the page has already gained more than 20,000 followers.

Garcia, a senior majoring in marketing with a minor in digital marketing, hides envelopes of money around the city, then posts clues on Instagram to lead followers to the stash.

“I’ve hidden money all around Baton Rouge from the levee to Perkins Rowe to Southern University, and today I’m doing a special stash in New Orleans,” Garcia said.

He added that most of the time, someone finds the money within two or three minutes of a post going live.

So where does the money come from?

“At first it was my money fully, but as we grew, I started using sponsorships from local companies,” Garcia said. “But sometimes if there is a day where a sponsor hasn’t signed up, I use my own money.”

He said the concept has also become a creative way for local businesses to boost engagement. “The hints create a reason for people to go follow and check out the company’s page, making a sponsorship more enticing for companies.”

One recent collaboration was with Mike & Co Jewelry and Watches.

Garcia said there are plans to expand the giveaways beyond Baton Rouge, though logistics are still being worked out. “Nothing is set in stone,” he said, noting the challenge of balancing travel as a student.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Garcia said the idea came after following a similar page, Cash Stash STL, for about two months.

Garcia expects to graduate from LSU in May 2026.

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