Fall 2025 Blue Ridge Mountains Treasure Hunt
A $26,250+ treasure hunt in the Blue Ridge Mountains region
Ended October 2025
Why Countdown Treasure?
đź‘‹ Hey! I'm Adam Howell, the creator of Countdown Treasure.
Last year my family and I participated in Project Skydrop, and we had so much fun with it. It was such a smart and clever use of technology to create a unique, modern-day treasure hunt that built a true sense of urgency and excitement. I was hooked.
The only catch? It was all happening in the Northeast. In fact, we were packing up for a long weekend camping trip—planning to hike some of the trails we’d flagged near Boston—when the treasure was discovered.
Just over two weeks in, the $25,000 gold prize, along with a side pot of around $85,000, went to a meteorologist from the Boston area.
The experience was thrilling and unlike anything else online. Every morning you’d rush to check the shrinking map and the growing side pot—one of those rare times you could see a website truly go viral in today's corporate-controlled internet.
The whole time I kept thinking: Someone needs to bring this to the Blue Ridge.
And eventually, that someone turned out to be me—Countdown Treasure was born.
After witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Countdown Treasure became about more than just adventure. The Blue Ridge Mountains aren’t just the setting for our hunt—they’re home to communities that were hit hard and deserve support.
That’s why $2 of every premium membership goes towards our $20,000 goal for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Our Mission
| 🔒 Transparency | 💡 Innovation | 🤝 Community |
|---|---|---|
| Create an unforgettable real-world treasure hunting experience | Blend traditional treasure hunting with cutting-edge technology | Support the surrounding community with every hunt we organize |
How It Works
Real Treasure, Real Location
We place actual treasure (gold coins worth $25,000+) at a real location in the wilderness.Live Tracking & Updates
A 24/7 webcam shows the treasure is still there, while daily map updates narrow the search area.Premium Features
Premium hunters get daily aerial photos and community access, while contributing to the prize pool and charity.Winner Takes All
The first person to physically reach the treasure and follow the claiming process wins the entire prize pool!
Our Values
| 🎯 Adventure | ⚖️ Fairness | 🌍 Responsibility | 🎉 Fun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everything about our hunts is transparent—from live webcams showing the treasure to public tracking of prize pool growth. | All hunters have equal access to the same information and opportunities to find the treasure. | We're committed to supporting communities in need and conducting hunts in environmentally responsible ways. | Above all, we want every participant to have an amazing adventure, whether they find the treasure or not. |