Hundreds headed to Jacksonville’s Willowbranch Park in Riverside Friday afternoon in hopes of finding up to $2,000 hidden around the park.
The elaborate scavenger hunt was put together by Hidden Cash, which has been holding the hunts around the country as part of a website promotion.
Participants were directed on Twitter to check the Slotomania website for clues.
Four winners found hidden cash envelopes.
Two of the prize winners, who each won $500, said they didn’t find the money by following the clues but they happened to be in the right place at the right time.
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Collin Roberts said he looked up the park’s address and happened to walk by one of the trees, saw an envelope and grabbed it. “I was shaking, I couldn't believe I found it,” said Roberts.
Nancy Barlow was coming back from the library with her husband when she stumbled upon a $500 envelope hidden in a palm tree.
WJCT News originally reported up to $8,000 would be hidden in the park based on information provided to WJCT News by Amy Krupnik with AK Strategy, who acted as a spokeswoman for the Hidden Cash scavenger hunt in Jacksonville.
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Krupnik’s original email said “millionaire hides $8,000 in Jacksonville public park.”
When speaking with Krupnik later by phone she added a clarification, saying “up to $8,000” would be hidden.
But later, the Hidden Cash scavenger hunt team revised what WJCT News was originally told again, saying in an electronic flyer that up to $2,000 was actually being given away.
Some participants WJCT News spoke with at Willowbrook Park expressed frustration, while others were thrilled.
Barlow said, “it's a great thing they are doing to bring attention to Jacksonville.”
All the money was found within a half-hour.
Samantha Kindler can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org, 904-358-6317 or on Twitter at @kindlersamantha.