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.
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.
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.
