← Back to the Park
Treasure Hunt Amusement Park

● Live Hunt · 6 of 10 Clues Released

Newton Falls
Treasure Hunt

Tom Colosimo · Fieldview Acres Mercantile · Newton Falls, Ohio

An Ohio small-town treasure hunt inspired by Forrest Fenn. $33,000+ in cash and gold hidden inside the village limits. Ten clues, released every other Tuesday at noon ET. Solve them all to find a key and a letter — the letter names the location.

$33K+Prize Pool
10Total Clues
6Released
Jul 7Final Clue
Newton Falls treasure hunt — illustrated archway with covered bridge, brass clock, ledgers, key, sealed letter, and lantern

About the Hunt

Newton Falls, Ohio is a small village northwest of Youngstown with a covered bridge, two waterfalls, a 100% occupied historic downtown, and the only ZIP code in the United States that's all the same digit: 44444.

In late January 2026, Tom Colosimo — owner of Fieldview Acres Mercantile ("The Merc") at 36 W Broad Street — watched a Rachel Stonecraft TikTok about Forrest Fenn's Rocky Mountain treasure. By the next morning he had decided to make his own. Tom funded the prize himself and added sponsors as word spread. By late March 2026 the pot had grown to over $33,000 in cash and a one-ounce gold coin donated by Joe Saron of Garrisville, with Sarell Chevrolet adding $50 per vehicle sold through July.

Tom in his own words

Why he started it: “This town's been struggling for years and I was trying to think of a way to drive traffic to the town and this happened to be it.”

How it grew: “I was going to donate $1,000, hide it somewhere in town, and do a hunt… then it blew up from there, and now we're at $35,000, and it's still growing.”

How to think about the clues: “I wouldn't say geographical is as important as the history of the city. My clues are based on history.”

His best advice: “Don't overthink it… I just try to set up the clues, take you to a certain place, and kind of muddy it a little bit. And use history to solve it.”

Why this hunt is in the Park

It's the rare modern hunt that's:

  • Free to play — no purchase, no entry fee.
  • Walkable — everything is inside Newton Falls village limits.
  • AI-proof — the clues require physical presence; the answer "cannot be recovered from record alone."
  • Fenn-inspired but National Treasure-styled — riddles and imagination, not ciphers.
  • Tied to the U.S. 250th anniversary — the voice of every clue is late 1700s herald.
  • Single creator, single town — Tom built it solo, in the village he runs his shop in.

How It Works

Up to 10 clues are released every other Tuesday at noon ET on Fieldview Acres Mercantile's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — and posted physically inside The Merc. Solving all 10 leads to a key and a letter. The letter names the treasure's location.

Mechanics

  • Clues do not need to be solved in order, but all 10 are required.
  • There is no mid-puzzle verification — you only know you're right at the very end.
  • The thinking style is National Treasure (the movie), not ciphers.
  • Clues are designed to be AI-resistant.
  • Everything is in the village limits — walkable.
  • Locals do not have a meaningful advantage; the public record is on equal footing.
  • Recommended reading: Images of America: Newton Falls by Andrea Fouse (available at the Newton Falls library).

Clarified locations

Tom has clarified these locations should not be treated as ruled out in the same way:

Tom's storefront The covered bridge The water tower

Storefront: Tom said he never ruled out his storefront overall, only that Clue 1 does not lead there. Covered bridge: Tom said the treasure is not at the covered bridge, but clues could still lead searchers there. Water tower: this page still lists it as a publicly ruled-out treasure location.

Release Schedule

Clues drop every other Tuesday at 12:00 PM Eastern.

#DateStatus
1Tuesday, March 3, 2026● Released
2Tuesday, March 17, 2026● Released
3Tuesday, March 31, 2026● Released
4Tuesday, April 14, 2026● Released
5Tuesday, April 28, 2026● Released
6Tuesday, May 12, 2026● Released
7Tuesday, May 26, 2026○ Upcoming
8Tuesday, June 9, 2026○ Upcoming
9Tuesday, June 23, 2026○ Upcoming
10Tuesday, July 7, 2026○ Final Clue

Read All 6 Released Clues →

Rules & Verification

Allowed

  • Public ground only — sidewalks, parks, public sites within village limits.
  • Walking, observing, photographing.
  • Researching public records, library books, online sources.

Not allowed

  • No digging.
  • No climbing structures.
  • No entering water.
  • No trespassing on private property.

Winning

One winner takes all. The winner brings the key and letter to Fieldview Acres Mercantile. Verification happens on the spot. The winner cannot be anonymous — they must agree to a photo at The Merc, public acknowledgment, and participation with press.

Hunters proceed at their own risk. Fieldview Acres Mercantile is not liable for injury, trespass, or damage during the hunt.

Sources & Further Reading

Primary:

Press coverage:

Community: