Somewhere in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a local company just buried $25,000 in cash. There’s no map and no clock ticking down. Whoever cracks the clues first gets to keep the money, and Seven Paces says this hunt could keep the whole city searching for weeks.
Seven Paces calls the hunt The Bootlegger’s Bounty, and it leans into Grand Forks’ Prohibition-era past. Local rumor ties the area to northern liquor routes once connected to Al Capone. Seven Paces built a new book around that history, blending a fictional bootlegging story with riddles, maps and hidden clues you’ll need to crack.
A $25,000 Search With No End Date
Last year, Seven Paces ran a $20,000 hunt in Grand Forks. It took hunters more than two months to solve. This year’s hunt raises the prize to $25,000, and Seven Paces set no deadline this time around.
You could find it in a matter of days. Or you might spend months searching, the way last year’s hunters did, and every clue points you toward a real spot somewhere in the city.
How to Join the Hunt
The e-book goes on sale at 6 p.m. Central time on Aug. 21. You can also grab a physical copy at the Grand Forks Street Fair, Urban Stampede or Rhombus Guys Pizza. You’ll find full pricing, purchase details and official rules on the Seven Paces website.
Every copy holds the same story, riddles and maps that lead to the cash. Local businesses are backing the hunt too, including Visit Grand Forks, Choice Bank, River City Jewelers, Oxford Realty, the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association and Altru.
Why This Hunt Keeps Growing
Local business owners Justin Auch and Matt Winjum founded Seven Paces in Grand Forks. Their hunts mix storytelling, local history and puzzles, sending participants out to explore real streets and landmarks instead of just reading about them.
Auch calls Aug. 21 the starting line, not the finish line. He says last year’s hunt kept people searching Grand Forks for more than two months, and he expects this one to draw an even bigger crowd.
The bigger prize marks the company’s next step, and Auch and Winjum are betting Grand Forks residents will turn out in bigger numbers this time around. Seven Paces calls it the largest treasure hunt in North Dakota history.
If you’re headed to Grand Forks this fall, bring a sharp eye. Seven Paces hides its clues in plain sight, and last year’s hunters walked streets you probably already know well. Grab the book, start reading, and see how fast you can find $25,000.