Treasure hunt to raise money for local charities
Road Trip Riddles event focusing on city historical sites
LEOMINSTER » Road Trip Riddles co-founders Devin Allen and Nick Rogers are hosting their debut treasure hunt next month, a quest that is centered around five historical and famous locations around the city.
“My friend Nick and I have always found ourselves exploring new and interesting places and wanted to bring that sense of adventure to everyone else,” Allen said.
Participants purchase a ticket for the Leominster Charity Treasure Hunt and then receive a riddle clue. One hundred percent of the profits will be given to local charities along with a $500 prize to the first person to solve the treasure hunt and locate a leather
pouch with a silver compass inside. The first riddle leading treasure hunters to the first location will be released at 10 a.m. on Feb. 13.
“I can’t tell you what parts of Leominster you will go for obvious reasons, but I can say that every place involved in the treasure hunt has a very interesting backstory,” Allen said. “We hope to have several more treasure hunts this year in Massachusetts, although we are not quite ready to unveil them yet.”
Allen is a lifelong resident and Rogers moved to Leominster nine years ago. Both are Leominster High School Class of 2019 graduates, and as such they are excited to kick off their business endeavor in their hometown. They plan to offer treasure hunts locally, around Worcester County, and eventually across New England.
“Nick and I spent hours initially working on the business with a shoestring budget to get it off the ground,” Allen said. “I think I spent 10 hours or so just rewriting the ‘About Us’ page on our website. But overall, it has been such an amazing experience.”
The duo originally came up with the idea for Road Trip Riddles in November of last year while they were exploring the White Mountains.
“When I first told my friends and family about Road Trip Riddles, they were extremely receptive and supportive,” Allen said. “When I first shared this treasure hunt in a few community groups, the response was equally as astounding. The Facebook page was flooded with messages.”
The first treasure hunt Allen ever created was for his little brother’s birthday last May.
“It was the most fun I have ever had, watching the smile on his face grow larger and larger the closer he got to the final spot of his birthday presents,” Allen said. “I want to bring that joy I saw on my brother’s face to everyone else. It’s not the prize at the end that matters, it’s the journey along the way. It’s seeing interesting places or places that our great grandparents built with their hands.”
So far over 35 people have indicated that they are going or interested in
the treasure hunt Facebook event page, and five tickets have been sold. Allen said that since they just launched the business, they have done minimal advertising to get the word out, relying on social media and word of mouth.
They have received dozens of “amazing” charity recommendations from community members to be the recipient of the profits from the local treasure hunt.
“It has been quite hard to choose just one or two,” Allen said. “We were hoping to work more with the community to narrow down possible charities by holding polls on our Facebook page. If anyone has any recommendations, they can send me an email at devin@roadtripriddles.com.”
Allen said it is important to him and Rogers to include the charity aspect, especially with so many people struggling right now due to the global pandemic.
“COVID really hurt a lot of people I know in this community both financially and emotionally,” Allen said. “We want to help and give back as much as possible, and what better way than with a charity event. This will get people out of their houses in a safe way for a good cause.”
Their next treasure hunt is slated for April; they are not quite ready to reveal the date and prize just yet.
For more information email info@roadtripriddles.com, visit roadtripriddles.com, and follow Road Trip Riddles on Facebook and Instagram.
‘Nick and I spent hours initially working on the business with a shoestring budget to get it off the ground. I think I spent 10 hours or so just rewriting the ‘About Us’ page on our website.’
– Devin Allen, speaking about Road Trip Riddles which he started with Nick Rogers.