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2025 Hunt for Dota's Doubloon

Submitted by Administrator on

Watch for clues to be released on the Mendota Day Facebook Page.

Rules and Information
1. Be respectful of people and property in Mendota, please refrain from using tools as it is completely findable by hand.
2. Clues will post to the Mendota Days Facebook page at times listed below....
Clue 1 Friday 6pm Kickoff!
Clue 2 Saturday 9am
Clue 3 Saturday 11am
Clue 4 Saturday 1pm
Clue 5 Saturday 3pm
Clue 6 Saturday 5pm
Clue 7 Saturday 6pm (if nessessary)
3. Instructions to claim the $100 reward will be included with the find.
4. Enjoy Mendota Days
2025 Mendota Days Finder
2025 Mendota Days Medallion
2025 Mendota Days Medallion
2025 Mendota Days Finder and Hider
2025 Mendota Concealer
2025 Mendota Location
Hunt Information
Dates
Scheduled Dates
Friday, July 11, 2025
Find Date
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Finders
Name
Zachary Browning
Prize
Maximum Prize
$100
Awarded Prize
$100
Location
General Location
Along D Street
Pinpointed Location
North of Highway 13 On the East Side of the Road
Concealer
The Grass Under the Pedestrian Crossing Sign In Remnants from a pair of Lee Jeans

44.888175, -93.164477

Clues
Clue 1
Published Date
Friday, July 11, 2025, 6:00 PM
Who's got treasure fever? Well then, time for a reliev'er!
As your cure lies on Mendota land.
So what if symptoms include the shakes, all it takes,
Is a sharp mind and steady hand.
The official meaning of the clue.

Fever and So What are popular jazz songs. For your Mendota history lesson, you now know that the Lee Education Center/E-Bike Rental was first known as the Emporium of Jazz. Added bonus is that Fever was sung by Peggy LEE. The roof of the building is made of shingles known as wood shakes.

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Clue 2
Published Date
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 9:00 AM
Wedding in Quebec? What the heck!?
The hands are at rest-so it may seem.
Diagonal and sturdy, downright mean and dirty!
Doubloon sits trapped in a wasted dream.
The official meaning of the clue.
This clue was to give you what you are looking for. The doubloon was hidden, wrapped in denim, from a pair of Lee jeans along with a few other scraps of denim in the area.
  • Wedding in Quebec=canadian tuxedo
  • hands are at rest=pockets
  • seem=seam
  • Diagonal and sturdy=denim pattern
  • mean=a reference to ‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund
  • wasted=waisted (Lee emblem)
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Clue 3 - (A TRUE Mendota story)
Published Date
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 11:00 AM
Last year I learned, you should be concerned.
When the weather begins to wend-
That fateful Mendota as the timber line began to sway.
We almost met our gruesome end.
 
For that utility pole, almost took its toll
An experience my family won't forget.
So, when the winds overcome-dont be dumb!
Find shelter! This you won't regret!
 
Yes, Clue 3 is a true story, and yes it is a clue. Since there are some that know where it happened, you must know, the doubloon is not hidden anywhere near there.
The official meaning of the clue.
As mentioned, it is a true tale of the 2024 Mendota Days celebration.
Things you were to obtain from it were as follows…
  • Learned=Lee Education Center
  • Timber line=A timberline retaining wall
  • Gruesome end=dead end
  • Utility pole=one located near the spot
…And the whole idea was protection from the wind. A simple definition of lee is shelter from wind.
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Clue 4
Published Date
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 1:00 PM
Act now! Time to sit is in the past!
The doubloon awaits the chosen one.
Center your thought, remember what you're taught.
Did you happen to catch that pun?
The official meaning of the clue.

Act was to reference ACT, and the past tense of sit is SAT. Center and taught were all used to reference the Lee Education Center.

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Clue 5
Published Date
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 3:00 PM
Don't flee into the hills, to get your thrills.
Take five this side of the street.
A man in yellow, a hot and cool fellow-
The lucky one will want to greet.
The official meaning of the clue.

The doubloon was located on the north side of Sibley Memorial, and not in the hills of the village. It was placed a few feet behind a yellow pedestrian crossing sign. Lucky was a hint at it being near Lucky’s parking lot. Take five, and hot and cool fellow were some more jazz references.

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