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2023 Mendota Hunt for 'Dota's Dubloon

Submitted by Administrator on

First, a BIG thank you to Mayor Brian Mielke and the Mendota organization for the addition of this event to this year's Mendota Days celebration. 

That's right! The search is on for your very own official doubloon of Mendota. Make sure to LIKE the Mendota Days page on Facebook. Then pay attention to the clues, get out there, and find it! THe event will start on Friday, July 7th at 5pm. Make sure to read the rules for more information.

Mendota Days Medallion Hunt Rules & Information:

  • Medallion clues will post on the Mendota Days' Facebook page at approximate times.
  • Clue schedule:
  • Clue 1 - Friday, July 7th 5pm
  • Clue 2 - Friday, July 7th 7pm
  • Clue 3 - Saturday, July 8th 1pm
  • Clue 4 - Saturday, July 8th 3pm
  • Clue 5 - Saturday, July 8th 5pm
  • Clue 6 - Saturday, July 9th 7pm
  • Clue 7 - Sunday, July 10th 10am (if necessary)
  • The medallion will be hidden within Mendota city limits. Stay out of the Heights!
  • Do not search on private property, gated areas, people's yards or indoors.
  • The medallion you seek will not be hidden more than 5 feet off the ground. Stay grounded!
  • As you search please be respectful of all property. Search, don't destroy!
  • You will not need to dismantle anything to find the medallion.
  • Medallion will not be hidden in flower beds or gardens.
  • Failure to follow rules will result in termination of the hunt.
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Hunt Information
Dates
Scheduled Dates
Friday, July 7, 2023
Find Date
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Finders
Name
Diggorious Rex
Prize
Maximum Prize
$100 plus $50 gift card
Awarded Prize
$100 plus $50 gift card
Location
General Location
Sibley Historic Site
Pinpointed Location
Near the Stairs leading up to the church

44.886813, -93.166925

Clues
Clue 1
Published Date
Friday, July 7, 2023, 5:00 PM

Welcome do the Days done Mendota’s way
The hunt for Dota’s Doubloon has begun.
As you look around our historic little town
It makes me wonder who will be the one!

The official meaning of the clue.

-‘makes me wonder’=lyric taken from Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven
-Historic=hint at the Henry Hastings Sibley Historic Marker

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Clue 2
Published Date
Friday, July 7, 2023, 7:00 PM

Stay out of the Heights, enjoy our sights!
Parade tomorrow and family’s get together.
Don’t forget Leighton will out celebrating
Our streets echo with music and laughter.

The official meaning of the clue.

-I’m talking about the Mendota Heights population sign at the western border of Mendota.
You are able to see it from the trail of the treasure location.
-‘streets echo with’, ‘laughter’=lyric taken from Stairway to Heaven

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Clue 3
Published Date
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 1:00 PM

The poet in town just wanders around
Verse of flowers, plants and songbirds.
A tale of cristata, sad, but with bravado
Head the right way using her words.

Words on a local wall-page through it all
For only one will help run the race.
She waters the seeds, and now you need
To find out how it relates to the place.

The official meaning of the clue.

-poet + flowers=BARD FLOWERS written on a door awning across the street from trail entrance
-plants, page=reference to Led Zeppelin band front men Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page
-‘songbird’, ‘she’, ‘wall’, and ‘words’=lyric components from Stairway to Heaven
-tale of cristata, sad, but bravada, Head the right way=refers to one of the info kiosk next to the trail entrance. Cyanocitta cristata is a Blue Jay. There are 10 birds identified on the sign. The Blue Jay is only one that has his head looking in the direction of the trail.
-words on a local wall, one word, place=At 1336 State Hwy 13 is a building with writing on the wall. The ‘one word’ that was important was LONDON in which Led Zeppelin hails from. Writings on the wall also references graffiti in which relate to Led Zeppelin album “Physical Graffiti’
-seeds=‘Seedlings Planted’ sign near the treasures location.
Run the race=also refers to the kiosk. Race runner was one of snake classifications listed.

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Clue 4
Published Date
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 3:00 PM

Heard Elvis is near us…Pete will be furious!
Wasn’t Disneyland where they were to meet?
How does this relate? Haste makes waste!
I’m just trying to start a fire under your feet.

The official meaning of the clue.

-The clue references the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. Elvis, Peter Pan, and Disneyland all have historic reference to the year 1955. All three are referenced in the 1955 portion of the song. The Sibley Historic Marker has 1955 stamped into the base, under the plaque.
-Haste=Hastings

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Clue 5
Published Date
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 5:00 PM

Men of chain take flight nearby the site
But don’t be misled-find a path instead
Take a look around the jeweled grounds
Under glitters of gold-doubloon behold!

The official meaning of the clue.

-Men of chain take flight=refers to the parking lot where many bikers park to enter the regional trail
-Misled=hint at Led Zeppelin
-jeweled grounds=along with the medallion, I hid a handful of plastic jewels along the trail. Giving a finder a little self-assurance to their location.
‘glitters’, and ‘gold’=Lyrics components to Stairway to Heaven. The medallion was placed and then covered by plastic gold coins.

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Clue 6

The feeling you get as you look to the West
Is maybe you've known all along.
Go toward the steeple or follow the people
In your thoughts you begin the song.

Just so you know there are two paths to go
Your decision lies by a trio of wise.
Enter a shielded spot near the parking lot
For here Dota's Doubloon resides.

By a tree go look, near path, find the nook!
Fallen oak hides the covered impression.
Passing the border only makes you colder
So don't buy into the Stairway to Heaven!

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