2025 Hunt for Dota's Doubloon

Submitted by Administrator on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 7:14 PM

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

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.

Clue Rating

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)

Clue Rating

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.

Clue Rating

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.

Clue Rating

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.

Clue Rating