Times Treasure Hunt Winner

A veteran treasure hunter took home our $1,000 prize last month when she found the $1,000 certificate hidden under a rock along a trail just south of Lost Dutchman Road near Superstition Mountain.
Elizabeth Kucera, along with the help of her husband, Robert, has had a history of being close to finding the treasure in the past, and Robert even won $1,000 a few years ago in one of our hunts.
The final round of clues, which were released on Feb. 17, tipped Elizabeth off. “We sort of knew it was Superstition Mountain, the Lost Dutchman area for a while. We went up there a couple weekends. We were looking around for a while. When the clue came out about the waltz, we knew it was the Lost Dutchman area. We knew we were in the right area,” Elizabeth said.
The certificate was hidden under a rock next to a large saguaro cactus with long arms.
“When the last clue came out about something brown, I figured that Brown Road turns into Lost Dutchman Boulevard and Apache Trail. So that was, ‘You’re hot on the trail.’ When it turned into a dirt road, that was the clue for ‘you might get dirty.’ As soon as we got out of the car we walked out. There’s a lone cactus there with the long arms. We both started looking around the bottom of the cactus. I started flipping over some rocks and some dead things and stuff — dead branches. I flipped over the one rock and I saw it flash in the rocks. I was afraid to look again because, what if it’s a cigarette pack or something? I flipped it over and I said, ‘I got it. I got it.’ We were dancing around a little by the cactus.”
Elizabeth said she’ll use the winnings on practical purchases, but it’s definitely welcomed cash. “I’ll just pay some bills, but it comes in handy. I’m not working, I’m just going to school. My husband’s the only one who’s working. I go to Grand Canyon University where I’m getting my master’s in early childhood education.”
Thanks to all who participated in the hunt. We will announce a new $1,000 hunt next month right here in these pages, so be sure to pick up your copy of The Times.
As always thanks for reading and be sure to tell a friend about our next hunt!
Photo caption: Elizabeth Kucera found the certificate, hidden in the Lost Dutchman area of the Superstition Mountains, along with help from her husband, Robert.