Future father finds medallion for treasure hunt in 2024. It was the tenth year he had been looking for it

Syracuse, NY – Joe Santimaw Jr. and his father went to Syracuse.com | Wanted The Post Standard Treasure Hunt Medallion for 10 years.

This year, he and his father – along with many other people – headed to Oneida Shores Park on Tuesday to look for the medallion and try to win the $2,000 prize.

After searching for six hours in cool weather, Santimaw’s father decided to call it a day and headed home. A short time later, Santimaw said, he found the 1.5-inch blue-and-white plastic disc among some rocks.

Santimaw, 30, of Clay, didn’t believe he had actually found the real locket until he called the number on the back and logged in to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard staff confirmed he had won.

The treasure hunt is taking place for the 37th time. Clues are published online and in the newspaper, attracting thousands of people each year to search for the medallion. This year’s competition was sponsored by This is CNY.

Santimaw is an assistant school social worker for the Syracuse School District and was on winter break this week. He said it was a tradition to spend the week searching with his father, who is retired from the Central Square School District.

“We just always had the same week off, so we just had some free time and spent it together looking for the locket,” Santimaw said.

Santimaw, who grew up in Brewerton, said his family would take their dog, Thor, for walks on the Oneida Shores trails.

When Santimaw and his father arrived Tuesday morning, Santimaw said there were at least 100 cars in the parking lot.

Despite the large turnout, Santimaw said there didn’t appear to be any competition for the $2,000 prize.

“It’s kind of weird how everyone is looking for the same medallion to win, but everyone is still so friendly and smiling,” Santimaw said.

Her father and son exchanged clues with an elderly retired couple and another family who also decided to come out and enjoy the winter tradition. The medallion has given many people the opportunity to get out of the house and be with family, Santimaw said.

Father and son searched the park’s campsite, playground and pavilions.

Because Santimaw was so familiar with the park, he said it was easy to solve the mystery based on the clues. Tuesday’s Clue #6 read: “Still don’t know where to find the bounty? Hunt in a park in the north of our county.”

Santimaw said it only became clear where to find the medallion in the park when he reread clue 4: “You can share this trail with your pup.” Keep your eyes on the ground – you don’t have to look look up.”

He started searching the ground and found it in some rocks.

“No kidding, five minutes after I went there I found it,” Santimaw said.

He still wasn’t 100% sure he had the real locket.

“Even when I found it and held it in my hand, I thought, ‘This can’t be done.’ I thought, this can’t be right. “I actually found the locket,” Santimaw said.

He sat on the rocks where he found it and called the number on the back to confirm that it was real.

He said as soon as he received confirmation that he had won, he put the medallion in his pocket and hid in his car until the Syracuse.com reporter and photographer arrived.

While Santimaw was being interviewed, people who had also been looking for the medallion came up to congratulate him. They were desperate to know where he found it.

A man congratulating Santimaw said he won the previous year. Santimaw said the man revealed that he actually sat on the rock near the medallion after a break and never saw it.

Santimaw called his father, who was happy for him.

Santimaw plans to spend the money on two things: something special for his parents and his soon-to-be-born child Daughter.

His wife, Morgan Santimaw, who is five days due, was excited to meet her husband at the park when she found out he had won.

“It was equal parts shock and everything, but also a really big stress reliever, like a weight lifted off my shoulders because we’re due any day now,” Santimaw said. “It was just nice to know that we could save a little more money for the baby.”

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Check out all the treasure hunt 2024 clues and their meanings

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Staff writer Timia Cobb reports on breaking news. Do you have a tip, story idea, question or comment? You can reach them at tcobb@syracuse.com.