So, how does the Rooftop Treasure Hunt actually work? Whether you’re wondering how to play, what you’ll need to get started, how the clues and puzzles work, or what you can expect along the way, we’ve got answers. Read on for everything you need to know before setting off on this one-of-a-kind, citywide adventure!
What is this?
The Rooftop Treasure Hunt is a puzzle-based sequential treasure hunt designed to celebrate 30 years of Rooftop Films!
What will it be like?
Competitors will solve a series of challenging puzzles, leading one winner to $5,000 cash! Plus other wonderful prizes from our partners. And, along the way, they’ll be immersed in a unique journey around the city.
A real treasure?!
Yep! Courtesy of generous anonymous supporters of Rooftop Films non-profit mission, the treasure at the end is Five. Thousand. Dollars.
So you’ve buried treasure somewhere in New York City? And we have to dig it up?
This one is important.
YOU DO NOT EVER HAVE TO DIG, OR OTHERWISE MOVE ROCKS/EARTH/ETC TO FIND THE TREASURE.
DO NOT VANDALIZE PROPERTY.
DO NOT TRESPASS.
YOU WILL NEVER EVER EVER HAVE TO BREAK ANY LAWS TO WIN THIS TREASURE HUNT.
IF YOU DO BREAK LAWS, YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
Yikes, capitalize much? But, OK, you’ve got my attention. Do I have to pay to enter?
To raise money for Rooftop Films, teams will have to pay $100 for entry. There will also be options to pay for hints along the way ($20 per hint, 3 hints per puzzle). Once the treasure hunt begins, it won’t end until the treasure is found—but we expect this to happen before Sunday night.
Do I need to have a team?
Teams are entirely up to you. For the sake of simplicity, each entry denotes a single “Contestant,” who will be the point of contact and will be awarded the treasure should you win. How (or if) you divide that up is your choice. That said, it is generally easier and more fun to solve puzzles like these as a group.
What do we get if we don’t win the grand prize?
There are plenty of other treasures up for grabs! In addition to the $5,000 grand prize, we’ll be awarding a variety of prizes and rewards from some very special partners, including Letterboxd, Books Are Magic, Joe Coffee Company, and more.
About that location…
Oh yeah: all of the clues, and the treasure, are located within the five boroughs of New York City. You will never have to go anywhere else to solve the treasure hunt. And all locations are accessible via public transportation.
So I have to be there in person?
Well, sometimes. Most of the puzzle solving and research can be done at home and/or on the internet. But each clue will resolve to a physical location and you’ll have to visit those locations to acquire the next clue.
I’m not big into technology—is this one of those “find the cipher hidden in the ASCII text” things?
Nope. All of the puzzles can be solved by a creative high school student with zero technical knowledge. That said, you WILL have to use the internet at times during this treasure hunt. And knowledge of New York City will certainly help.
What do the Clues look like? And how do I know if I’m in the right place? And who’s in charge?
All great questions. And all will be answered for competing treasure hunters. Once you sign up, you’ll be emailed with more info, and some direct points of contact as you go about your quest. We’ll host a Zoom FAQ session at 6pm on Thursday, October 1st. Following that, we’ll be at Pretty Ricky’s in the Lower East Side starting at 7 PM, for a more informal meet-up and Q&A. Plus, you can expect some live meet-ups for treasure hunters throughout the weekend. You’ll be emailed about those after you sign up. Finally, our email response time during the hunt should be within a few minutes, and you’re always welcome to reach out with burning questions.
What about accessibility?
All locations are either accessible via paved surface or a short walk (less than 75 feet) on flat ground. However, not all locations are ADA accessible. Should a team encounter a location that is inaccessible for them, they are invited to email treasure@rooftopfilms.com for assistance. Similarly, some puzzles may be harder or easier based on different abilities – we suggest recruiting a diverse team with different skillsets. Should a puzzle present unique challenges (for example, an audio puzzle for a team of deaf or hard of hearing competitors), teams are welcome to email us as well.