FDIC-Insured - Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government
Treasure Hunt
Ahoy there, matey!
This is your chance to become a York Treasure Hunt legend! Find Pirate Jim's York Treasure Hunt Medallion sponsored by Cornerstone Bank!
The 2025 Medallion Has Been Found!
Stephanie and her son, Ryder Hitz, have struck gold once more — discovering Pirate Jim’s Medallion for the second consecutive year. This time, the treasure was hidden inside a honeysuckle bush at Foster Park, a discovery made on the final day of their search.
The Hitzes joined the hunt on July 14, following the release of Clue #5. The breakthrough came through decoding the geographical clues: Foster Park lies at the intersection of East Street (Clue #6: “the place where east meets with west”) and Second Street (Clue #5 : “something that involves the number two”).
To zero in on the exact location within Foster Park, Stephanie leaned on her background in horticulture (she had once worked as a landscape designer) and focused on the word “sweet” from Bonus Clue #2. It led her to consider several options in the park: lilac bushes, flowering vines, and finally, the honeysuckle.
Stephanie Hitz said, “Everybody knows honeysuckle is sweet… people don’t always know that vine is sweet.”
The medallion wasn’t in plain sight, but the Hitzes knew better than to give up. Recalling last year’s hunt, Hitz said, “I knew from last year that you really had to dig into something or really look.”
Stephanie and Ryder dove straight into the bush and struck gold. Persistence and clever clue-cracking led them to victory once again.
Congratulations to Stephanie and Ryder Hitz.
2025 Medallion Clues
2025 Medallion Clues |
Pirate Jim's Clue #1 It’s Year #38 and again it should be fun….. Don’t head south on the road with the name 81. It won’t be out there as you might as well know…. Stay north of Nobes and then go with the flow. Pirate’s Explanation: Every year since its inception, the first clue to the Treasure Hunt has eliminated the part of York that extends out to the interstate. After 38 years, no reason to change. Bonus Clue #1 Welcome to the hunt. Make sure you have fun and respect other hunters and your community. |
Pirate Jim's Clue #2 The medallion has been hidden starting yesterday… Remember it must be public to come into play. When hunting….one place it won’t be found…. If you keep your nose too close to the ground. Pirate’s Explanation: First a reminder that the hiding place was public property and then a notice that it was hidden up off the ground. Bonus Clue #2 Sweet Pirate’s Explanation: The medallion was suspended in a bush labeled Clavey’s Dwarf Honeysuckle. The sweet references the honey part of the name. |
Pirate Jim's Clue #3 It won’t work to be looking here and there or just looking around… You must get to the middle for it to be found. The rains have been generous…they make all things grow… Choose your path wisely, you might end up with the dough. Pirate’s Explanation: The medallion was suspended in the middle of the bush. The third line refers to the bush which is a growing thing. The last line refers to the many different paths that wind in and around Foster Park. Bonus Clue #3 Color of money Pirate’s Explanation: The color of money is green. The bush is green. |
Pirate Jim's Clue #4 There are many paths to take on to where the treasure lies…. A place favored by those who fly the friendly skies. You don’t have to climb or dig in the ground…. Look to the inside if you want it to be found. Pirate’s Explanation: The first line again refers to the many different paths in Foster park. The park is full of different trees which is where birds (who fly the friendly skies) love to sit. The last line again refers to the fact the medallion was inside the bush. Bonus Clue #4 Yogi Berra…. 'It's deja vu all over again' Pirate’s Explanation: The 2024 medallion was hidden within a tree in Mincks Park. The 2025 version was hidden within a bush, thence the phrase. |
Pirate Jim's Clue #5 Many hunters are wondering just what to do…. For a start look for something that involves the number two. Read all the clues and then look for a sign… You’ll figure it out and then you’ll feel fine. Pirate’s Explanation: The number two reference would point towards 2nd Street which borders the park on the south. The sign reference refers to the many signs throughout the park identifying the different trees and bushes. Bonus Clue #5 Live well and be happy Pirate’s Explanation: A few feet away from the bush is a bench in honor of Susan West. On it is a line “But I’ve had a good life all of the way”. Look up the meaning of good life and you get the line above. |
Reminder: Arrr mateys! No paper on Monday, so Clue #6 sets sail on Tuesday. Stay the course! Pirate Jim's Clue #6 Hunters can get tired, you might need to rest… Look for the place where the east meets with west. The place has something in common with the number of this clue… Then enter it all in your mind…you’ll know what to do. Pirate’s Explanation: The first line would refer to the bench close to the hiding place. Second line references east (Foster Park is bordered by East Avenue). West again refers to the bench. The last two lines….The clue number is six. Look at Foster Park on Google Earth and there are six different spots to “enter” the park. Bonus Clue #6 4007 is a number you can use Pirate’s Explanation: The two previous times the medallion was hidden in Foster Park was 1997 and 2010. Add those two numbers together and you get 4007. |
Pirate Jim's Clue #7 Pirate Jim has a friend who touts the west side of town, But west of Abe’s road is not where it will be found. To find the medallion might make you break out in song, It would be a fun club to join if you would belong. Pirate’s Explanation: The first two lines would eliminate any areas west of Lincoln Avenue in York. Also, there are two references to west again pointing you to the Susan West bench. The last line was a reference to the Seniors Fun Club that Hub Foster ran for years before his passing. The Foster Park property was donated to the city by the Foster family. Bonus Clue #7 Leave your ball at home Pirate’s Explanation: Would eliminate all the ballpark locations. |
Pirate Jim's Medallion has been found (7/16/25)! The medallion was hidden inside a bush in Foster Park. The bush was labeled as Clavey’s Dwarf Honeysuckle and is located about ten feet south of a bench in the middle of the park. It was hidden around 11 p.m. the night before the hunt started on Tuesday, July 8th. |
Shiver me timbers, it's time for the York Treasure Hunt!
Are you ready for an adventure? Next Year we will set sail (or rather, set foot) on an exciting quest to find Pirate Jim's medallion hidden somewhere on public property within the city of York! Here's what you need to know for the 2026 York Treasure Hunt sponsored by Cornerstone Bank. Please read the official rules carefully and don't forget to register.
Avast ye! Here ARRR the rules:
Register: All 2026 Treasure Hunters must register by the end of the day on Monday, July 6, 2026, to be eligible for the full $1,000 Grand Prize. Registration opens Monday, June 1, 2026, and can be completed at any Cornerstone Bank location in York County or online. Anyone is welcome to participate in the Treasure Hunt, except employees of the York News-Times and members of their immediate families or households.
Daily Clues: Beginning Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Pirate Jim's daily clues will appear in the York News-Times. The newspaper clues will help lead you to the $1,000 Treasure Hunt Medallion which will be hidden on public property somewhere in the city of York. It is not necessary to subscribe to or purchase copies of the York News-Times to participate in the contest. The Daily Clue will be posted online at www.cornerstoneconnect.com/Treasure-Hunt the day after it runs in the newspaper.
Bonus Clues: Get additional bonus clues daily, beginning Tuesday, July 7, 2026 sponsored by Cornerstone Bank. Bonus clues will post online at www.cornerstoneconnect.com/Treasure-Hunt by 10:00 AM.
The Medallion: The person finding the medallion should present it at the York News-Times office at 205 S. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 204 in York during regular business hours for verification. If the medallion is not turned in to the York News-Times office before August 1st, the York News-Times reserves the right to terminate the hunt and donate the prize money to charity.
Prize: You must be registered to be eligible to win the full $1,000 Grand Prize. Anyone that turns in the Treasure Hunt Medallion that is not registered will win a $500 Prize. The prize money will be awarded as a York Chamber Card.
For years, the York Treasure Hunt has captured the imaginations of adventurers young and old. This beloved summer tradition, inspired by the legendary York News-Times Pirate Jim, has sent countless treasure hunters on thrilling quests through the city of York.
Over the years, Pirate Jim's medallion has been hidden in some of York's most iconic locations. Here's a look back at some of the past hiding spots:
Pirate Jim's Medallion History |
1988: Old water tower, 9th & Elmer È |
1989: In hollow tree, Harrison Park |
1990: Under parking curb city lot, 7th & Platte |
1991: In soccer goal, Fairgrounds parking lot |
1992: Parking lot, Beaver Creek Park |
1993: Inside street sign, 18th & East Avenue, Miller Park |
1994: Down left field line, Beaver Creek Ballpark |
1995: Cedar tree west of Yowell Track, York High School |
1996: Window casing, York Auditorium |
1997: Between railroad ties, Foster Park |
1998: Underneath siding of Cattle Barn #1, York County Fairgrounds |
1999: Underneath tree root, Harrison Park |
2000: On light pole in parking lot, York Elementary School |
2001: Underneath ticket booth, York County Fairgrounds |
2002: At bus stop, East Hill Park |
2003: Under blocking sled at Yowell Track, York High School |
2004: Mercantile Building, York County Fairgrounds |
2005: Along round-about curb, Mincks Park |
2006: Near scoreboard, Miller Park |
2007: Under a small wood frame outbuilding, near a cattle pen at the fairgrounds |
2008: Under a fence post of the fence around the York High School track |
2009: Under a metal sheathing of a power pole at York City Parking Lot |
2010: Hanging in the vines at the gazebo in Foster Park |
2011: East of the high school, under the marching band stand |
2012: Under a small white shed at the York County Fairgrounds |
2013: Northeast corner of Miller Park parking lot, under a metal pole |
2014: Mincks Park along the bike trail |
2015: At Harrison Park, in a pine tree adjacent to the walking/bike path on the west end |
2016: West end of the gravel parking lot in a hole within a tree at Harrison Park |
2017 (Medallion #1): Under the sill behind a small storage barn at YES 2017 (Medallion #2): Under the siding on the north side of the Ag Hall Building |
2018: Edge of the sidewalk leading up to the York Ballpark Complex |
2019: Close to the Cornerstone Building at the fairgrounds, under timbers that surround a small children's playground |
2020: In the pine trees by the swimming pool in Mincks Park |
2021: Halfway between third base dugout and backstop, under a chain link fence at Beaver Creek Park |
2022: Behind the weeds next to the garden beds at York Middle School |
2023: In base of tree, south side of Ag building at the Fair Grounds |
2024: In a pine tree by Peyton-Parker-Lane Playground, in Mincks Park |
2025: Hidden in a honeysuckle bush at Foster Park |
