Hikers with maps and metal detectors are becoming a common sight on the trails near White Rocks. They’re not just there for the view—many are convinced that hidden treasure lies beneath their feet.
It all started with the 2024 mystery-adventure book “There is Treasure Inside” by the enigmatic author Jon Collins Black. The book claims that five real-world treasure chests—now known as the JCB Treasures—are hidden somewhere in the U.S. A growing number of readers believe one of them is buried in Wallingford.
The theory centers around page 230 of the book, where a cryptic map appears to resemble the area around Little Rock Pond and the Appalachian Trail. The map features faded but familiar symbols—skiers, catamounts, and apples—sparking speculation that Vermont may be home to one of the elusive caches.
Since early spring, treasure hunters have arrived from across the country, trading theories at local trailheads and grabbing coffee in town before venturing into the woods. Locals say the current treasure buzz echoes stories dating back to the 1700s—tales of silver hidden by early settlers near White Rocks.
Whether fact, folklore, or cleverly planted fiction, the search has brought renewed attention to Wallingford’s scenic trails and deepened the sense of adventure in the area.
For those looking for a sure bet, Come Alive Outside is offering a different kind of treasure hunt this summer. Launching May 30 in Rutland and Barre, the organization’s Summer Passport Program includes a family-friendly outdoor challenge that ends with a real treasure map. Complete activities to earn the map, then follow clues to a treasure chest hidden in a downtown business. Each chest contains prizes for those who unlock it using a secret password.
Whether you’re on the trail of lost colonial treasure, unraveling the clues of a literary mystery, or joining in a family-friendly hunt downtown, all signs point to one thing: treasure season is officially underway in Vermont.
Passports will be available online starting May 30.
For more information, visit: comealiveoutside.com.
