Scavenger Hunt!

From the BCCT.

Towns to host giant scavenger hunt
The event will showcase the “tremendous historic and cultural assets” of the boroughs.
By DANNY ADLER

A local revitalization effort will hold its first big event next month featuring the four Landmark Towns of Bucks County — Bristol, Morrisville, Yardley and New Hope.

The Landmark Towns, a project of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, is preparing for a “ravenchase” — somewhat of a scavenger hunt using riddles, anagrams, puzzles, planted actors, gadgets and ciphers leading to a secret end location. The Great Delaware Canal Chase, a joint effort by Landmark Towns and Ravenchase Adventures, leads participants throughout the four towns by car to solve the codes and learn a bit about American history. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

“We’re really hoping to attract visitors to the downtowns in the four communities through a really fun activity. Participants will most likely stop along the way and visit a retail store or restaurant that they may otherwise not have the opportunity to do,” said Donna Boone, Landmark Towns’ regional main street coordinator.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 13. Tickets are $50 per player or $150 per car (up to six people). For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ravenchase.com.

Landmark Towns is not using the event to raise funds, but to raise friends, Boone said. Any proceeds, which she said will be negligible after expenses, go directly to the event organizer at Ravenchase.

“We determined that it is more important at this time to raise awareness about the tremendous historic and cultural assets these communities have to offer,” Boone said.

The Landmark Towns of Bucks County initiative started several years ago trying to convince the waterfront boroughs of Bristol, Morrisville, Yardley and New Hope to sign on and commit to the project.

The hopes were to preserve each borough’s historic resources, enhance their local economies and brand the riverfront towns as destinations.

In more than two years, all four boroughs have committed to the project, and the state has chipped in money for transporta tion efforts to link the towns and to hire a regional coordinator.