Treasure found after four-week hunt in Big Horn Basin

After four weeks of searching, the Big Horn Basin Treasure Hunt has come to an end.

Rachael Handley of the Powell area located the hidden silver at 7:10 a.m. Saturday, successfully solving the series of weekly clues and becoming the first to uncover the prize.

Handley said she first learned about the hunt in March and followed it casually at first, not expecting to participate. But late Friday night, she found herself drawn in.

“I couldn’t sleep and found myself thinking of this treasure hunt and who found it. Lo and behold, no one had found it yet! Well, I might as well give it a go, right?” she said.

Though tempted to head out immediately, Handley decided to wait until morning. “I didn’t think trudging around a cemetery at 2 a.m. was a wise idea,” she said. She set her alarm for 6 a.m., woke her husband to join her, and headed out.

“Within 2 minutes of arriving, I found the treasure… underneath the artificial flowerpot. I couldn’t believe it, I’d done it!” she said, adding that “the fun in sleuthing about to figure out the mystery was reward enough.”

The treasure, consisting of two ounces of silver, had been concealed in a five-inch grave vase beneath artificial flowers on the right side of the Derinda S. Johnson headstone at Penrose Cemetery, near the Big Horn County and Park County boundary. The cemetery is part of the Byron Cemetery District.

The hunt drew participants from across the basin, many spending hours studying clues, exploring landmarks and revisiting local history. Each weekly set of clues built on the last, gradually narrowing the search area and pointing more directly to the final location.

Hunt organizer John Bernhisel said the goal was not only to challenge participants, but also to connect them with stories from the Basin’s past, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the people and places that shaped the region.

One of those stories is that of Derinda S. Johnson, who died in 1918 at age 25 during the Spanish influenza pandemic. Her life, like many of that era, reflects both hardship and resilience as families across Wyoming faced the dual challenges of war and disease.

“We die twice: first, when we cease to be, and second, when we are forgotten,” Bernhisel said. “This was one small way to help ensure that doesn’t happen, and that her life is not forgotten.”

Stephanie Ames of Cowley was among those who came close. “I cannot believe I stood there and didn’t find it. I bet I stepped on every blade of grass out there,” she said the following day. Despite the near miss, Ames added, “Thanks for the wonderful dive into the area and history. Two things I love.”

Discussion of a possible summer hunt, along with a breakdown of how the clues led participants step by step to the cemetery and final hiding place, is now available on the Big Horn Basin Treasure Hunt Facebook page.