‘Survivor’ launches 50-state scavenger hunt. See a Kansas clue, with Missouri next
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- ‘Survivor’ hides handcrafted immunity idols in all 50 states, dropping daily clues.
- Participants register online, visit locations, solve challenges and photograph idols.
- The sweepstakes’ grand prize is a trip to the live Survivor 50 finale in Los Angeles.
“Survivor” begins its 50th season next month — has it really been that long? — and to celebrate, it launched a nationwide scavenger hunt this week.
Clues. Riddles. A physical hunt. Game on.
The CBS juggernaut hid an immunity idol in all 50 states and is dropping clues to their locations on the website, Survivor50Challenge.com.
“Survivor” fans are familiar with the immunity idol — the coveted, protective amulets used in the game.
Once you register at the website you’ll get a clue about the location of the idol hidden in your state, and a specific window of time to go there.
Be prepared to play. Maybe even ride a snowmobile. Planning for the elaborate hunt has taken more than a year.
Clues for each state began dropping Monday and will continue daily until Feb. 21. The clue to the idol hidden in Missouri will be revealed on Saturday, according to the website.
But the Kansas clue is available now.
“In the birthplace of he who knows what you play for,
Sits a building that once taught young minds.
North west’s not right, but rather the opposite,
A southern entrance beckons for those who arrive.”
Be there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the website says. It’s an indoor location, ADA accessible and the website recommends that hunters wear comfortable shoes.
Once you’re there, fans must solve a second clue or complete a challenge to find the idol. Then they have to scan a QR code, take a photo of themselves with the idol and submit that evidence online to quality for that state’s sweepstakes. One winner for each state will be drawn.
“We would go into each state and find locations that were visually interesting, but could be challenging,” Mike Benson, president and chief marketing officer of Paramount Television, told Parade.
“They were either somewhat accessible, but maybe a challenge to find the idol. Or maybe something that wasn’t very accessible. It’s this mix of locations that not only represent the spirit of ‘Survivor,’ but also we wanted to find locations in every single state that just kind of represented each state in a unique way.”
For instance, Benson said finding one state’s idol will involve “digging deep,” taking a half-mile hike and using a snowmobile. Another has been placed in a heavily traveled tourist attraction.
They’re only available at specific times to avoid chaos, Benson said. That’s why clues will not be released simultaneously, too.
Show host and producer Jeff Probst asked that “Survivor” production folks make these immunity idols. Each one was handcrafted by the “Survivor” art department in Fiji. They are elaborate pendants featuring the image of a phoenix with Probst’s signature on the back to prevent fakes.
During the Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, Probst revealed the grand prize: A trip to Los Angeles for the “Survivor 50” live finale.
“That was always part of the plan,” Benson said. “When we created the 50-state promotion, what we wanted to do was to get people to actually be at the live finale. If you are a fan of the show, we want you to be there with us for the live finale. We always wanted to give that away.”
The 50th season was filmed last summer in the Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, where the show has taken place every year since season 33, when millennials went head-to-head with Gen X players. The first season of survivor aired in May 2000.
The anniversary season will feature veteran players, including some who have competed in seasons past. And a handful of competitors have been from Kansas City or have local ties. For instance, NBA veteran Scot Pollard, who played college basketball at the University of Kansas, competed in season 32.
Danni Boatwright, at the time a former beauty queen and model-turned sports radio broadcaster, won “Survivor” Guatemala,” season 11, in 2005.
That season was the first time immunity idols were used in the game.
Boatwright still lives in the area.
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