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NEWTON FALLS -- Event organizers for this year's Falls Treasure Hunt plan to continue the event in 2027 with Fieldview Acres Mercantile and Sarchione Chevrolet of Garrettsville announcing a partnership for the next event.
Thomas Colosimo, owner of Fieldview Acres Mercantile, said "The Great American Treasure Road Trip: Chapter II aims to build on the success of the 2026 hunt, bringing visitors, excitement and economic activity back to the area."
Colosimo said Fieldview Acres Mercantile will be an official partner with Sarchione Chevrolet next year.
"The next adventure, The Great American Treasure Road Trip: Chapter II, is already in the works, with organizers hoping to make the 2027 hunt even bigger than its predecessor while continuing its original mission: bringing people into our local communities, introducing visitors to our small businesses and attractions, and creating a reason for people to explore everything this area has to offer,'' Colosimo said.
The 2026 treasure hunt drew participants and visitors from across Ohio, numerous states and even outside the United States. Throughout the hunt, participants ate at local restaurants, shopped in local stores, visited area attractions and spent days exploring the community while working to solve the clues.
Colosimo said the impact went far beyond simply finding a treasure.
"Prior to the launch of the 2026 hunt, several local businesses were struggling through the winter months, with some considering whether they would be able to remain open. During and following the hunt, many area businesses reported noticeable increases in customers and sales. Some have since expanded, and new businesses have opened as momentum continues to build in the area,'' he said.
Colosimo said that is exactly the kind of momentum organizers hope to carry into 2027.
"The treasure hunt was always about more than the prize. It was about giving people a reason to come here. Once they arrived, they discovered our restaurants, our shops, our history and our communities. We watched businesses that had been struggling suddenly see new faces walking through their doors. For 2027, we want to take what we started and build it into something even greater." Colosimo said.
He said the partnership with Sarchione Chevrolet will help expand the reach of the 2027 hunt and create new opportunities to introduce participants to the region.
The 2027 hunt will be known as The Great American Treasure Road Trip: Chapter II, with additional information regarding the hunt, prize, rules, locations and official clues to be released at a later date.
Fieldview Acres Mercantile and Sarchione Chevrolet are seeking businesses, organizations and individuals interested in becoming sponsors of the 2027 treasure hunt.
Sponsorships and donations will help build the treasure and allow organizers to begin generating excitement and publicity well ahead of the hunt.
"The goal is simple: create an even larger event capable of attracting more visitors, generating more economic activity and shining an even brighter spotlight on the businesses and communities of the area,'' Colosimo said.
Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to participate.