A week after the epilogue, we still don’t know where the “golden owl” was hidden, just like the name of the winner of the game.
On the forums, the name of a village constantly comes up.
To find out more, TF1info contacted the mayor of Dabo, the town in question.
But where did the mythical “Golden Owl” make its nest? The predictions have been going well since the announcement of the end of this treasure hunt (new window) which began in 1993. Because, if the mystery remains as to its exact location, on the discussion forums dedicated to this legendary treasure hunt, the name of a small Lorraine village regularly came up in Internet users’ comments. It would be in Dabo, a small town of 2,500 people located in Moselle, that the bronze replica which served as a countermark and allowed one to win the reward would have been buried: a sculpture weighing around ten kilos in precious metals and set with diamonds. , in the shape of an owl and whose value is estimated at around 150,000 euros. According to the organizers, more than 200,000 people took part in this legendary treasure hunt.
To find the location, participants had to solve eleven puzzles presented in a book called On the trail of the golden owl. For the past ten years, hundreds of “chouetteuses” (the name of the players) have set down their shovels in this picturesque town, convinced that the famous “golden owl” was in the area. “Apparently, all mysteries lead to our commune”confirms, cheerfully, Eric Weber, the mayor of the village, contacted by TF1info. “The latest excavations focused on a perimeter of a few dozen square meters, in a wood which adjoins the town of Dabo, at what we call the Saint-Martin terminals. Now, we are impatient, we will finally know if it was the right solution”enthuses the city councilor.
People came to have a bite to eat between shovels. The atmosphere was good-natured. We had a few regulars, they came back every year.
Patrick Kieffer, the chef of the Chouette d’or restaurant
Eric Weber and the residents of Dabo are not the only ones who are impatient. This is also the case for the tens of thousands of participants in this legendary treasure hunt. Although the organizers sounded the alarm last week, we still do not know where the bonze owl was buried, as well as the name of the person who managed to discover its hiding place. But the enthusiasm generated by this treasure hunt has also brought its share of nuisances, recognizes Eric Weber. “We had to send instructions to the organizers and owl associations, because people did not always fill in the holes and the National Forestry Office was not very happy.” Local hunters too…
The town hall has sometimes had to respond to somewhat eccentric requests. “We regularly received letters or emails. Once, a player explained that he would be ready to share the reward if we provided him with a backhoe loader. The mayor at the time kindly replied that it was not possible”relates Eric Weber. Obviously, the epilogue of this legendary treasure hunt also leaves some disappointed. Patrick Kieffer, the chef of the Chouette d’or restaurant, is one of them. “It boosted the local economy. People came to have a bite to eat between shovels. The atmosphere was good-natured. We had a few regulars, they came back every year. Some have even become friends“, says the manager.
The “Golden Owl”, almost a local icon
In the small Lorraine village, the “Chouette d’or” has become a small local icon, as illustrated by the eponymous name of the only restaurant in the town. The old Château restaurant burned down in 2015. With the influx of owls, it was finally able to reopen its doors, and its baptismal name was chosen. “People were crossing France. And so, they stayed there to sleep. The local lodges were able to take advantage of it. The name of the restaurant is a bit of a wink to thank the organizers for this spotlight “explains Eric Weber. With the end of the game, there may be fewer owl seekers.
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But Eric Weber is convinced, it is indeed in this area that the big winner dug up the treasure. If this is the case, the mayor of Dabo intends to make it a tourist asset. “Before this treasure hunt, Dabo was already known for its legendary rock. During the summer season, we have a lot of hikers passing through. But the day we know the location, why not highlight the place. A statue , for example, where we would trace the history This treasure hunt has fascinated tens of thousands of people across the country. Some of them may want to see with their own eyes the place where the creators of the. game had hidden the Golden Owl“, anticipates the councilor.
Dabo, capital of owls? It remains to be seen whether it is indeed in this village that the bird had dug its nest. The epilogue is in the hands of the organizers.
