HUGO — A popular addition to Hugo’s Good Neighbor Days each year is the Hunt for the Golden Spike.

The fun dates back to 2006, Hugo’s Centennial year, when the community celebrated its century of history and railroad heritage.

Spike was originally an authentic railroad spike painted gold, but to forestall the use of metal detectors, Spike has since been plastic.

The Golden Spike will be found on public park property somewhere within Hugo city limits during Good Neighbor Days, Thursday through Sunday, June 4-7.

The lucky winner will receive a $100 instant cash prize. To qualify for additional prizes ($300 more cash and $500 in gift cards or certificates good at sponsors’ places of business) the Spike finder must present a completed Golden Ticket, stamped by each of the sponsors.

The first three clues are printed below just to give you a hint of the fun to come. Don’t forget to read the rules below: they specify when and how each additional clue will be made public. Take note: Spike will not be buried, so shovels are not necessary.

Take the whole family out to Hugo’s 17 parks and enjoy this golden kickoff to summer! See you at Lions Park during Good Neighbor Days!

2015 Hunt for the Golden Spike OFFICIAL RULES

(Please note: the rules have been updated since publication to correct a typographical error. Spike is NOT hidden on private property, but is in one of Hugo's 17 city parks. 5/29/15)

The first three treasure hunt clues are published in The Citizen’s May 28 edition, on our website (www.readthecitizen.com) and in the 2015 Good Neighbor Days tab, inserted in thousands of area newspapers.

A new clue will be posted on The Citizen’s website during Good Neighbor Days, two times daily Thursday through Saturday, June 4-6, one at approximately 8 a.m. and one at approximately 5 p.m.. The final clue will be posted at approximately 8 a.m. Sunday, June 7. (If you’re parked on our website, don’t forget to hit the refresh button to update the page!) Clues will also be posted in the pavilion at Lions Park in downtown Hugo at approximately the same times.

The Citizen reserves the right to discontinue the hunt at any time if public property is destroyed. Spike will not be buried, so shovels are not needed.

If you find the Golden Spike, immediately call the Spike Hotline (651-407-1209). NOTE: this Spike Hotline number is new this year) to report where it was found and to qualify for a $100 instant cash prize. No purchase is necessary to win.

The Citizen will also award up to $300 in additional cash and $550 in gift cards or certificates good at area businesses to the Spike finder if he/she has a completed “Golden Ticket” form officially stamped by all of the individual sponsors of the 2015 Hunt for the Golden Spike. Copies of the Golden Ticket forms may be clipped from the May 28 edition of The Citizen, from the Good Neighbor Days tab, or downloaded from The Citizen’s Web page (www.readthecitizen.com).

Official sponsors are: City of Hugo, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N, Hugo; Hawaiian Tan (Hugo or Forest Lake) 14643 Mercantile Dr. N, Suite 107, Hugo, or 1500 Lake St. S, Forest Lake; Ideal Credit Union, 14750 Victor Hugo Blvd. N, Hugo; Key Automotive, 14797 Forest Blvd. N, Hugo; Wise Guys, 7095 20th Ave., Centerville; Savoy Pizza-Hugo, 14755 Victor Hugo Blvd. N, Hugo; Bald Eagle Quick Stop, 5960 Hwy 61, White Bear Lake; Hugo Equipment Company, 13997 Forest Blvd. N, Hugo; Hugo Feed Mill, 5582 146th St. N, Hugo; Hugo American Legion, 5383 140th St. N, Hugo; and Premier Bank, 14815 Forest Blvd. N, Hugo.

If Spike is not found by noon on Sunday, June 7, all prize money and gift certificates will be donated to the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf.

The completed Golden Ticket must be submitted to hunt organizers no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7 and at the same time the instant cash prize is awarded. Late Golden Tickets will not be accepted.

If the Spike finder does not have a completed Golden Ticket the remaining prize money and gift certificates will be donated to the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf.

Park maps are available from official sponsors while supplies last. Spike hunters can also find park and open space maps posted on the Hugo Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission’s Web page (www.ci.hugo.mn.us, click on “Resident Info” and select “Parks & Rec” from the drop-down menu). PLEASE NOTE: Although Oneka Ridge Golf Course, Wild Wings of Oneka Hunt Club and the Bald Eagle Sportsmen’s Association and other private properties are shown on the city’s Parks and Open Space map, Spike is NOT hidden on private property.

All contestants agree that The Citizen, Press Publications, the Hugo Lions Club and their respective affiliate companies, parents, subsidiaries, advertising representatives and agents will have no liability whatsoever, and will be held harmless by contestants of any injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the prizes or participation in this contest.

Except where legally prohibited, by accepting the prize the winner grants permission for The Citizen, Press Publications and those acting under its authority to use his or her name, photograph and/or likeness for advertising and/or publicity.

All contest rules and decisions are final.

Employees of Press Publications and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

For a list of winners, write to The Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN  55038 and enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Clues will be posted at the times stated in the Official Rules after the hunt official begins.

Copyright 2015 Hugo Citizen.