2025 DPHS Horseshoe Hunt
Wagner Family Wins 2025 Horseshoe Hunt
Written by Nancy Huddleston
Patience paid off for the Wagner Family, which found the 2025 Dan Patch Days
horseshoe underneath a storage equipment chest near the baseball fields at Summit
Pointe Park.
“At first, we thought it was somewhere near Hamilton Ridge School because of all the
references to Hamilton in the first clue,” said Jamie Wagner. Also, the “take a bow”
reference indicated to them that it must be near a baseball field. The second clue with
its “Taj Mahal” references sent them to look in the “Images of America – Savage” book
for more information as they continued to search in the same area.
The family didn’t get out to search again until two days after the third clue had been
released, and that clue pointed them to the opposite side of town, Jamie said. When
they arrived, the reference to walking a trail toward the “orb with City of Savage,” gave
them hope that they were in the right park because of the proximity of the water tower.
Once they got to Summit Pointe Park, the Wagner’s three children raced ahead, toward
the baseball fields. They zeroed in on a baseball field equipment box with a big City of
Savage logo on top. When they looked underneath the box, they could see something.
“My oldest convinced one of his younger sisters to stick her arm under the box,” Jamie
said, “It was dark and dirty, and they were convinced there were spiders in there, but
she grabbed it. By the time we got there, they had it. We were there maybe two
minutes, and the kids found it!”
Jamie said the family had been looking for it for a long time, and never thought they’d
win, especially considering the intensity of some of the searchers.
Each of the Wagner’s children were motivated differently to win this year’s hunt. “The
oldest wants the money, the middle* wants to ride in the parade, and the youngest* one
just wants to carry around with the horseshoe all day,” Jamie said.
*Corrections made 06.24.25
Patience paid off for the Wagner Family, which found the 2025 Dan Patch Days
horseshoe underneath a storage equipment chest near the baseball fields at Summit
Pointe Park.
“At first, we thought it was somewhere near Hamilton Ridge School because of all the
references to Hamilton in the first clue,” said Jamie Wagner. Also, the “take a bow”
reference indicated to them that it must be near a baseball field. The second clue with
its “Taj Mahal” references sent them to look in the “Images of America – Savage” book
for more information as they continued to search in the same area.
The family didn’t get out to search again until two days after the third clue had been
released, and that clue pointed them to the opposite side of town, Jamie said. When
they arrived, the reference to walking a trail toward the “orb with City of Savage,” gave
them hope that they were in the right park because of the proximity of the water tower.
Once they got to Summit Pointe Park, the Wagner’s three children raced ahead, toward
the baseball fields. They zeroed in on a baseball field equipment box with a big City of
Savage logo on top. When they looked underneath the box, they could see something.
“My oldest convinced one of his younger sisters to stick her arm under the box,” Jamie
said, “It was dark and dirty, and they were convinced there were spiders in there, but
she grabbed it. By the time we got there, they had it. We were there maybe two
minutes, and the kids found it!”
Jamie said the family had been looking for it for a long time, and never thought they’d
win, especially considering the intensity of some of the searchers.
Each of the Wagner’s children were motivated differently to win this year’s hunt. “The
oldest wants the money, the middle* wants to ride in the parade, and the youngest* one
just wants to carry around with the horseshoe all day,” Jamie said.
*Corrections made 06.24.25
Rules
The annual horseshoe hunt takes place every year preceding Dan Patch Days. A horseshoe is hidden somewhere within the city of Savage, on public property. Clues are available on the Dan Patch Historical Society's website and at the Savage Library. The annual horseshoe hunt has taken place since 1996 and has always been sponsored by the Dan Patch Historical Society.
Rules
1. Clues are given out each week that lead to the location of a special horseshoe hidden
somewhere on "public property" within the City of Savage boundaries.
2. Whoever finds the horseshoe and has purchased a 2025 Dan Patch Days button prior to finding the shoe wins $100.
3. The lucky winner also gets to keep the commemorative horseshoe.
2025 Dan Patch Days buttons are available at Savage City Hall, the Savage Library, board members of the DPHS, or at the booth on Saturday.
Each Friday, clues for the horseshoe hunt will be available here by 9 p.m. on this web site (www.danpatch.com). This is the only place the clues will be available online.
To maintain the interest and integrity of the horseshoe hunt, the following members, spouses and minor children are NOT eligible to participate in the hunt: Dan Patch Historical Society board members and Dan Patch Days Inc. committee members. Also, there will not be any back-to-back winners.
**Anyone who believes they've found Dan's shoe, please CONTACT US (and Please leave a contact number, we will follow up ASAP.
Rules
1. Clues are given out each week that lead to the location of a special horseshoe hidden
somewhere on "public property" within the City of Savage boundaries.
2. Whoever finds the horseshoe and has purchased a 2025 Dan Patch Days button prior to finding the shoe wins $100.
3. The lucky winner also gets to keep the commemorative horseshoe.
2025 Dan Patch Days buttons are available at Savage City Hall, the Savage Library, board members of the DPHS, or at the booth on Saturday.
Each Friday, clues for the horseshoe hunt will be available here by 9 p.m. on this web site (www.danpatch.com). This is the only place the clues will be available online.
To maintain the interest and integrity of the horseshoe hunt, the following members, spouses and minor children are NOT eligible to participate in the hunt: Dan Patch Historical Society board members and Dan Patch Days Inc. committee members. Also, there will not be any back-to-back winners.
**Anyone who believes they've found Dan's shoe, please CONTACT US (and Please leave a contact number, we will follow up ASAP.
2025 Clues
Clue #1
Hamilton Ferry, Hamilton Landing, Hamilton Station
Different modes of travel, but to the same location.
Wander high or wander low it’s named Savage now.
A bustling town MW would be proud of, take a bow.
Clue #2
MW and Harold would lounge on the lawn at Valley View.
They could count the horses’ time and see what’s new.
The Taj was beautiful with spires and a wonderful dome.
A very nice model now calls the Savage Library home.
Clue #3
Steamboats Bellow-Trains whistle- Daytripper’s Disembark.
It’s a great day to see Dan Patch and then go sit in a park.
Begin at where you can see “CITY of SAVAGE” on a building.
Walk a trail toward a much higher orb with “City of SAVAGE”
Clue #4
Not needed
Clue #5 (if necessary)
Not Needed
Hamilton Ferry, Hamilton Landing, Hamilton Station
Different modes of travel, but to the same location.
Wander high or wander low it’s named Savage now.
A bustling town MW would be proud of, take a bow.
Clue #2
MW and Harold would lounge on the lawn at Valley View.
They could count the horses’ time and see what’s new.
The Taj was beautiful with spires and a wonderful dome.
A very nice model now calls the Savage Library home.
Clue #3
Steamboats Bellow-Trains whistle- Daytripper’s Disembark.
It’s a great day to see Dan Patch and then go sit in a park.
Begin at where you can see “CITY of SAVAGE” on a building.
Walk a trail toward a much higher orb with “City of SAVAGE”
Clue #4
Not needed
Clue #5 (if necessary)
Not Needed
2025 Clue Explanations
Clue #1
This clue contained the word Hamilton, meant to be a diversion and send people to Hamilton Hills Park . Also, it might send searchers to the board by the depot. Or the school area in south Savage. High or Low might indicate that it is somewhere between.
Clue #2
This clue might get seekers up to the Historical Society museum at the library . Dome is a hint to a spherical shape that could be important to find the shoe.
Clue #3
A much higher orb ( spherical shape) should lead to the idea of a water tower. Go sit in a park is obvious. The rest of the clue tells you to follow a trail and where to start.
The clues do not set a linear, sequential, path to follow, but use words throughout the clues to associate with each other and find a possible solution.
This clue contained the word Hamilton, meant to be a diversion and send people to Hamilton Hills Park . Also, it might send searchers to the board by the depot. Or the school area in south Savage. High or Low might indicate that it is somewhere between.
Clue #2
This clue might get seekers up to the Historical Society museum at the library . Dome is a hint to a spherical shape that could be important to find the shoe.
Clue #3
A much higher orb ( spherical shape) should lead to the idea of a water tower. Go sit in a park is obvious. The rest of the clue tells you to follow a trail and where to start.
The clues do not set a linear, sequential, path to follow, but use words throughout the clues to associate with each other and find a possible solution.