The Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt

Recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York!

Discover the mysteries of Manhattan’s backyard as you explore the best of the park below 72nd Street and visit secret spots you might otherwise never find. Along the way, you’ll use your teamwork skills to uncover secret messages, mysterious symbols, writing in the sky, movie and TV locations, and hidden history.

Our impeccable directions and tricky, fun questions will help your team tame Central Park’s twisty paths, making you its master. Our Hunt Host greets you and sets you up at the start on the edge of the park, looks out for your team during the hunt and takes your call if you’ve wandered astray, and congratulates you at the end and announces the results.

Highlights of the Central Park scavenger hunt include…

• A bird sanctuary, hidden in plain sight, that birds won’t go near
• The Carousel, featured in The Catcher in the Rye
• The Dairy, where kids could once get fresh milk from farms outside the city
• Strawberry Fields, honoring John Lennon—and almost named for Bing Crosby
• The Sheep Meadow and the former stable for the actual sheep—now Tavern on the Green
• The Mall, designed to be the only straight path in the park
• The Lake, which was created from a swamp

We can also include the Central Park Zoo for an additional fee to cover zoo admission.

Looking for group activities in NYC?

Since its debut in 1999 this team-building game has been enjoyed by countless corporate groups, including Pepsi, Accenture, KPMG, Netflix, and D.E. Shaw, and such nonprofit organizations as Trinity School, Fordham Prep, the Princeton University Alumni Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, to name just a few.

A 5-star review on Google, from a group that did a variety of hunts, including the Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt: “We used Watson Adventures for a team event of 140 people in the US. Not only was the support in figuring out which hunts to do with this big group really great and detailed, also the communication beforehand was timely, friendly and super forthcoming. On the day of the event, all hosts were super friendly and ensured that all participants had an amazing time!”

“It was such an epic experience and so much fun. Everyone loved it.” —the organizer of an adult birthday party

Private group hunts are available anytime. Hunts for the general public are on select weekends.

Click below for tickets for a weekend hunt for the general public, or to learn more about a private Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt for your group—and find more fun in New York City!