CashStash KC is taking treasure hunting to new heights

By Ben McCarthy

When Quaid Haase stumbled onto something billed as “CashStash KC” early last fall, he had the same reaction that much of Kansas City had to the mysterious online entity promising free money. The money was being hidden around town every weekend as part of an on-going, city-wide treasure hunt. 

“No way,” Haase thought. “Free money? Sure.” 

The mysterious figure (or figures) behind the online CashStash account, were posting to Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook every week with “clues” that lead local viewers to the not-so-hidden stashes of cold hard cash, sometimes at locations well known to any Kansas City resident. 

Haase, a millennial in his 30s, was still skeptical of the entire phenomenon even when he started playing on weekends. 

But then on December 28th, he won.

A $100 stash was awaiting him at Union Station, but he wasn’t finished. He won again in February. This time the $100 stash was outside the National WWI Museum.  

“I would have won a third time that month, but the guy I had met at Power & Light who promised to split it, just decided to drive off instead,” Haase said.

Haase is still out on the weekends looking for bigger and better paydays, and getting friends to join in on the hunt. Like many others, he participates in the “free” hunt that is posted every Saturday through CashStash KC’s many social media channels. But he’s also one of the many Kansas Citians who pays $3 per month to subscribe to the CashStash KC Patreon page, where a new cash drop is posted exclusively to its members every Sunday (both of Haase’s wins came via the clues posted to Patreon). 

Trevor Bolerjack, 34, lives near Swope Park with his wife and kids and works as an executive chef at the Cascade Hotel on the Plaza. He started seeing CashStash KC on Instagram late last year with his wife and almost won on first attempt to wrangle the secret stash. 

“I was on the Plaza and saw a posting, and knew it was nearby at the Nelson [Museum],” Bolerjack said. “Whoever beat us to it had gotten there within 5 minutes, which seems to often happen.”

The next day, a  clue was posted on the Patreon page, which would take him and his family to Johnson County Community College.

“It was something about ‘where minds grow’ and I recognized (the campus),” Bolerjack said. “It’s pretty fun to put the kids in the car and go looking, but you really have to plan your day around it.”

Their efforts did not go unrewarded, and the $100 prize was theirs to keep. Other well known locations over the past year have included: Oak Park Mall, Shawnee Mission Park, and Penguin Park, to name a few.  Valley Park in Grandview was also used earlier this year. 

Last week, the Telegraph was finally able to connect with the mystery man behind CashStash KC, who would only go by “Cash.” He said that he and his fiancee are the only people involved in the operation, and that they had no ties to any other entity in town. 

“It began last April, with the idea to do a treasure hunt through social media,” Cash said. “I love KC, and I could see adults running around the city.”

Only close family members, and a few select friends, know what he and his wife are up to. Cash says he owns a “media marketing firm” in town, and only gives very broad details regarding his background: he is entering his late 20’s, grew up in the Shawnee/Lenexa part of town, and studied marketing and sales at Kansas State University. CashStash KC’s presence is growing across the major social media platforms, including: TikTok (over 20K followers), Instagram (almost 60K followers), and Facebook (over 115K followers). He promises something special will be happening in April, to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of CashStash KC’s launch.

“I have something in mind once the weather gets better,” Cash said.

He reveals that he has created an LLC for CashStash, confirming that the operation is “profitable” through Patreon, other means of online monetization, and his growing partnerships with local businesses who sponsor (or fund) weekend prize money (which now takes players inside stores, scouring the business for the money). Cash says he doesn’t plan on keeping any excess money, and points towards a charitable donation to Shelter KC downtown at the end of last year, for a little over $1000.
Weekend hunts go live on Saturdays, usually sometime between 9am and 11am, and Patreon members see exclusive clues on Sundays at 2pm. 

New, interested players who aren’t keen to go on social media can learn more at: cashstashkc.com

Please leave this field empty

NEW! South KC Arts & Entertainment Newsletter

Sign up for our FREE email newsletter full of weekend activities, sent every Friday.

Thanks for signing up! Look for your newsletter next Friday morning.