Fort Scott gearing up for local amazing race

Organizers of the "Race for the Hidden Treasures of Fort Scott" event that takes place next month are now finalizing plans for the race as the deadline to register teams quickly approaches.

"I'd say we have about six or seven teams right now, with more expected to sign up closer to the deadline," according to Fort Scott Recreation Department Director Tom Robertson, who is on the event's planning committee.

Those people who are interested in participating in the city-wide race or forming a team have until Monday, May 5 to register. The event is being sponsored by Buck Run Community Center, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Scott Historic Preservation Society, the Scottish Knights of Saint Andrew, the Scottish Rite Masons, and other local businesses. The race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24.

The planning committee is currently trying to recruit a maximum of 25 teams and between 75 and 100 participants, officials said.

Robertson said the event, the first of its kind in Fort Scott, has drawn some interest from the public over the last few weeks while planners continue to piece together the agenda for the race.

"We've had some inquiries," he said. "Of course, it's the first year we've ever done something like this, so we're just working out the kinks right now."

Sponsoring organizations have also teamed with the Disney Corporation to bring the event to Fort Scott.

The event is based on the successful television program "The Amazing Race," and also ties in with the May 20 video release of the 2007 movie "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the sequel to the 2004 film, "National Treasure," which includes a backstory involving the Knights Templar and Freemasonry. Both films were distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

The event is also being conducted after the success of a similar race that took place in three major U.S. cities last December. That event was planned by various Scottish Rite Mason chapters in those cities to coincide with the release of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" in theaters.

In the local race, teams consisting of three to six people will take a four-to-six-hour walking tour of historical locations in Fort Scott, searching for clues and performing physical challenges in a race to be the first team to reach the final destination -- the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St. The team that finishes the race in the quickest time will be considered the winner and receive an award at the conclusion of the race.

Teams will need to visit more than 15 historic area locations -- including the 85-year-old Scottish Rite Temple, the Fort Scott National Historic Site, and the Fort Scott Public Library -- as they make their way along the race route toward the final location. Teams will need to use a variety of skills and talents to unearth and solve clues, and to perform physical tasks. At each location will be a set of clues from which team members must choose one that will lead them in the right direction to complete the race.

Robertson offered a small example of one challenge that team members can expect to encounter along the race route -- teams will need to visit Frary Field, the football field located just north of Fort Scott High School, to search for clues, he said.

"They'll walk around the track that circles the field to find a note in the bleachers or something like that," he said. "Something that will lead them to the next location."

While team members will be expected to complete most of the race on foot, Dolly the Trolley will be available to transport teams into Gunn Park during one portion of the race, Robertson said. Upon arriving at the park, teams will participate in a physical activity in which they will collect beads in an attempt to be the first team to arrange the beads in the correct order and move on to the race's next location.

The cost to participate in the event is $10 per person per team. All proceeds from the event will be used to purchase T-shirts and meals for all participants at the conclusion of the event.

Immediately following the race, team members will be able to attend a dinner and screening of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" at the Scottish Rite Temple. Teams will also receive other gifts and awards for participating in the event.

For more information, call BRCC at (620) 223-0386, or the Scottish Rite Temple at 223-1330.