If you search for Uncharted Lancaster online, you’ll find self-guided scavenger hunts, books, podcasts, and over 800 local history articles all exploring the forgotten stories, local legends, and hidden places of Lancaster County. How did this one-of-a-kind history and adventure platform begin? What was the spark that set Uncharted Lancaster in motion? Find out how one conversation and a search for a local cemetery motivated a local technology education teacher to start something truly unique.
The First Adventure
Adam Zurn is an author, explorer, and founder of Uncharted Lancaster. He is also a technology education teacher at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. One day at work, Adam was speaking about walking his dogs along the Enola Low Grade Trail when a friend asked if he had ever been to the cemetery in Shenks Ferry. She mentioned that there were gravestones that date back to the 1700s. Adam resolved that the next time he took his dogs out for a walk, they would try to find the cemetery. This goal, however, proved more difficult than presumed. The online maps and articles about the cemetery failed him, and it took Adam several days before he finally reached his destination.
For Adam, this process of researching, exploring, and finally discovering this hidden historical spot was deeply rewarding. The challenge awakened the adventurous spirit that drew him to movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Goonies as a kid. While trying to find this cemetery, Adam stumbled upon dark culverts, tunnels, and stone structures that he never knew existed. He began to research the history of the local area and found fascinating sites and stories like the 1,000-year-old petroglyphs of Safe Harbor and the dynamite factory explosion at Bausman’s Hollow that killed 11 men.
This first adventure would be the genesis for Uncharted Lancaster. He had a hunch that if he enjoyed this mix of hiking, discovery, and local history, then other people would as well. After this, he designed what would be the first of many self-guided scavenger hunts where people follow clues that lead to hidden treasure.
National Treasure Meets Local History
What are the scavenger hunts like? Adam states on his website that they are “National Treasure meets local history. OR It’s like geocaching, only better!” I asked Adam about what types of people complete the scavenger hunts, and it sounds like they attract both young and old. Adam said, “A lot of families do my adventures. Adults really seem to appreciate the history. The treasure hunting aspect seemed to motivate children to go for a hike.” He’s received feedback along the lines of, “My kid complains about walking down the driveway to the mailbox, but today we hiked three miles to find some plastic gold coins.”
When you visit the Uncharted Lancaster website, you can view all the available adventures.
Why It Works
No other platform mixes self-guided treasure hunts, local history, ghost stories, and a plethora of online resources, along with homemade trinkets, clues, and treasures made from laser cutters and 3D printers. I asked Adam about how he uses his unique combination of gifts and passions to create the resources at Uncharted Lancaster. He began by reflecting on helping his son, a high school sophomore, choose his courses for next year. “I was trying to convince him to take some different electives, telling him you never know what the future will hold. Thirty years ago, I was a high school junior, taking graphics, creative writing, and wood shop as electives. I had no idea then that, as an adult, I would be writing, using Photoshop, and running my own makerspace in my basement (laser cutters and 3D printers), all for Uncharted Lancaster.”
It’s inspiring to see someone lean into their gifts and passions to create something that brings them life—and brings great joy to others. Adam continued:
“Uncharted Lancaster has become the perfect avenue for my creative energies, and the positive feedback I’ve received really fills my bucket. Uncharted Lancaster is just the excuse I need to get myself out of the house to explore sites in Lancaster County’s forests and visit our historic sites to deepen my own understanding of our rich cultural heritage.”
Adventures, Podcasts, and Books!
In the past few years, Adam has put a lot of time and energy into writing. In addition to his articles that are published on his site on a regular basis, he has written three books. Adam is the author of Uncharted Lancaster: A Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure; and the children’s book Canassatego and His Six Arrows: A Story of Wisdom, Peace, and the Birth of a Nation.
You can view all the local history articles, adventures, books, podcasts, and more at Uncharted Lancaster.
