The clue that drew hundreds of eager fans to South Eutaw Street was under 25 words:
“In Cecil, the 2nd baron’s city, there’s a tower that once stood tallest. Formerly home to relieving pain, art now flourishes within its walls.”
Know the riddle’s answer? It was the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, where more than 1,000 “Survivor” fans lined up Monday for their shot at the “Survivor 50 Challenge.” The 50-state, multiweek scavenger hunt coincides with the show’s 50th season, “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans.” It premieres Feb. 25 on CBS and Paramount+.
The contest, which kicked off Jan. 30, is simple: Solve a riddle to learn the secret location, then show up and take a photo with the immunity idol, as hundreds did on Monday for Maryland’s turn. Their photo submissions, via a QR code, enter them into the sweepstakes — with a grand prize trip for two to attend the live Season 50 finale in Los Angeles on May 20.
Some fans started lining up at 3 a.m. on Monday, said Robyn Murphy, CEO of Create Baltimore, the city’s arts council. Some drove up to six hours to join the queue. And others were thrown off, thinking the clue pointed them to Cecil County.
Murphy anticipated a crowd but was blown away by the response.
“People were dedicated in a way that I did not expect,” she said.
If you didn’t hear about the event ahead of time and only saw the massive line outside, that was by design. Create Baltimore and the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment had to keep CBS’ secret for months to avoid spoiling the fun. Planning began in mid-November, Murphy said.
The Bromo Seltzer Tower, located downtown at 21 S. Eutaw St., has been a staple of Baltimore’s skyline for 115 years. The tower, first built by the founder of Bromo Seltzer headache remedy, today houses artist studios and the Emerson/Maryland Glass Museum.
“It’s great to see this kind of energy and excitement at one of our city’s most iconic landmarks,” Mayor Brandon Scott, who posed for a photo with the idol, said in a statement.
While it remains to be seen if a Marylander wins the in-progress contest, local “Survivor” fans can still get in the spirit for the new season. Luckie’s Tavern at Power Plant Live! will host a watch party on Feb. 25 with guests Ozzy Lusth, an ex-contestant back for Season 50, and Gabe Ortis of Season 47.
