Cacheapalooza has been an annual event at Jonathan Dickinson State Park since 2006. The event was the brainchild of geocacher FootTrax who is probably best known nowadays in south Florida for his excellent outdoor photography. The first Cacheapalooza took place the year after the first Florida Finders Fest; GeoWoodstock III had been held in Jacksonville the preceding year. FootTrax enlisted the aid of some of the prominent members of the local geocaching community including rnrgrl and GatorMan. The original plan was to have the event at Halpatiokee Park in Martin County, but because of rnrgrl’s involvement with the Club Scrub mountain biking club at JDSP, the event was held there instead. It was approved by park ranger Martin Morse, who remains a valued supporter of the event.
The first Cacheapalooza was a single day event held on December 9, 2006. FootTrax was the leader for an inaugural Cacheapalooza Crew consisting of Gator Man, SeaAggies, rnrgrl, Froggy Girl, Zeke The Peak, Butterdish, batmandanandfamily, Palm City Explorers, TheBattons, mtmitchellbound, and the expendable teenager. Six members of the crew hid a combined total of 64 caches in the park. The event was held at the Loxahatchee Pavillion with a potluck lunch, canoe/kayak race, chubby bunny eating contest, and seperate scavenger hunts for kids and adults. Although no official event was held the next day, attendees were encouraged to team up to tackle the two local epic caches: Red Scorpion and Combat. $700 were raised for Club Scrub who maintain the mountain biking trails in JDSP. Attendance was 125 people signing in with 67 Attended logs. Florida Reviewer palmetto was in attendance for the inaugural event. But the most memorable event of CP1 (and many say of all the CPs) was not scheduled nor related to geocaching: a night space shuttle launch, with an impromptu viewing party at Hobe Mountain Tower.
History by Joshism.
Cache placement approved by Rob Rossmanith, park biologist.
All wheels off pavement, don’t speed, and don’t block gates!