Skip to content

King Midas' Zoo Mystery Cache

Hidden : 7/4/2017
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

In the shadow of the Kingdom's great Sundial is King Midas' Zoo. 


Many years ago, there lived a king named Midas. King Midas had one little daughter, whose name was Marigold. King Midas was very, very rich. It was said that he had more gold than any other king in the world. One room of his great castle was filled with yellow gold pieces. At last the King grew so fond of his gold that he loved it more than anything else in all the world. His one great wish seemed to be for more and more gold. One day while he was in his gold room counting his money, a beautiful fairy stood before him. The fairy's face shone with a wonderful light and in her hand she carried a magical wand. "Midas, you are the richest man in the world," said the fairy. "There is no King who has so much gold as you." "That may be," said the King. "As you see, I have this room full of gold, but I would like much more; for gold is the best and the most wonderful thing in the world." "Are you sure?" asked the fairy. "I am very sure," answered the King. "If I should grant you one wish," said the fairy, "would you ask for more gold?" "If I could have but one wish," said the King, "I would ask that everything I touch should turn to beautiful gold." "Your wish shall be granted," said the fairy. "At sunrise tomorrow morning your slightest touch will turn everything into gold. But I warn you that your gift will not make you happy", said the fairy. "I will take the risk," said the King. The next day King Midas awoke very early. He was eager to see if the fairy's promise had come true. As soon as the sun arose, he tried the gift by touching the bed lightly with his hand. The bed turned to gold. He touched the chair and table. They immediately turned to solid gold. The King was wild with joy. He ran around the room, touching everything he could see. His magic gift turned all to shining, gold. The King soon felt hungry and went down to eat his breakfast. Now a strange thing happened. When he raised a glass of clear cold water to drink, it became solid gold. Not a drop of water could pass his lips. The bread turned to gold under his fingers. The meat was hard, and yellow, and shiny. Not a thing could he get to eat. All was gold, gold, gold. His little daughter soon came running from the beautiful zoo that sits in the shadow of the great sundial. “Daddy, what happened to our animals?”, Marigold cried! “They all have turned to gold!” King Midas, as part of his daily walk of the castle grounds turned the licking lizard, trailing toucan, pendulous opossum, topsy-turvy marsupial, frisky frog, elegant egret, ascending armadillo, nulling narwhal, prancing heron, rightously perched pelican, and all of the other animals to gold. Because Marigold was so sad, and of all living creatures, she was the dearest to him, he touched her face to wipe her tears. At once the little girl was changed to a golden statue. A great fear crept into the King's heart, sweeping all the joy out of his life. In his grief, he called and called upon the fairy who had given him the gift of the golden touch. "O fairy," he begged, "take away this horrible golden gift!” “Take all my lands. Take all my gold. Take everything, only give me back my little daughter." In a moment, the beautiful fairy was standing before him. "Do you still think that gold is the greatest thing in the world?" asked the fairy. "No! no!" cried the King. "I hate the very sight of the yellow stuff." "Are you sure that you no longer wish the golden touch?" asked the fairy. "I have learned my lesson," said the King. "I no longer think gold the greatest thing in the world." "Very well," said the fairy, "take this pitcher to the spring in the garden and fill it with water. Then sprinkle those things which you have touched and turned to gold." The King took the pitcher and rushed to the spring. Running back, he first sprinkled the head of his dear little girl. Instantly she became his own darling Marigold again, and gave him a kiss. The King sprinkled the golden food, and to his great joy it turned back to real bread and real butter. Then he and his little daughter sat down to breakfast. How good the cold water tasted! How eagerly the hungry King ate the bread and butter, the meat, and all the good food! The King hated his golden touch so much that he sprinkled even the chairs and the tables and everything else that the fairy's gift had turned to gold. Legend has it that Midas has yet to sprinkle some of Marigold's animals with the spring water and a visit to the grand entrance of Midas’ zoo is needed to seek the nearby gold (N27 ??, ???, W082 ??.???)


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Chmmyr: Lbh ernyyl zhfg frr gur ragenapr gb Zvqnf' mbb gb fbyir. Onl = A Thys= J Uvqr: Tbyq Ovfba va Fueho

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)