DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WKRG) — The west end of Dauphin Island is usually full of people looking to relax on the beach but things were a lot different over the weekend.
Survivor fans filled the island on Saturday and participated in a nationwide scavenger hunt to find the Hidden Immunity Idol.
“It’s the greatest game ever created, and the chance to be a part of it is something. I drove almost two hours here from Pensacola, Florida, so the chance to be part of the greatest game in the world, I cannot pass that up,” fan Jackson Heart said.
One idol was placed in each of the 50 states as part of the community-driven Survivor idol hunt. The Alabama clue was announced earlier in the week and hinted at the idol’s whereabouts on Dauphin Island.
The hunt was officially underway Saturday morning and once found, a line of Survivor fans stretched across the beach.
“I’m just a big Survivor fan hoping to get on eventually,” fans Jackson and Josiah Winston said. “We’ll see, and so we figured, hey once in a lifetime opportunity. Hopefully make it to the finale.”
“I’ve been watching Survivor my whole life with my family, and we found out that I was going to be in Dauphin Island,” fans Emily Perkinson and Mary Elliot Griffin said. “We live in Orange Beach, Alabama, so it’s pretty close. So we thought, why not?”
Survivor fans walked almost a mile to get their picture taken with the Idol and told News 5 about the impact the show has had on them.
“Survivor is the greatest thing in the world,” Heart said. “I think it calls inside all of us that really human adventure. I’ve been a survivor fan for a number of years and it’s inspired so many people.”
Participants enter their photo with the idol for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles for the finale. There will be a winner from each state, 50 winners for Survivor’s 50th season. Those selected will be announced sometime in March, ahead of the finale.
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