Bridgewater Bulletin 

By ANGIE ZINCK
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

COUNTY — For the first time in a decade, Oak Island enthusiasts will be allowed on the famed Mahone Bay island. The Oak Island Tourism Society has secured the rights to host two tours of the island, which is believed to be home to ancient treasure. Society member Danny Hennigar says fans of the legend can’t believe they will actually have the opportunity to step foot on the island.

“People are coming from all over the place for this tiny little event in Western Shore,” he says, adding that some folks are even travelling from overseas. The tours will operate as part of the society’s “Explore Oak Island Day” held August 13 and 14.

For the past three years, the society has held this event in order to share home movies, photographs, artifacts and rarely seen items from the treasure hunt. The event will take place at the Western Shore and Area Improvement Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Special guest speakers include D’Arcy O’Connor, filmmaker who has produced documentaries on the treasure hunt; Jo Atherton, an Oak Island enthusiast who operates one of the best web sites on the subject from her UK home; and engineer Burt Hurl, who will discuss a ground-freezing technique that could be used to extract the treasure.

The tours are set to go August 12 and August 14. Participants are asked to meet at the Gold River-Western Shore school at 6 p.m. Spaces are limited and the tours will be hosted by Mr. Hennigar, who was an island tour operator in the ’70s.

Mr. Hennigar says he will be showing people parts of the island where most of the treasure hunting and mystery took place. Among the sights will be the Money Pit, where most of the activity originated; the beach and sea water drainage system which is thought to flood the tunnels; and Bore Hole 10X, another treasure hunting hot spot. For more information or to book tour tickets, call 275- 3718.