Clue 10 finally gives away Swede Hollow Park with an obvious reference to the old Hamm's Brewery. Some exceptional research from other clue noodlers on the message boards helped me get to the park a couple of days earlier than the giveaway. I believe in harnessing the wisdom of crowds.

Clue 1
Oh great King Boreas, make winter glorious:
Unleash the medallion quest!
We'll be up front: We devote the hunt
To Box, our friend, now at rest
Don Boxmeyer co-wrote the hunt's clues from 1994 to 2001. Box had a great love for and dedicated many writings to Swede Hollow because of its unique location and rich history.

Clue 2
Tramping hill and dell, you may hear tell
About the contests waged of yore
Much of the history remains a mystery
Which we hope to bring to the fore
The clue writers are saying they're going to bring some good history back into the mix. "Tramping" probably relates to the hobos that were once a staple of Swede Hollow, and Dellwood Place and Hope Street are both adjacent to the park.

Clue 3
All we see was done naturally
Water and ice are here
In this harbor of impressive arbor
Approach and have no fear
Yay, trees.

Clue 4
Even those in detention during our recent convention,
Heard a politically hip chick
Is it a pig or pit bull, it was argued most fitful,
That looks more lovely in lipstick?
Lots of ideas have swirled around this one. We're clearly talking about Palin, but are we also talking about school detention? Jail? The best explanation is Palin=Phalen. Edward Phelan was the first resident of Swede Hollow. The creek that runs through it is named after him.

Clue 5
It takes all sorts to come and play sports
In this sweet land of fun and frolic
With bower enclosed and beasts exposed
You're bound to lose your colic
Good word choices with "bower," "beasts," and "colic." I also liked the use of "sweet land," which led me to the Minnesota-filmed movie Sweet Land, which has Scandinavian ties. Swede Hollow continues to rise in importance among the possible parks.

Clue 6
The dankness of the vale may your spirit impale:
The setting seems oh so gloomy!
But be brave, you endless knave
You'll find it really quite roomy
"Brave" was used last year for Indian Mounds Park, but it was also evoked in Clue 4 of the 2006 hunt at Battle Creek, so that's a stopper. Swede Hollow looks real good for the "endless knave" line which is an anagram for "Svenske Dalen," the original name (and veritable translation) of Swede Hollow. The park setting is certainly gloomy, but that doesn't seem to bother the hiders. The resting spot for last year's medallion was an even gloomier hideaway. The plot gains weight!

Clue 7
'Neath King and Court, they once did cavort
As though living in times quite feudal
But time brings change, so it's not so strange
To see an owner walk his poodle
For a brief moment, I was newly intrigued by Harriet Island Park, because one message board poster had some cool things to say about Doctor Justus Ohage Blvd, named for the man who donated the land. There was an interesting tidbit about him performing the first gall bladder surgery (which was neatly related to "colic"). Hey, the clues last year went in oddball, historic directions, so why not? Swede Hollow has the strongest intrigue because of the last line: "To see an owner walk his poodle" is an anagram for both "Ease on into Swede Hollow Park" and "It's Swede Hollow near open oak." Pretty cool. I also like reference points to feudalism, because the residents of Swede Hollow were the peasant class living below the mansions from on-high.

Clue 8
Saints and sinners, losers and winners
Sped by at a quickened pace
While the gangster's moll, a German doll
Once played at this star-crossed place
This one's mostly got me beat thus far, but at least one Swede Hollow follower is relating it to Delores Delaney, a moll who was involved with the Hamm kidnapping. The old Hamm's Brewery is right by Swede Hollow Park as was the Hamm Mansion. Hamm is also a neat fit for the pig reference from Clue 4. Also, I-94 speeds by Swede Hollow Park.

Clue 9
One whistled Dixie so says a pixie
While another worked stern to stem
Though they never met, it's a darn good bet
Together they'll lead to the gem
Rice Payne was a Virginian who fought for the South (i.e., Dixie) in the Civil War. In 1856, prior to the war, he went on a tour of the western frontier and was most impressed with St. Paul. He invested $1,000 in a parcel of land in St. Paul that is now Railroad Island. Payne Avenue is named for him. "Stern and stem" are the front and back of a ship. Edward Preble was a decorated U.S. naval officer during the Revolutionary War. Preble Street intersects with Payne Avenue at Swede Hollow. Margaret Kerry posed for reference film shots on a soundstage; the footage was later used by supervising Tinker Bell animator Marc Davis and his team when they drew the character. Margaret Street runs into Swede Hollow Park on the northeast side. (I can't take credit for finding any of this. I'm just a real good compiler.)

Clue 10
Tho' hills abound, it's on level ground
A rivulet gurgles by
The answer's meshing with a beer refreshing
In the midst should seekers vie
It's definitely at Swede Hollow Park. The hills are some of the steepest I've seen in any park, the "rivulet" is about the best way you could describe the trickle that is Phalen Creek, and the "beer refreshing" is Hamm's. The old Hamm Brewery sits above the park. It shouldn't be long now!