People in Lakeland are looking everywhere for painted rocks.
- Urquhart inspired by visit to Vancouver, WA
- "Lakeland Rocks" Facebook page got more than 8,000 followers in three weeks
- Family paints rocks daily, hides them all over town
The artsy rock scavenger hunt was started in Lakeland by Scott Urquhart. His family and friends got the idea while visiting Vancouver, Washington, where they first stumbled upon the painted rocks.
“We have so much turmoil in our lives right now with everything that’s going on in the world. This is something that’s just simple and it brings a smile to people’s faces,” said Scott Urquhart.
His family held a rock painting party and he created the page, “Lakeland Rocks,” on Oct. 13. It’s taken off from there. As of Nov. 2, the page had more than 8,000 followers in a matter of three weeks.
“It’s like crazy, people are requesting to join, four or five every minute,” said Urquhart.
Urquhart said his family now paints rocks daily and hides them all over town. People who have joined the Facebook group are doing the same.
“It’s a family activity. It’s bringing families together because now they’re saying things on the Facebook page like this is one of the first activities in a long time that we can sit and do as a family," he said.
Popular places to find the rocks in Lakeland are in Dixieland, Barnett Park, and Munn Park. He advises people to buy the rocks at any home improvement or garden store.
Since the Lakeland group was created, people in Polk City, Auburndale and Lake Wales have created pages. Urquhart hopes the idea spreads to every city in Florida.