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THE SKELLY HUNT

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MEET THE SKELLYS

Every October, something strange happens to Denton. The decorations go up on their own. The air turns crisp overnight. And if you look closely enough, you might catch a glimpse of something small, bony, and mischievous darting around the Square.

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It all started on October 1st, 2023, when a mysterious fire tore through a beloved Denton landmark, leaving nothing but ash and questions. In the days that followed, locals began reporting something odd: a few tiny skeleton gnomes, spotted in Downtown Denton. Locals took to calling the odd cryptids Skellys. Seemingly harmless at first, the gnomes multiplied and were everywhere by the next year.

Witnesses say wherever the Skellys appear, chaos follows. Shop windows frost over with cobwebs, pumpkins materialize on doorsteps, and Denton transforms into Halloween Town.
 

Nobody knows exactly where they came from. What we do know is this: the Skellys are hiding all over Downtown Denton, and they will keep casting their magic until someone is brave enough to track them all down. That someone might as well be you. Make an account and get started!

Quick Start Guide

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Step 1: Make an Account

Start by visiting the Skelly Hunt website or tapping your phone at any Skelly Hunt Check-in Station to begin. Once your account has been created, you are ready to start exploring!

Step 2: Explore

Skellys are hiding across Denton; visit our Halloween attractions to collect them.

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Step 3: Collect Skellys and Win

Collect Skellys by tapping your phone to the Skelly Hunt Check-in Stations. The more you find, the more you win! Details on prizzes and where to get them will be avalable on the app as you find Skellys. 

Skelly not scanning?

Where to tap

  • iPhone: the top edge of the back, right by the camera

  • Android: the center of the back, slightly high

Settings to check

  • Android: Settings, then NFC. Many phones ship with it off

  • iPhone XS and newer: nothing to turn on. Just unlock the screen

  • iPhone 7, 8, or X: open Control Center and use NFC Tag Reader

  • Airplane Mode blocks NFC. Turn it off

If it still will not read

  • Your screen must be on and unlocked

  • Take off thick cases, PopSockets, and MagSafe wallets

  • Metal and credit cards block the signal

  • Hold still, do not swipe

  • You need cell service or wifi to load your scan

Meet the Maker

Originally conceived by the City of Denton team, Kyle took the Skelly Hunt to the next level by building out the digital interactive experience. Learn more about his work below

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Kyle Taylor

"Kyle Taylor is a longtime Denton resident, builder, and creative technologist. A 2012 graduate of the University of North Texas, Kyle co-founded TechMill, a tech education nonprofit that served as a cornerstone for Denton’s tech and startup community events from 2013 to 2019.

A maker and DIY-er at heart, Kyle uses his background in systems engineering and software development as a creative outlet, bridging the digital and physical worlds through interactive art. Whether building hardware hacks or online experiences, his projects focus on play, community participation, and bringing technology into physical spaces. This year, Kyle brought that interactive magic to the streets of Denton with the digital version of Skelly Hunt."

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