Well after a weekend of speculation Jeremy put it to rest today.
We were working on bringing a new series of caches back for the new movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but decided against it. Instead, with the exception of the Brazil Project APE cache, we are closing the chapter on Project APE.
Lack of support by FOX, angst over devaluing the original caches and the ape theme being unrelated to geocaching were several factors for us making this decision.
and his follow up
It's too bad that geocachers today can't find an APE cache unless they go to Brazil, but the APE caches had to be retired at some point. For almost 10 years there was a cache here in Seattle. Sometimes we need to accept that things come to an end and move on.
It made me sad. I was really exited when he announced the return, and that groundspeak was going to push it.
There were a number that complained that all the caches that they found years ago would be worth less if more were placed. I don't buy that argument at all. They are different caches, in a different time. Early times are different than today, and I think it could have worked. However it is not my call, and they moved on. Hopefully they can plan something new and cool for the future.
Update on 2011-07-14 23:13 by firennice
As a follow up to my last note I point people to Jeremy Irish's facebook status.
He had a few interesting posts.
FOX passed on an official Project APE promotion for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but we're going to do something cool without them. Expect a blog post next week or so about it.
and
It was pretty much a free promotion, like before, though they did donate props from the movie in the first promo. No money exchanged hands, though.
and
...Also keep in mind there were APE caches outside of the US the first time, including one in the UK.
No, we won't be bringing back the original archived APE caches. That doesn't mean we won't have new ones, however. Details are still being worked out.
More to come..stay tuned on the geocaching blogs. That is cool news.
Update on 2011-06-24 02:12 by firennice
Sorry to get back to this in such a long time. I spent a lot of time getting ready for and attending a scout camp. There was a little news while i was gone.
I guess it was only a matter of time. A matter of time for all the caches out there. This is the perfect example. After turning up missing the cache owner for the last US ape caches decided that it was time to archive it.
The threat of it turning up missing again and again was high enough that it was decided to archive the cache. So now there is only one ape cache left.
I was going to try and go up last fall and go for it, but the entire thing fell through. This year I was hoping to go and grab it, now I guess it is gone and there is not much chance for me to actually make the run for it.
Oh well. I guess this is the same as any other cache. Eventually there is time for everything. Someone that steals any cache on a regular basis could lead to the owner just giving up and walking away. It happens every day, but this time it is one that everyone is watching.
Update on 2011-06-21 04:24 by firennice