#Jelly Belly founder launches Willy Wonka-inspired contest to win candy factory

A childhood fantasy will become reality for one lucky candy fan.

In a contest inspired by Roald Dahl’s “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” the man behind Jelly Belly jelly beans, David Klein, is launching a nationwide search for one person to take over one of the candy-maker’s factories — and win $5,000.

Klein, the self proclaimed “real-life candy man” who founded and later sold the Jelly Belly brand, announced the sweepstakes in a YouTube video, explaining that “Gold Tickets,” which are actually necklaces with brass dog tags, will be hidden throughout the country, one in each state.

For $49.98, players can purchase entry to receive a riddle unique to their state of residence. Riddles for each state will be released on a schedule, starting with Georgia on Sept. 30, according to TheGoldTicket.com. Contestants will be notified via private Facebook group about their state’s hunt, each of which is limited to just 1,000 people.

Those who score the Gold Ticket in their state will later be invited to play The Ultimate Treasure Hunt, the winner of which will receive a key to one of Klein’s Florida factories: a 4,000-square-foot facility that is equipped to make candy, though not necessarily jelly beans. Klein sold his stake in the enterprise in 1980 after inventing the Jelly Belly bean, with an original flavor lineup including Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape Jelly, Licorice, Root Beer and Cream Soda.

Players must have a Facebook account to join the game, and should sign up for updates on the main contest page, The Gold Ticket.

Klein’s game is one of a recent trend of high-profile scavenger hunts. The anonymous winner of a decade-long Rocky Mountains treasure hunt, buried by explorer Forrest Fenn in 2010, was announced in June — in time for the riddle master to see his $1 million treasure unveiled before his death on Monday, at 90.

Inspired by that story, a Michigan jewelry store owner decided to concoct a similar nationwide hunt for $1 million worth of gems, precious coins and other valuables, which is currently underway.

There’s been overwhelming interest in the race for a candy factory already, according to the Gold Ticket website.

“We’ve already hidden quite a few of (the necklaces),” said Klein, now in his 70s, in the video.

He added, “We’re looking for you, Charlie, out there.”