I haven’t posted about lost treasures in a while and this stop is in Arkansas. Coincidentally, I recently visited Arkansas to look for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park and quartz crystals at a couple of other places. I’ll do a post on that trip soon, but now I want to talk about Arkansas’ lost treasures!
Stagecoach Robbery near Hot Springs, Arkansas
Our first lost treasure is connected with Frank and Jesse James. According to the story, the James Gang robbed a stagecoach south of Hot Springs, AR in January 1874. They made off with $32,000 in jewelry and cash from the passengers. A posse heard about the robbery and set off in pursuit of the gang.
The gang decided to bury the loot along the road, marking the location on a sandstone rock. Frank James later claimed the gang never returned for the loot.
The story gets a little more interesting as a farmer found the stone and took it home. He kept it for years before he heard the story about the robbery. Despite his efforts to find the treasure, it eluded him. If the story is true, somewhere on the Old Malvern Stagecoach road, a treasure is waiting to be found!
Lost Silver Mine near St. Joe, Arkansas
According to the story, a Native American named Woodward worked at a silver mine near St. Joe, Arkansas. He wouldn’t reveal the location and eluded anyone who tried to follow him to the mine. Eventually, Woodward decided to sell his mine. Several of the townspeople wanted to buy it but insisted on seeing the mine first. Woodward agreed to show them on the condition he could blindfold them and only take them at night. They agreed and Woodward took them to the mine. When the townspeople saw the silver vein, they agreed to pay Woodward’s price. He took them back to town, collected his money, and left for Oklahoma.
The townspeople searched for the mine after Woodward left, but were unable to find it. Assuming it existed, the mine, has not been found. If you are in the St. Joe Arkansas area, you might want to do a little exploring. Maybe you’ll find the treasure!
Treasure Cave near Brushy Creek, Arkansas
Our final stop in Arkansas leads us to the northwest part of Arkansas near the Pension Mountains in Carroll County. The tale says a doctor who visited his patients was captured by Native Americans, blindfolded, and taken to a cave to treat a young man with a broken leg.
When he removed his blindfold, he found himself in a cave full of armor, weapons, gold and silver bars, and chests of Spanish coins. He set the boy’s leg and his captors paid him with gold coins. They blindfolded him again, and returned him to site of his capture, and set him free. The doctor never saw them again and spent years fruitlessly searching for the treasure.
If you happen to be around Brushy Creek, look around and see if you can find the alleged cave!
There you have a few possible lost treasures in Arkansas. Are they real? No idea, but it’s always fun to speculate and explore!
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Hello Bill,
Terry Soderberg here, from Nashville, AR but originally from northern Wisconsin. Just read your interesting article on computer ‘Lost Treasures of Arkansas!!’. I have been metal detecting/treasure hunting for 44 years now; 21 states and various parts of Canada. Would very much like to visit with you if you ever visit the area. I’m located just a hop, skip and jump from the Diamond Mines in Murfreesboro, AR. I will leave my contact info with you for reference. I’m 72 years of age and retired.
Sincerely,
Terry Soderberg
Hi Terry. Pleasure to meet you. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It was fun to write it and learn a little about Arkansas. I went there a year ago in March to dig for diamonds (didn’t find any), but had a great time looking for quartz crystals. If I make another trip, I’ll let you know. I’d love to hear some of your stories!
hey terry,
very interested in talking with you. Me and my friends are looking for an adventure and are intrigued in finding the treasure. We live down the road in arkadelphia arkansas and would love to sit down and talk to have some insight.
My name is Daniel I live in Malvern and Butterfield the old train station stagecoach station building used to be there, but it got tore down about three years ago but I remember hearing the stories about it. Does anybody know the what the sandstone look like or where the guy lived where his farm was or what it looks like or anything or what the farmers name was because the stagecoach wrote old stagecoach Road ran right through my property, don’t know if it’s the part where the treasure was supposed to be, but I sure would like to know more about this. I’ve never hunted treasure before, but I think I may start.
Hi Daniel,
What I posted is about all I know. I’d check with the local library or historical society for further information.
Happy Hunting!
I am a professional dowser, I am not like any other dowser, I have a proprietary instrument that I use with my rods, I can locate anything you’re looking for from miles away. It’s buried in the ground. Contact me.
I searched for over 20 years for a buried treasure I was told about when I was around 13. By a old lady who was rich in history. Her family being in the area since around the 1830. Have you found anything by using your rods? If so maybe we could team up and try to find it
My email is reedhryals@gmail.com if you email me leave your phone number and I’ll call you if that’s OK