I lived in Colorado for a time when I was much younger. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about the wealth of minerals and the many stories of lost treasure, and I wouldn’t have been able to do much about them even if I had. As with my other lost treasure posts, Colorado has its share of lost treasure stories. Here are a few of my favorites!
Virginia Dale Stagecoach Robbery in Larimar County Colorado:
As the story goes, six gunmen robbed a stagecoach loaded with backpay for soldiers stationed at Fort Sanders (near the Wyoming border). The gold the bandits stole was $60,000 (about $2.5M in today’s money).
Luck was not with the bandits, however. A mounted cavalry unit chased them, and they buried the loot and fled. The cavalry unit continued the chase and dispatched five of the thieves. The sixth bandit, suspected to be Jack Slade (station manager for the company that was robbed), was kept under surveillance in hopes he would lead authorities to the gold. Unfortunately, he was hung in Montana for unrelated crimes.
The gold may still be out there for the finding!
Butch Cassidy’s Lost Treasure in Moffat County Colorado:
In the Moffat County area of NW Colorado lies Brown’s Hole (now part of the Brown’s Park SWA). Situated along the Green River, Brown’s Hole was a refuge for outlaws. Supposedly, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and their gang hid much of their spoils in the area. Though no reports allege a specific value or particular robbery hidden there, it might be fun to explore!
Golden Jesus Treasure in the La Plata Mountains of Southwestern Colorado:
I think this is my favorite Colorado Lost Treasure story! Spaniards, miners, and other workers left the Utah Mountains to winter over in Santa Fe. The group carried small ingots and the military members of the group decided to smelt the smaller gold bars (in an effort to keep disgruntled miners and other workers from stealing the ingots), and cast them into a Golden Jesus statue. The resulting figure was too heavy to move easily. While it made it harder to steal, it also slowed the Spanish explorers as winter closed in. The military commander split the company and sent the workers ahead to Santa Fe with an escort.
A Native American raiding party took the opportunity to attack the remaining soldiers. The commander ordered four soldiers to flee with the wagon carrying the four-foot-tall Golden Jesus. The soldiers, fearing capture, hid the statue in a cave (or a large crevice, depending on which account you believe).
According to accounts from 1873 (note the Spaniards allegedly hid the statue in the 1770s), a treasure hunter claimed he found the statue. Since it was too heavy to move, he piled more rocks to hide it until he could return. The man died before he could either reveal or recover the statue.
If the story is true, somewhere in the La Plata Mountains of Southwestern Colorado, a Golden Jesus awaits discovery!
There you have my favorite lost treasure tales from Colorado! There are certainly many more, along with the amazing natural treasures that abound in the Centennial State!
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