More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found
Oregon, a land of breathtaking landscapes, from its rugged coastline to its towering mountains and sprawling deserts, is not only rich in natural beauty but also steeped in captivating history and folklore. Beyond the well-trodden tourist paths, whispers of hidden riches and forgotten fortunes linger, beckoning the adventurous and the curious. These tales, passed down through generations, speak of buried gold, lost mines, and pirate plunder, promising More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found. Let’s delve into some of the most intriguing legends scattered across the Beaver State.
Coos County: Miner’s Cache
Along the scenic Oregon coast, Coos County holds a legend of a substantial cache of gold. The story recounts that somewhere between Sugar Loaf Mountain and the town of Coquille, a group of miners hastily buried approximately $40,000 in gold bars. This act was prompted by an imminent attack by Native Americans. The precise location of this buried treasure remains a mystery, awaiting discovery by a lucky treasure hunter.
Clackamas County: Stolen Spoils
Nestled at the base of the majestic Mount Hood, in the vicinity of Government Camp, lies a tale of stolen treasure. According to local lore, a cache of ill-gotten gains is said to be buried somewhere in this mountainous region. The origins of this treasure remain shrouded in mystery, fueling speculation and inspiring adventurous souls to search the slopes and forests surrounding Mount Hood, hoping to uncover this hidden loot.
Clatsop County: The Astoria Column Secret
Overlooking the Columbia River in Astoria, the Astoria Column stands as a monument to westward expansion. But before this iconic structure was erected in 1925, a humble cabin occupied the same spot on Coxcomb Hill Road. An elderly man, residing in this cabin, revealed on his deathbed that he had secreted away $10,000 in a coffee can, which he then buried in a tree stump near his home. Despite searches conducted in the 1920s, the old man’s hidden fortune remains elusive, adding another layer of intrigue to the history of Astoria.
Curry County: Gold Beach Bounty
At the point where the wild Rogue River meets the vast Pacific Ocean, lies Gold Beach. This location has a history of treasure finds, hinting at the potential for more hidden riches. The confluence of the river and the ocean currents, combined with the area’s rich mining history, suggests that more treasures could be buried beneath the sands or concealed along the rugged coastline, continuing the allure of Gold Beach.
Crook County: Ochoco River Riches
Venturing inland to Crook County, one finds a tale dating back to the 19th century. A popular campsite for miners and settlers once thrived on the north side of the Ochoco River, near the distinctive Skeleton Rock, about two miles east of Prineville. Legend claims that an estimated $50,000 in gold bars and coins lies buried in this area. This substantial sum, lost to time, entices prospectors to revisit this historic campsite, hoping to strike it rich.
Douglas County: Days Creek’s Buried Nuggets
In the vicinity of the small town of Days Creek, miners are said to have buried pouches filled with gold nuggets in the late 1800s. The old mining camp, situated at the confluence of Days Creek and the South Umpqua River, approximately seven miles northeast of Canyonville, serves as a potential location for these hidden caches. The rugged terrain and the area’s history of mining activity contribute to the enduring mystery surrounding these buried nuggets.
Douglas County: Steamboat Mountains’ Lost Mines
Further into Douglas County, the Steamboat Mountains near Deadman and White Rock Butte are rumored to conceal over a dozen lost gold mines. This mountainous region, nestled between the South Umpqua River and North Steamboat Creek, presents a challenge for treasure hunters, as the rugged landscape and dense forests make searching for these long-lost mines a daunting task.
Douglas County: The China Bar Massacre
Deep within the Fraser Canyon, along the remote Scuzzy Creek area accessible only by logging roads, lies the tale of China Bar. Named for the Chinese prospectors who once worked the area, this mining camp faced constant conflict with the local Native American tribes. During one particularly brutal attack, the miners fled with their gold to a cave near China Bar, only to be overtaken and killed. The gold is said to still be hidden within this elusive cave, the location of which remains unknown. The remoteness of the area and the violent history add to the challenge of uncovering this lost treasure.
Harney County: Owyhee Desert’s Hidden Mine
In the arid expanse of the Owyhee Desert, stretching across Oregon, northern Nevada, and southwestern Idaho, lies the legend of a hidden mine. In the 1870s, soldiers stationed at Fort Harney stumbled upon gold nuggets while camping in the desert during an Indian uprising. However, pressing duties prevented them from further exploration. Years later, a sheepherder reportedly found the same mine, but he failed to reveal its exact location before his death. The presence of gold nuggets among his belongings after his passing suggests the mine’s existence, further fueling the search for this elusive source of riches. More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found in this forgotten place.
Hood River County: Horse Thief Meadows’ Stagecoach Loot
Near the Dalles, at Horse Thief Meadows, the legend of a stagecoach robbery adds to the region’s colorful past. It is believed that $25,000, stolen during the robbery, remains hidden somewhere in this area. The vast meadows and surrounding terrain offer numerous potential hiding places, making the search for this buried loot a tantalizing prospect.
Jackson County: The Jacksonville Miner’s Mistake
In the 1860s, near the historic town of Jacksonville, an old miner reportedly buried approximately $8,000 worth of gold dust. Years later, he returned to retrieve his hidden treasure, which he remembered being near J.N.T. Miller’s field. Despite extensive digging, he was unable to locate his buried cache. The changing landscape over time may have obscured the exact location, leaving the gold dust waiting to be discovered.
Josephine County: Golden’s Hidden Nuggets
Near the ghost town of Golden in Josephine County, a miner is said to have buried $50,000 in gold nuggets within a 300-yard radius. The proximity to the abandoned town and the significant value of the hidden nuggets make this a compelling tale for treasure hunters.
Josephine County: Karl Meyer’s Lost Cave
In 1878, a German prospector named Karl Meyer sought shelter under a rock ledge during a storm along Miller Creek. While waiting out the rain, he observed a badger disappearing into a large hole in the nearby rocks. Upon investigation, he discovered a cave containing a substantial vein of gold. After extracting several pieces, he had them assayed and discovered they were worth $415,000 per ton. Unfortunately, he could never relocate the cave, despite searching for six months. More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found, including the lost cave of Karl Meyer. He later died of tuberculosis, never finding his lost fortune.
Lake County: The Lost Forest Mine
In the south-central region of Oregon, the Lost Forest Mine was discovered by a cowboy rounding up cattle in the early 1900s. While waiting for other wranglers at Sand Springs near the Lost Forest, he found an interesting rock. He took it to Lakeview to be assayed but never returned for the rock or the results. The rock was found to be at least 50% gold. The cowboy’s disappearance and the high gold content of the rock have fueled speculation about the location of the Lost Forest Mine.
Lincoln County: Pirate Plunder at Cascade Head
Along the Pacific Coast near Lincoln City, a legend persists of a pirate treasure buried near Cascade Head. This dramatic coastal landmark, with its towering cliffs and sweeping ocean views, provides a picturesque backdrop for a tale of swashbuckling pirates and hidden riches.
Tillamook County: Neahkahnie Mountain’s Pirate Chest
North of Manzanita, within Oswald West State Park, lies Neahkahnie Mountain, a place steeped in mystery and legend. According to Clatsop Indian lore, pirates buried a treasure chest on the mountain’s slopes in the late 1500s, marking the spot with an inscribed rock. The legend further states that the treasure is guarded by the ghost of a man who was killed and buried with the loot. The rugged terrain and the eerie tales of ghostly guardians add to the allure of this potential treasure site. More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found at Neahkahnie Mountain.
Tillamook County: Nehalem Beach’s Spanish Wreck
Another legend associated with Tillamook County involves a Spanish ship carrying a large amount of gold that disappeared in a storm in 1679. Over the years, numerous artifacts have been found on the sandy shores of Nehalem Beach, leading historians to believe that this is where the wreck washed ashore. The allure of finding remnants of this lost Spanish galleon continues to draw treasure hunters to the beaches of Nehalem Bay.
Umatilla County: Old Squaw’s Buried Gold
On the Umatilla Reservation near Pendleton, a March 1915 newspaper article recounts the tale of Old Squaw’s Buried Treasure. An old Indian woman, on her deathbed, claimed to have buried a significant amount of gold two decades prior. Following her revelation, numerous farmers and Indians searched for the cache, and one can containing $1,100 in gold was discovered on land farmed by P.F. Kirkpatrick. Despite the discovery, the old woman insisted that more remained hidden, but she was too weak to provide further details. The possibility of additional buried gold continues to intrigue those familiar with this Umatilla Reservation legend.
Umatilla County: Stage Gulch’s Robbery Spoils
In Umatilla Meadows, between Pendleton and Stanfield, at a place called Stage Gulch, a stagecoach was robbed in the early 1900s. The bandits made off with approximately $1,200 in gold but were quickly apprehended. Before their execution, one of the robbers confessed that the loot was buried near the scene of the holdup. Despite searches, the treasure was never found. More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found, even though the robbers were hanged.
Oregon’s landscapes are filled with stories of forgotten riches and untapped potential. From coastal mysteries to desert secrets, the treasures of Oregon are just waiting to be unearthed. So, pack your gear, study the legends, and embark on an adventure to uncover More Oregon Treasures Just Waiting to Be Found.