Most People Don't Know These 10 Treasures Are Hiding In Arizona

Growing up in Arizona, I think at some point we all heard about the famed Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine. As kids, everyone always loves hearing about legends of treasure hunters and those who may have left behind millions of dollars, just waiting to be found today. The stories and potential fortunes just waiting to be discovered are enticing, as well as the hope for an easier life. Since we are all familiar with the story of the Lost Dutchman, today we’re going to look at some lesser-known fortunes hiding somewhere in the state. You never know, one of these lost treasures in Arizona may be hiding in your backyard. Perhaps you will even get inspired to become a treasure hunter yourself after hearing some of these fascinating tales!

Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Alan English CPA/Flickr

A lifelong criminal, Gardner was a well-known train robber from the early twentieth century and finally got caught in 1920. After his arrest, escape, and another arrest, Gardner attempted to tell the authorities where his loot was stashed. However, he led them on a wild goose chase and admitted that he "forgot" where he hid the money.

Some people believe that approximately $16,000 of an estimated $250,000 in stolen money is sitting somewhere near or within one of the extinct volcanoes in Flagstaff.

Cerro Colorado Mine, Arizona 85645, USA

Anthony Trumbo/Flickr

The Cerro Colorado Mine, which sits a little less than 20 miles from the Arizona-Mexico border, produced mostly silver but also small amounts of gold, lead, and copper. The Arizona Daily Star reported that the mine also experienced a fair amount of banditry, which includes approximately $70,000 in bullion (precious metal bars) stolen and hidden. Imagine how much it was worth when it was taken way back in the day! They lay hidden away in Cerro Chiquito, a small mountain that sits across from the mine entrance. Now there is some hidden treasure in Arizona for you. Supposedly it's all still there somewhere.

Advertisement

Tumacacori National Historical Park, 1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori-Carmen, AZ 85640, USA

Chris M Morris/Flickr

When the Spanish first arrived in the Americas, their primary goal was to reap new resources from the land, including gold and silver. As they expanded their conquest into what is now Mexico and Arizona, missions were founded and the indigenous peoples were used mine those minerals.

One such mine was the Opata Mine, which lies somewhere near the Tumacacori Mission. Sounding like something out of an Indiana Jones film, the story basically goes that the Franciscans sealed off the rich silver mine after witnessing their "workers" attempt to sacrifice a woman inside. Although unlikely to actually exist, it is possible the facts were skewed and that an abandoned mine may sit somewhere in the area.

Advertisement

Solomon, AZ, USA

Alan English CPA/Flickr

Another Old West outlaw, Bronco Bill was pretty well-known for robbing trains and stagecoaches in his heyday, focusing on Wells Fargo shipments between 1894 and 1897. During this time, Bronco Bill and his gang stole an unknown amount of money. Whatever amount they did manage to take, the story goes that the gang hid the money away somewhere near Solomon (then known as Solomonville) which sits just a couple of miles east of Safford.

The odd part of the story that seems to refute its truth? After Bronco Bill was released from prison in 1917, he never returned to the area to reclaim his treasure. Perhaps he got wind of someone else from his gang taking it? Or perhaps it never existed. We will never truly know.

Cerbat Mountains, Arizona 86431, USA

Chris M Morris/Flickr

Other than the traces of this story, not a whole lot remains of Canyon Station: just the bare bones of the old stage station sit at the foothills of the Cerbat Mountains. But back in 1873, a stagecoach robbery took place near the station where two men stole the strongbox holding a good fortune of gold coins that were en route to Fort Mohave.

Since the robbers didn't stand much of a chance of running away with a heavy chest on their own, the rumor is they stashed the box away somewhere not far off from the station, buried somewhere in the foothills of the Cerbat Mountains. The two men were never able to return to their loot; one died upon getting caught by authorities and the other died while an inmate at Yuma Territorial Prison.

Related Stories

Sip Mimosas And Enjoy Brunch On This Scenic Arizona Cruise

Paid Content Lake Pleasant Cruises

Hop In A Glass-Bottom Kayak And Tour An Emerald Cave In Arizona

6 Destinations Way Down South In Arizona That Are So Worth The Drive

Davis Mountain, Arizona 85632, USA

Jonty/Flickr

We've read a lot about robbers getting away with Arizona lost treasure from stagecoaches and trains, but what about from their fellow criminals? It happened. One story goes that some outlaws took money from a bank in Monterrey and valuables from a church in Matamoras, Mexico, and then began heading northwest. However, the robbers were robbed as they traveled through Skeleton Canyon and these folks hid the treasure a little further off near Davis Mountain. As usual, they never made it back.

It turns out that Davis Mountain, as the bandits called it, exists somewhere near the Arizona-New Mexico border but by another name. Their description of how to get to the site is lengthy (you can read it here) and about what you would expect from a pirate map with paces and landmark descriptions.

Gillette, AZ 85324, USA

Experience Scottsdale/Flickr

Mining and milling towns were known to be the homes of less than savory people, including plenty looking for quick cash. The same went for Gillette, a former milling town that is now a ghost town that barely exists between Black Canyon City and New River. Back in the town's heyday in the early 1880s, a local blacksmith named Henry Seymour supplemented his income by robbing stagecoaches, gaining a pretty big fortune that he hid near town. He eventually got caught and was hauled off to prison but never returned for his treasure.

Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W Vineyard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USA

Jasper Nance/Flickr

The Estrella Mountains are certainly a treasure in themselves but there's a story that more monetary wealth is hidden inside. A man named Don Joaquin led an informal mining operation in the area in the 1840s, hoping to find gold in the mountains. He finally lucked out and was able to extract somewhere around 3,000 pounds of gold.

However, when the U.S. Army began patrolling the area, Don Joaquin and his crew packed up and began heading back towards Mexico, but not without hiding the treasure first in a small box canyon cave nearby. Greed, though got the best of Don Joaquin's crew because they later murdered him and took off back to Mexico but without the treasure.

Don't get your hopes up too high though. It is entirely possible the story was made up by author John D. Mitchell, perhaps to pad his treasure-hunting book. But, who knows, gold may actually be hiding there.

Advertisement

Casa Grande, AZ, USA

Tjfrom AZ/Flickr

There are two stories here about these hidden treasures in Arizona. One goes that Spanish conquistadors kidnapped Montezuma (an Aztec leader) and demanded a ransom for his return. Instead, the Aztecs took to hiding their treasures everywhere, including in a cave near the Casa Grande Ruins. Another story says that Montezuma anticipated Spanish invasion and directed that his city's treasures be hidden until they were able to rid themselves of the Spaniards.

However, both of these stories are highly unlikely. As the Spaniards moved deeper into the Americas and into Mexico, they eventually invaded present-day Mexico City, then known as Tenochtitlan. Its leader, Moctezuma (often spelled Montezuma) was taken prisoner in his own home and was killed shortly afterwards. The likelihood that his people would have traveled over 1,400 miles to hide treasure? Probably not very high.

Grand Canyon, Arizona 86052, USA

Alan English CPA/Flickr

In 1910, a man named Long Tom Watson stumbled across an abandoned cabin where he found a number of papers, including directions to hidden gold. Tempted to find a large amount of wealth, Long Tom attempted to hike to the hidden loot, described as buried behind a waterfall inside the Grand Canyon. Eventually, he came across a waterfall near Horse Thief Trail and found gold nuggets galore.

Unfortunately, Long Tom broke his leg as he prepared to leave and had to leave his gold behind. After he recovered from his injury, he attempted to look for the treasure again but was unable to find it.

So, do any of these stories about lost treasures in Arizona sound plausible to you? Have you ever been to these sites and gotten curious about what would happen if you tried to find them yourself? If you know of any other similar stories, let us know by sharing them in the comments.