usatoday.com
Who doesn't dream of finding treasure? I remember from the time I was a kid I always watched movies based on treasure hunts and could just imagine finding all that gold and silver! From books like "Treasure Island" to movies like "The Goonies", I think we all long to find that hidden treasure just like in the books and movies. I've been producing a treasure hunting series for awhile now, but last week I just didn't have the time to finish up one of a couple posts I've been working on (but still not real happy with...) So instead of those I decided to do a more contemporary and very deserving post over the hidden treasure of Forrest Fenn.
Fenn was a very successful art and antiquities dealer in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was an avid outdoors lover. He was especially fond the Rocky Mountains in the US spanning from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and into Montana. In 1988 he was diagnosed with cancer that was most likely terminal in nature, giving him the idea to hide a treasure somewhere in the Rocky Mountains to inspire more people to explore the outdoors that he so loved. So he created a treasure chest full of gold nuggets, rare coins, and jewels (worth in excess on $1 million USD) which he then hid in a location in the rocky mountains in an undisclosed location to be found by a lucky treasure hunter.
He created a poem in a book which he self published that would lead the hunters to the exact location of the treasure. This got people out in droves searching for the treasure. Everyone from expert treasure hunters to families taking day trips to go hiking. According to Fenn the treasure wasn't buried buy placed out of plain site. During the search some five individuals were killed searching for the treasure which I always found odd. Fenn was an older man when he hid it so it wouldn't have been anyplace far from a trail (or dangerous) and due to it's weight probably less than a half hours walk. But people with gold fever are known to do all sorts of very stupid things...
news.artnet.com
Fenn while putting together the treasure
On June 6, 2020 Fenn posted that someone had finally found the treasure. Jack Stuef was a medical student from Michigan had found the treasure at an undisclosed location in Wyoming. At first he had wanted to stay anonymous but it didn't work out that way for him thanks to lawsuits. Funny how someone finds a treasure and people pop out of the woodwork claiming it is really theirs... greed.... He sold the contents of the treasure at auction in December 2022 bringing in $1.3 million USD. At least I'm sure he got enough to pay off his medical school loans!
Fenn passed away Sept 7, 2020 not long after his treasure was found. But his famous treasure hunt has inspired others around the world to do the same hiding treasures with poems to lead the searchers to the location. Although this wasn't pirate treasure, sunken treasure, or treasure hidden by outlaws like Jesse James it still would have been cool to find. I myself would hike there pretty much every year not because of the treasure, but because Wyoming is just a beautiful place to spend time in the summer. Although I did keep my eyes open...
Thanks for stopping by and dreaming of hunting for treasure. I know I still do, who knows maybe one of these days I might get lucky! The world literally is littered with lost treasures, all you really need to do is look and get really lucky! And please don't get yourself killed in the process!
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenn_treasure
Now for the winner of the re-blog lottery! The people who re-blogged were: 
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And the Wheel of Names results:
I just sent over the funds for your 3 HBI units!
Now for today's re-blog lottery! You just need to re-blog my post you will be placed on the Wheel of Names for a spin to possibly win 3 HBI units! Just one prize for the lucky winner. Bots aren't allowed to enter please. Contest ends when I publish my next post which should be tomorrow. If I somehow missed you please let me know and I'll add you to the next draw.
Good luck to everyone!
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