The Fenn Treasure is a collection of gold and jewels hidden by Forrest Fenn somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. The treasure includes over 100 pounds of gold coins, hundreds of gold nuggets, thousands of ancient artifacts, rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds. It is estimated to be worth $2 million dollars or more.
Forrest Fenn has been quoted as saying that he hid the treasure chest in an area where it could never be found without his poem and clues. He also said that “the treasure was not hidden in a dangerous place” but did warn that there were some risks involved with finding it. He believes that if someone takes the time to understand the clues then they will have no problem locating his treasure chest full of riches!
Fenn says he put all kinds of things into his book including history lessons about early explorers who traveled through what is now New Mexico searching for treasures left behind by Native Americans centuries ago. The book contains stories about people who lived their whole lives looking for lost treasures and never finding them while others stumbled upon great riches almost by accident!
To date only one man has claimed to have located Forrest’s Treasure Chest but many believe him to be a fraud because he refuses to share any information on how he discovered its location or provide proof that it exists at all!
The Man
Forrest Fenn was a man who styled his on legacy as a man of adventure and mystery. Fenn was a as a pilot, art dealer, and treasure hider. Born in Texas in 1930 Fenn grew up an avid outdoors man. He joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served in the Vietnam War, where he flew 328 combat missions and earned the Silver Star. After retiring from the military, he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and opened an art gallery that sold Native American artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and other items. He also became an avid collector of antiquities and amassed a fortune. In 1988, Fenn was diagnosed with cancer and decided to hide a treasure chest filled with gold and jewels somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, claiming he did so in hope of inspiring people to seek adventure and enjoy nature. His memoir, ´The Thrill of the Chase´ contained clues to the location of the treasure in a form of a poem. The book was published in 2010 and sparked a frenzy of treasure hunters, who searched for the chest for a decade. Fenn died in 2020 at the age of 90, shortly after announcing that the treasure had been found by an anonymous person. He left behind a legacy of curiosity, generosity, and wonder.
The Poem
Fenn’s Treasure Poem
As I have gone alone in there
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old.
Begin it where warm waters halt
And take it in the canyon down,
Not far, but too far to walk.
Put in below the home of Brown.
From there it’s no place for the meek,
The end is ever drawing nigh;
There’ll be no paddle up your creek,
Just heavy loads and water high.
If you’ve been wise and found the blaze,
Look quickly down, your quest to cease,
But tarry scant with marvel gaze,
Just take the chest and go in peace.
So why is it that I must go
And leave my trove for all to seek?
The answers I already know,
I’ve done it tired, and now I’m weak.
So hear me all and listen good,
Your effort will be worth the cold.
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.
The Hunt
The search for the Fenn treasure was a decade-long quest that involved thousands of people who tried to decipher the clues hidden in the Forrest Fenn poem. The search attracted adventurers, dreamers, and thrill-seekers, but also resulted in at least five deaths, several lawsuits, and a lot of controversy.
The treasure was finally found in June 2020 by Jack Stuef, a former journalist and medical student from Michigan. He revealed his identity in December 2020, after Fenn had died of natural causes in September. Stuef said he spent two years studying the poem and the clues, and made several trips to Wyoming, where he eventually located the chest under a canopy of stars in the wilderness. He said he was motivated by the challenge and the mystery, and not by the money. He also said he wanted to respect Fenn’s wishes and keep the exact location of the treasure a secret.
Controversy
The controversy surrounding the Fenn treasure involves several issues, such as:
- The legality and ethics of hiding a treasure chest in a public land without permission or disclosure. Some critics argued that Fenn violated federal and state laws by burying the chest in a protected area, such as a national park or a Native American reservation. They also claimed that he endangered the environment and the cultural heritage of the sites where he hid the treasure
- The safety and well-being of the treasure hunters who risked their lives and resources to find the chest. At least five people died while searching for the treasure, and many others suffered injuries, accidents, or arrests. Some hunters also became obsessed with the hunt and neglected their families, jobs, or health.
- The authenticity and credibility of Fenn and his treasure. Some skeptics doubted that Fenn actually hid a treasure chest, and accused him of creating a hoax to sell his books, gain publicity, or manipulate people. They also questioned the value and origin of the items in the chest, and whether they were legally obtained or not.
- The fairness and transparency of the treasure discovery and announcement. Some hunters felt cheated or betrayed by Fenn and the finder, and accused them of lying, hiding, or changing the location of the chest. They also demanded to know the exact spot where the chest was found, and to see proof of the finder’s identity and claim. Some hunters even filed lawsuits against Fenn or the finder, seeking compensation or recognition.
