Castle Gap Treasure (Maximilian's Gold)

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Castle Gap Treasure (Maximilian's Gold)

Lost Treasure TX • Upton County County
Description
Legendary cache of gold and jewels from Mexican emperor Maximilian's fleeing wagon train, supposedly hidden near Castle Gap in the Castle Mountains of West Texas in the 1860s.
Historical Notes
Castle Gap is a narrow pass through the Castle Mountains between Crane and McCamey in extreme western Upton County (approx. 31°18' N, 102°17' W). The gap was a major route for Butterfield Overland Mail stages, cattle drives, and Comanche War Trail traffic. The Maximilian legend: As Emperor Maximilian faced execution in Mexico in 1867, guards escorting imperial treasure toward Galveston allegedly stole the shipment and hid gold and jewels near Castle Mountain south of Midland. Treasure hunter Cliff Newland searched for this cache for 40 years. Castle Gap is associated with at least eight separate treasure tales, including Coronado gold (1540), a Butterfield stage cache (1860), outlaw wagon-train loot, and an Army payroll robbery. None have been confirmed recovered. Coordinates mark Castle Gap pass. Actual cache location (if any) is unknown and speculative.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

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