In the Wild West days, Nebraska was a hoppin’ place for outlaws, gamblers, and gangs. Along with these wild men stories abound of hidden and buried treasure from this great state. These are some of the stories that we will explore in the lost treasures of Nebraska.
You will learn about outlaws and hidden treasures in caves. Gamblers and their buried winnings. Lost stagecoach loot and even a Civil War Payroll that dumped into a river and was lost and much more. So sit back while I take you on a historical journey of Nebraska!
Lost Treasures of Nebraska
| TREASURE | AMOUNT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Jesse James and The Catron-Miyoshi Fruit Farm Treasure | Unknown | On the Carton Miyoshi Fruit Farm, that’s located 3 miles southeast of Nebraska City, Nebraska |
| Buffalo Bill Cody’s Buried Gold | $17,000 worth of gold coins | Scout’s Rest Ranch is located close to North Platte, Nebraska |
| Lodgepole Creek Treasure | 400 pounds of gold nuggets | South banks of Lodgepole creek which is located two miles east of Sidney, Nebraska |
| Pony Boys Gang Buried Loot | Gold coins and bullion | Near a stream that was close to Bassett, Nebraska |
| Bloomington’s Buried Valuables | Unknown Valuables | Bloomington, Nebraska |
| Dobytowns Hidden Caches | Unknown | Ghost Town of Dobytown three miles west of Kearney City, Nebraska |
| Al Medley’s Buried Coins | $2000 in gold coins | Peru, Nebraska |
| Cobbs Buried Wealth | Between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of gold coins | Rock Creek Station |
| Gold Coins and Bullion On The Banks of Middle Loupe | $70,000 worth of gold coins and bullion | The banks of the Middle Loupe River two miles east of Seneca, Nebraska |
| Devils Nest | Unknown | Devils Nest lies five miles north of Linky, Nebraska |
| Fly Speck Billy’s Buried Treasure | $100,000 worth of gold and silver coins | Near Rushville, Nebraska |
| Train Robbery Loot In The Missouri River | $500,000 in gold coins and negotiable bonds | In the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa |
| River Boat Wreck Turns Up Thousands | $50,000 in gold coins and bullion | Wrecked a half a mile south of Nemaha, Nebraska in the Missouri River |
Jesse James and The Catron-Miyoshi Fruit Farm Treasure
Jesse James was a colorful character from the wild west days. There are numerous buried treasures stories I can tell about Jesse James and his gang that took place in many states.
This story states that while hiding out Jesse James buried a good deal of his stolen loot on the Carton Miyoshi Fruit Farm that’s located 3 miles southeast of Nebraska City, Nebraska. Not a whole lot of information to go by on this one but there you go.
Buffalo Bill Cody’s Buried Gold
Buffalo Bill Cody born William Frederick Cody was a Western showman and Civil War veteran who entertained many with his Buffalo Bills Wild West show that he took on the road in 1883. Rumor has it that Cody hid $17,000 worth of gold coins near Scout’s Rest Ranch that is located close to North Platte, Nebraska.
Cody made a lot of money in those days when his show was on the road and these coins were probably earned from these shows. The coins in today’s values would be worth much more than the $17,000.
Scout’s Rest Ranch is part of a Historical Park called Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. You will want to get permission before metal detecting here if it is allowed at all!
Lodgepole Creek Treasure
In 1867 the Treasure Express Stagecoach was robbed by a group of bandits. In total, they got away with 400 pounds of gold nuggets. They are said to have buried it on the south banks of Lodgepole creek which is located two miles east of Sidney, Nebraska.
Soon after they buried the gold nuggets they were caught and hung. When the law went to look for the gold nuggets they found some empty bags and two treasure chests that are presumed to have had the gold nuggets. The gold nuggets were never recovered and could still be buried or washed down-shore of Lodgepole Creek.
It would be worthwhile to take a panning kit and a metal detector suited for gold detection to Lodgepole Creek. You might find yourself very rich!
Pony Boys Gang Buried Loot
The Pony Boys were a gang of outlaws led by cattle rustler Doc Middleton who hijacked two stagecoaches. The gang buried the loot that consisted of gold coins and bullion near a stream that was close to Bassett, Nebraska.
Doc Middleton and the Pony Boys were accused of stealing over 2,000 horses over a two-year period. Doc Middleton died on December 13, 1913, and the gold was never recovered and is presumed still buried by that stream if it’s still there.
Bloomington’s Buried Valuables
The town of Bloomington Nebraska was raided by the Quantrill’s Raiders who were a group of pro-Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. The townsfolk must have known that the raiders were coming because many residents buried their valuables around the town. Many of the residents were killed during the raid and were never able to recover their treasures.
Over the years five different caches have been found in Bloomington. There could still be valuables from the Civil War still buried there.
Dobytowns Hidden Caches
Dobytown was a favorite spot for travelers traveling between Independence Missouri and the West Coast in the mid to late 1800s. Dobytown was founded in 1859 and attracted thousands of pioneers traveling westward, soldiers, and others. Along with these people brought gambling, liquor, and prostitution.
Nearby Fort Kearney attracted most of the soldiers. Stories have circulated that tell tales of people burning their gambling winnings and other treasures around this town. Dobytown is now a ghost town that’s located three miles west of Kearney City, Nebraska. Dobytown would be one fun town to metal detect at.
Al Medley’s Buried Coins
Blacksmith Al Medley would go to Missouri to get his blacksmith supplies. On one occasion before he left on his trip in 1855 he is said to have buried $2000 in gold coins so they would be safe from thieves when he was gone. Medley never returned from his trip and the coins are still presumed buried somewhere in Peru, Nebraska either on his old property where his blacksmith shop once stood or by a mill near Camp Creek.
Cobbs Buried Wealth
Cobb who’s real name was David McCanles was a wealthy businessman who bought Rock Creek Station that was located along the Oregon and California Trails and is now a part of a state park.
McCanles became rich by providing a resting place and charging a crossing toll over a bridge that he had over Rock Creek. This story states that McCanles buried between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of gold coins that he stored in an iron kettle near the property of Rock Creek Station.
Soon after he was killed by Wild Bill Hickok and the money has never been found. It could still be buried near the Rock Creek Station which is now part of a state historical park.
Gold Coins and Bullion On The Banks of Middle Loupe
A California gold prospector was headed home when he was attacked by outlaws near the town of Seneca, Nebraska. He was fortunate enough to escape and is said to have buried $70,000 worth of gold coins and bullion near the banks of the Middle Loupe river.
He died shortly after burying the gold from wounds that he sustained during the attack. He never recovered the gold and it’s presumed to still be buried on the banks of the Middle Loupe River two miles east of Seneca, Nebraska!
Devils Nest
Devils Nest is a wooded area with rolling meadows along the Missouri River. Starting in the 1800s up until the Civil War it is said that this area was frequented by outlaws who would bury their stolen fortunes in the caves in the area.
Devils Nest lies five miles north of Linky, Nebraska, and could be a treasure trove of lost items here.
Fly Speck Billy’s Buried Treasure
A gambler, horse thief, and robber by the name of James Fowler or Fly Speck Billy is said to have buried $100,000 worth of gold and silver coins near Rushville, Nebraska. He was later hung and buried on Boot Hill Cemetary in South Dakota before he could retrieve his stash.
Train Robbery Loot In The Missouri River
In 1924 a train was robbed at Council Bluffs Iowa of millions of dollars. Witnesses say that $500,000 in gold coins and negotiable bonds were dumped from the Douglas Street Bridge into the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
For months after they dredged the river with no success. The bonds would be long gone but the gold coins are probably somewhere on the bottom of the Missouri River waiting to be found by an underwater metal detectorist.
River Boat Wreck Turns Up Thousands
A riverboat that was carrying gold miners from the California gold fields in 1857 wrecked a half a mile south of Nemaha, Nebraska in the Missouri River. The miners are said to have lost $50,000 in gold coins and bullion.
In 1972 on the West bank of the Missouri river their treasure seekers found thousands of dollars worth of gold and silver coins that washed ashore. Just a small fraction of what went down with the ship and more could still wash ashore there.
Conclusion – Lost Treasures of Nebraska
So as you can see there are many lost treasures waiting to be found in Nebraska. The ones I have shown you here are just a few. If you do some research on the internet I’m sure you could find many more of these stories. I always enjoy writing about these lost treasures every state in America has some to tell.
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. I would love to hear from Nebraskans and your treasure hunting stories. Until next time Happy Treasure Hunting!
