For over a decade, thousands have flocked to the Rocky Mountains in search of a supposed treasure worth at least $2 million. But that treasure hunt is over now.
Forrest Fenn is a military veteran and an art collector. But while recovering from cancer, he decided he wanted to attract people to explore the Rocky Mountains, so he hid a treasure chest somewhere in the mountains. That led thousands on a treasure hunt throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Fenn announced on his website that the man who found the treasure was from the East. And that the man doesn't want to be revealed. Fenn said he confirmed it was the treasure from a picture that was sent to him.
Dal Neitzel has searched for the treasure over 80 times and runs The Thrill of the Chase blog.
"It's been more about the experience of exploring and having the adventure and small treasures that you find when you're out there then it is about expecting to find the treasure," said Neitzel.
Fenn wrote a memoir in 2010, that had clues to the treasure's location. The clues were in a poem. Now, Neitzel said Fenn should tell the thousands of hunters where the treasure was located so they can have the knowledge whether they were close or not.
"All we want to know right now is, were we ever close? That's the important thing right now. That's what's going to satisfy the searchers. Jeez, I was never even in the right state," he said.
People have flocked to Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas and put themselves at high risk trying to find the treasure. At least five people have even died while searching. Some say it's possible the treasure never existed in the first place.
Have a question about this story? Contact the reporter, Kamila Kudelska, at kkudelsk@uwyo.edu.
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