Charming Utah: Treasure Hunters of the Utah Real Estate Market

I remember reading an article years ago about a sea expedition that was looking for an ancient Spanish treasure that had yet to be found. The company had gone public, and people were buying shares. It made me realize that there is a certain mystique in investing in a company… we certainly feel like we are part owners, and therefore, we have a small piece of the action. When we invest in Disney, perhaps we feel a little bit of pixie dust swirling around us. When we invest in the Dallas Cowboys, perhaps we feel the rush of that touchdown we never quite made in high school football. Personally, I wish I could invest in Antiques Roadshow but I don’t think they are publically traded…

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that inside of us, I think we are all looking for a little bit of magic. And when we are hunting for our dream home, I hope, that the Indiana Jones… the African Queen… the Dora the Explorer in all of us comes leaping forth as we prowl the listings on Zillow or Yahoo. After all, for most of us, our home will be the greatest tangible treasure we will ever own. And it is quite an adventure out there in the real estate jungle.

So, for those of us who still believe in treasure and are crazy enough to think home searches COULD be as fun as a treasure hunt, here is an homage to some of the world’s greatest and most mysterious treasures yet to be found:

• Forresst Fenn Hidden Treasure - -Like Einstein and his compass, Fenn was given an arrowhead when he was a child and it spurred a lifelong fascination with purveying artifacts from around the world. In the 1980’s he was diagnosed with cancer… but he didn’t leave his property in a will. No, like a true treasure hunter, he left clues for those willing to chase them. Yes, good ole Fenn wanted to make us work for the treasure, just like any swashbuckling pirate worth his/her salt. The reward? An estimated $1-3 million dollars in gold, jewelry, and other priceless objects. Almost enough to make me quit my day job.

• Mosby’s Treasure – This confederate soldier hauled a burlap sack full of an estimated $350,000 worth of goods along a route that parallels US 211… until he ran into some Union soldiers. Well he wasn’t going to give up his burlap sack so he buried it somewhere. Strangely, he never went back to get it. Here’s your clue: it is between two pine trees. Happy hunting… Yes? Yes! Yes.
• Butch Cassidy – Awwe, a personal favorite since it lies so close to home. Rumor has it Butch and his Wild Bunch hid $20,000 somewhere in Irish Canyon.
• My Crazy Great Uncle’s Stash in Victorville – I once had a crazy Uncle who lived in a trailer in Victorville. He had a big, BIG dog that terrified me every time I went to pay a visit. Anyway, before he died he allegedly stashed all of his gold and cash in tin coffee cans around the property. I have no idea where this is, but I guess my other Uncles probably know so if anyone wants to join me for a “routine souvenir hunt” grab a shovel and let’s go.

Well, that’s all for now folks. As you set out on your home search, I hope these stories inspire the treasure hunter in all of you.