Cursed Gold Mines Of Utah: Legends And Warnings Echo Through History

There has been a belief in Utah that the old mines that the Spanish dug for gold and other precious metals were cursed. There are stories of early prospectors who were chased off by Native Americans and warned to never return. 

Warnings from the Past: Prospectors and Native Americans

Even today, there is still a feeling among some prospectors that those who go after the gold mines in Utah will find their efforts will be blocked, and if they continue, their health and livelihood ruined and eventually their death. 

This is a quote from a man named Edward T. Wolverton in 1928. He lived near the Henry Mountains in Utah, and it attributes to a medicine man. 

His blood will turn to water, and even in youth he will be as an old man, his squaws and papooses will die. And the earth will bring forth for him only poison weeds instead of corn. Various other punishments will attend to him; too numerous to mention. 

There are many stories that seem to lend truth to the claim of cursed gold. Two men in the 1800’s were warned by the Native American to stop prospecting or they would die. They continued anyway and wound up lost in the desert and dying of thirst.

The spring they found poisoned them. They stopped prospecting for a time until greed overwhelmed them, and they began again. Both were dead a few weeks later. 

The Legend of Montezuma's Treasure

In a more recent account, there are those who believe there is a massive treasure buried somewhere near Kanab. 

Legends say that during the 16th century, 8,000 Aztec warriors carried King Montezuma’s gold from Mexico City to the U.S. to protect it from the Spanish conquistadors. 

There have been many throughout the years who have tried to find this gold. They believe the gold is in a cave below a small lake. The family who owns the land talk about the problems treasure seekers run into. 

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Those seeking the gold would experience equipment failure to their scuba equipment or get turned around underneath the water. One person even claimed he was being choked by a ghost.

Whatever the reason, there is no doubt the Spanish and others mined gold and silver throughout Utah, and yet, finding and opening these old mines has proven elusive.