The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America
In a little-known mountain range in southern New Mexico is an unremarkable mountain called Victorio Peak. In a cavern in that mountain, it is rumored that billions of dollars’ worth of artifacts and thousands of gold and silver ingots and coins have been cached for decades, a treasure that dwarfs all others. Its existence, or the belief in its existence, has been responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of recovery efforts, blatant violation of laws and trampling of legal rights by the United States government as well as dozens of citizens, and the involvement of a wide variety of infamous characters. It has also been responsible for a number of deaths.

For generations, people all over the world have been fascinated and enthralled by tales and legends of lost mines and buried treasures. There is something in the human DNA that embraces such things. North America has served as a setting for hundreds of such tales, and every now and then one of these treasures is found. Most can identify the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains and the so-called Oak Island Treasure in Nova Scotia as prominent examples of legends that have seized the attention of millions. If one were to write a mystery/thriller incorporating colorful characters, murder, unexplained deaths, intrigue, theft, deceit, and political and legal machinations, one need not look any further than the incredible treasure mystery associated with Victorio Peak. It is, in fact, one of the most bizarre and confounding mysteries in American history and involves what my well be the largest treasure cache known to man.
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The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America
In a little-known mountain range in southern New Mexico is an unremarkable mountain called Victorio Peak. In a cavern in that mountain, it is rumored that billions of dollars’ worth of artifacts and thousands of gold and silver ingots and coins have been cached for decades, a treasure that dwarfs all others. Its existence, or the belief in its existence, has been responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of recovery efforts, blatant violation of laws and trampling of legal rights by the United States government as well as dozens of citizens, and the involvement of a wide variety of infamous characters. It has also been responsible for a number of deaths.

For generations, people all over the world have been fascinated and enthralled by tales and legends of lost mines and buried treasures. There is something in the human DNA that embraces such things. North America has served as a setting for hundreds of such tales, and every now and then one of these treasures is found. Most can identify the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains and the so-called Oak Island Treasure in Nova Scotia as prominent examples of legends that have seized the attention of millions. If one were to write a mystery/thriller incorporating colorful characters, murder, unexplained deaths, intrigue, theft, deceit, and political and legal machinations, one need not look any further than the incredible treasure mystery associated with Victorio Peak. It is, in fact, one of the most bizarre and confounding mysteries in American history and involves what my well be the largest treasure cache known to man.
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The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America

The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America

by W.C. Jameson
The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America

The Victorio Peak Mystery: A Search for the Greatest Lost Treasure Cache in America

by W.C. Jameson

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$27.95 
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Overview

In a little-known mountain range in southern New Mexico is an unremarkable mountain called Victorio Peak. In a cavern in that mountain, it is rumored that billions of dollars’ worth of artifacts and thousands of gold and silver ingots and coins have been cached for decades, a treasure that dwarfs all others. Its existence, or the belief in its existence, has been responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of recovery efforts, blatant violation of laws and trampling of legal rights by the United States government as well as dozens of citizens, and the involvement of a wide variety of infamous characters. It has also been responsible for a number of deaths.

For generations, people all over the world have been fascinated and enthralled by tales and legends of lost mines and buried treasures. There is something in the human DNA that embraces such things. North America has served as a setting for hundreds of such tales, and every now and then one of these treasures is found. Most can identify the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains and the so-called Oak Island Treasure in Nova Scotia as prominent examples of legends that have seized the attention of millions. If one were to write a mystery/thriller incorporating colorful characters, murder, unexplained deaths, intrigue, theft, deceit, and political and legal machinations, one need not look any further than the incredible treasure mystery associated with Victorio Peak. It is, in fact, one of the most bizarre and confounding mysteries in American history and involves what my well be the largest treasure cache known to man.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781493076390
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Publication date: 07/01/2026
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

About The Author
W.C. Jameson is the award-winning author of more than a hundred books. He is the bestselling treasure author in America, and his prominence as a professional fortune hunter has led to stints as a consultant for the Unsolved Mysteries television show, the Travel Channel, and the History Channel. He lives near Llano, Texas.

Table of Contents

Prologue viii

Introduction xvii

Part I The Discovery

l Into the Basin 2

2 The Peak 5

3 Doc Noss 15

4 The Opening 20

5 Ova Noss 23

6 The Treasure Cavern 26

Part II Origins

7 The Legend of Padre LaRue 33

8 Emperor Maximilian's Treasure 41

9 German Gold 44

10 Apache Plunder 46

11 Monterrey Loot 50

12 Aztec Gold 53

13 General George Patton's Treasure 54

14 Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure 57

15 Analysis of Theories 59

16 The Strange Tale of Willie Douthit 62

17 Enter Harvey Snow 71

Part III Recovery, Deception, Disaster

18 Subterfuge 76

19 Recovery 79

20 Witnesses to the Treasure 84

21 Disaster 89

22 Shareholders 93

Part IV Deception, Desperation, Death

23 Wandering 98

24 Enter Charles Ryan 102

25 The Shooting 109

26 The Trial 112

27 Noss's Possessions 114

28 Aftermath 117

Part V Lies and Deceit

29 Enter White Sands Missile Range 121

30 Ova Noss vs. the US Army 125

31 A Second Treasure Discovery 127

32 Illegal Military Activities Exposed 136

33 Confrontation 140

34 Lawyered Up 144

35 Web of Lies 148

Part VI Authorized Search

36 Enter Gaddis Mining Company 151

37 Excavation 154

38 Gaddis Report on Victorio Peak 157

39 More Military Deception 160

40 Unwanted Publicity 165

Part VII More Complications

41 Enter Drolte and Bailey 169

42 Claimants 182

43 Breached Security 189

44 Policy and Legalities 191

Part VIII Renewed Search

45 Reenter Norman Scott 199

46 Operation Goldfinder 203

47 The Search 206

48 Enter Terry Delonas 213

49 Search Renewed 223

50 Lawsuit 231

Conclusion 233

Selected Bibliography 248

Acknowledgments 250

Index 251

About the Author 263

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