Indian treasure in Georgia

During the 1830’s the Cherokee Indians were removed from their land in Georgia and moved to Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. Prior to being forcibly moved, several members of the tribe hid pots and piles of gold. The majority of this gold was in the form of nuggets and gold dust that the Indians had collected over the years.

In the late 1800’s an Indian arrived in Gilmer County, GA and camped out near the junction of Old Scarecrow and Talking Rocks Creeks. The Indian lived at this spot for many months and one day a farmer’s curiosity got the best of him and he stopped to talk to the Indian. The two continued to talk occasionally and over time the Indian told the farmer what he was doing in the area.

The Indian’s ancestors had given him directions to a cave filled with gold nuggets and one day the Indian decided to show the cave to the farmer. After being blindfolded, the Indian lead the farmer “a short distance” from the creeks and into the cave. When his blindfold was removed the farmer was astonished to actually see a large pile of gold nuggets sitting on the floor of the cave. The farmer was once again blindfolded and lead back to the creek by the Indian.
The Indian left the area, some say just months after showing the cave to the farmer, never to return again. The farmer spent the next several years searching for the cave but could never find it.

Stories from the area say that the Cherokees hid “many pots of gold” just before their eviction from the land and most of those still remain hidden in the area today. One such pot of gold is supposed to be buried “on the highest hill near the creek” in Gilmer County, GA. This story was told by an old Indian known as “Tails” who supposedly witnessed the pot of gold being buried by another Indian. Tails was able to outwit the soldiers moving the Indians from the land and was able to remain in Gilmer County the rest of his life, living on a creek known as Tails Creek. Tails died in the 1880’s and the iron pot of gold has never been recovered. It is thought that the creek Tails was referring to was the creek that he was living near.

If those two stories of hidden gold aren’t enough for you then maybe you would like to hunt for a hidden silver mine. This mine, also in Gilmer County is supposed to be located on Fort Mountain. According to legend, when the Indians were being forced to move to Oklahoma they sealed the entrance to this mine and it has never been found again.

Fort Mountain is now part of a state park (go figure) so you might want to check the rules before you go. You may just want to go “hiking” while you are there. Where would you start your search on this mountain? It could be anywhere but there might be a clue that would narrow down your search area.

On the highest point of this mountain is an ancient man made rock wall 855 feet long. The wall was thought to have been made by the Indians as a fortification against attack or for some unknown ceremony. Fort Mountain get’s its name from this rock fortification or wall. If this is some type of fortification then it could be that it was put there to protect the hidden silver mine. Maybe some of the rocks for the wall actually came out of the mine.

There is supposed to be a second mine with a rich vein of silver located somewhere near Flat Creek and the Coosawattee River. This mine was also sealed by the Indians before their departure but I couldn’t find any other information about it.

Good hunting!