Deep within the rugged peaks of Colorado lies a legendary site known as La Caverna del Oro, or the Cave of Gold. This enigmatic cave, steeped in tales of hidden riches and ancient spirits, has captivated imaginations for centuries, drawing both native peoples and relentless Spanish explorers to its shadowed depths. The legend of the Cave of Gold predates the arrival of Europeans, originating from the oral traditions of Native American tribes who believed it to be a sacred, yet perilous, place.
Perched majestically at 13,000 feet on Marble Mountain, the cave was once thought by indigenous peoples to be haunted by malevolent demons, a belief that perhaps served to protect its precious secrets. However, the allure of untold wealth proved too strong for the Spanish conquistadors, who, upon their arrival in the 15th century, eagerly sought to translate these native legends into a map to fortune.
The Spanish Quest for Gold and Native American Resistance
In 1541, during the famed Coronado expedition, three Spanish monks, driven by avarice, exploited the local Native American population. They forced them into grueling slave labor to extract gold from La Caverna del Oro. The indigenous people, subjected to immense hardship, eventually staged a desperate uprising, resulting in the deaths of two of the monks.
The third monk, De la Cruz, a man of cunning and persuasion, managed to convince the native miners that he possessed the power to quell the ‘evil spirits’ believed to inhabit the underground passages. With this deceptive assurance, he once again enlisted their forced labor, and vast quantities of gold were painstakingly brought forth from the mine. Once the enslaved Indians had served their purpose, De la Cruz and his remaining Spanish companions mercilessly turned on them, killing the miners. The treasure was then loaded onto pack mules, and the Spaniards fled south, making their escape back to Mexico, leaving behind a legacy of bloodshed and betrayal.
Elisha Horn’s Rediscovery and the Mark of the Cross
For centuries, La Caverna del Oro remained undisturbed, its secrets guarded by the unforgiving mountain terrain. It wasn’t until approximately a century ago that the cave was dramatically rediscovered by Elisha Horn. While traversing Marble Mountain, only a few miles from the town of Westcliff, Horn made a startling discovery: a skeleton clad in ancient Spanish armor, an arrow piercing its back. This somber find offered a chilling testament to the violent history of the area.
Above the skeletal remains, an ancient red cross was faintly painted on the rocks, a symbol that can still be discerned today. It was near this mysterious cross that Horn located the long-lost entrance to La Caverna del Oro. This rediscovery reignited interest in the legend and paved the way for subsequent expeditions.
Twentieth-Century Expeditions and Enduring Mysteries
The Colorado Mountain Club Expedition
In the 1920s, the lure of the Cave of Gold again drew explorers, this time a group from the Colorado Mountain Club led by a U.S. Forest Ranger. The Ranger had been inspired by a remarkable account from a 105-year-old Mexican woman. She vividly recounted childhood memories of journeys to the cave, where miners would emerge laden with gold. Her testimony was compelling, describing an oaken door located some 500-700 feet within the cave’s entrance, which she claimed guarded the wealthy ‘Three Steps Mine.’ She spoke of padlocked wooden doors concealing the treasure.
The Ranger and his club members embarked on a thorough exploration of the cave’s many rooms and passages, descending as far as 500 feet into its depths. Despite their efforts, they were unable to locate the fabled wooden doors or any significant gold deposits. However, their expedition was not without its own intriguing finds. They discovered a 200-year-old ladder and a hammer dating back to the 1600s, tangible evidence of earlier, unknown prospectors. Further down the mountain, nestled among the aspen trees, the club members uncovered the ruins of an old fort and numerous scattered arrowheads, suggesting a more extensive history of human activity than previously imagined.
Subsequent Explorations and Unanswered Questions
Since the Colorado Mountain Club’s expedition, many other adventurers and treasure seekers have ventured into La Caverna del Oro. Their efforts have yielded various historical artifacts, including an old windlass (a device for hoisting ropes and buckets), a clay jug, and a shovel, all left behind by previous explorers or miners. Most chillingly, one group reported the discovery of a human skeleton, chained by the neck to a wall deep within the cave, a grim reminder of its dark past.
Despite these finds, no significant cache of gold has ever been publicly reported. This absence of confirmed treasure has led to several intriguing theories. Some speculate that the entrance marked by the red cross might have been an escape route for the Spanish, rather than the primary entry, suggesting the ‘real’ entrance to the main gold deposits remains hidden lower down on the mountainside. Others theorize that a massive rockslide has since concealed the mysterious wooden door, forever sealing off the fabled ‘Three Steps Mine’ and its purported riches.
The Enduring Mystery of La Caverna del Oro
Today, La Caverna del Oro continues to stand at 13,000 feet on Marble Mountain, situated just over Music Pass to the northeast of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Its majestic location and the powerful legends surrounding it ensure its place in Colorado folklore. While the gold itself remains elusive, the cave’s rich history, from ancient Native American tales and brutal Spanish conquests to dedicated modern-day explorations, cements its status as a site of enduring mystery and historical significance. The allure of the Cave of Gold persists, a testament to humanity’s endless fascination with lost treasures and the secrets held deep within the earth.
