Oklahoma and Texas are two places where you almost can't go anywhere without hearing some old legend about outlaws and the Wild West. There are stories of gunfights and men making their fortune through nefarious means. One outlaw's name stands out among the rest, though, and it happens to be attached to millions of dollars worth of gold.

The Search For Jesse James' Lost Gold In Southwest Oklahoma

Cement, Oklahoma isn't a town you hear brought up very often. But for fans of Wild West lore and outlaw legends and treasure hunters, it's an important place. Supposedly, this small town in western Oklahoma is the gateway to millions of dollars of lost treasure.

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The legend goes that the hidden cache of gold belonged to none other than the outlaw Jesse James. According to some pieces of folklore, it was gold stolen from a Mexican transport, hauled north, and hidden for safekeeping.

Where it is hidden is a hotly contested point, as there seem to be stories pointing to two different locations.

The Lost Gold Of Jesse James In Cement, Oklahoma

According to legend, Cement, Oklahoma is home to more than a Jesse James-inspired tourist attraction. Supposedly, the nearby mountains could hold the key to the lost treasure of Jesse James. Those mountains are the Wichitas, which are home to some beautiful sights, incredible history, and a wildlife refuge worth driving to see.

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Another spot is a rock formation with a name that sounds like something you'd see on a treasure map.

That rock formation is known as Buzzard's Roost, which sounds like a place ripped right from an old Wild West movie. Buzzard's Roost, according to the lore, is the home of clues that will eventually point to the cache of Mexican gold that the James gang made off with.

What's interesting is that there have been carvings and other clues found in the area of Buzzard's Roost.

Jesse James' Lost Gold In The Wichita Mountains Of Western Oklahoma

The stories that claim the gold is stashed somewhere in the Wichita Mountains don't give any real exact locations. The closest you can get to being pointed in the right direction is "somewhere in the Keechi Hills."

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People have given decades to the quest of uncovering this lost gold. I know a man who spent the majority of his adult life spending every free moment he had searching for the lost gold in the Wichitas. I knew his family well, and know that he never found the missing loot.

If Nothing Has Been Found, Why Do People Believe Jesse James Hid Gold In Oklahoma

Oddly enough, there have been some discoveries that lend credence to the belief that Jesse James stashed some Mexican bullion north of the Red River. It's these discoveries that have fueled treasure hunters to keep the search up for decades.

One of the discoveries was that of a kettle. According to legend, the kettle was found to contain some of the Mexican gold that Jesse supposedly stole. Then there are buckles from a pack saddle, half a pistol, and all of those carvings. All of it points to the lost gold of Jesse James

Of course, there are the naysayers who say this is nothing more than just another outlaw myth. For the believers though, the gold is just one deciphered clue away. When it comes to the rest of us, the Wichitas are still an awesome weekend getaway that's worth the drive with all of the natural beauty and history it offers.

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