Castle Gap

[Gypsy Heart]

Marker Title: Castle Gap
Address: US 67, E of McCamey
City: McCamey
County: Upton
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: On US 67 about 5 miles E of McCamey
Marker Text: Castle Gap, famous early pass for southwestern trails, lies 14 miles northwest along the Upton-Crane County line. Through this mile-long gap between Castle and King mountains flowed the full panorama of Texas history-- Indian, Spaniard, Stage and Trail Herd Driver, Settler, '49er. In prehistoric time Castle Gap was a landmark for nomadic Indian tribes and later guided the Commanches on their war trail into Mexico. The first white man to discover the pass was probably the Spanish explorer Felipe Rabago y Teran in 1761. Then came the '49ers in their frenzied rush to the California gold fields, to be followed by other, more permanent settlers. From 1858 to 1861 the famed Butterfield Overland Mail coaches rumbled through the pass on their 24-day journey from St. Louis to San Francisco, pausing briefly at the adobe-walled Castle Gap station for fresh teams. Then they were off again, fording into the sunset. By 1866 the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail was firmly established at the gap, funneling tens of thousands of brawling longhorn cattle to the northern markets. During this same period, legend holds that a treasure-laden aide of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, fleeing the country when the regime collapsed, buried gold and jewels in the area. Dust of the pioneers settled long ago. Today Castle Gap slumbers peacefully, disturbed only by visitors, occasional treasure hunters and those who probe for ruins of the Butterfield station and the rapidly fading ruts of coach and wagon

Only 12 miles north-northeast from Horsehead Crossing is the legendary Castle Gap. The mile-long break in the ridge of the Castle Mountains requires that the two peaks be given separate names. King Mountain is on the southern end; while Castle Mountain is the northern peak.

Everyone who was anyone in West Texas history seems to have visited the Gap, beginning with Cabeza de Vaca. The scouting expedition of Captain Felipe Teran is believed to have visited the Gap as well as multitudes of Comanches and later Texas Ranger "Rip" Ford. It was also used by the Butterfield Stagecoach Line as a way station. Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight later made the Gap a crossing on their soon-to-be-famous cattle trail.

The railroad went south of the Gap and decreased traffic allowed erosion to close the road for some time.

There have been no fewer than eight separate stories of buried treasure in or around the Gap. Outlaw gold, Mexican Gold, Butterfield Stagecoach money and even riches from Maximilian's short-lived "Empire of Mexico".

[tecumsah628]

Hi Gypsy Heart,
I have recently (mid Sept. of 2009) been to Castle Gap, Texas with the owner and a person who has spent the last thirteen years using heavy equipment looking for Maximilian's treasure. I have been invited back and because of the numerous rattlesnakes and mountain lions in the area, I will be taking a treasure hunting partner with me as well as a camera. And of course my equipment which includes ground penetrating radar, dectors, etc..
You have several articles on this site and I found it interesting about the lost Santa Anna's treasure in Austin. On a site on Shoal Creek, with one of precious metal detecting equipment, I have gotten the best readings there then on my other sites. I am trying to get the owner to let me dig on the property with a backhoe. One of these days, and hopefully soon, I will be a treasure Finder instead of a Hunter.
I like many of your other stories too.
Take Care.