Any Treasure Leads in Lakeland FL?

[Kid collector]

Please notify me of any Treasure Leads in Lakeland FL?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[neo2868]

I talked with Ralph Tanner, the local md dealer, also he has been published in several treasure hunting magazines and he says as far as he know that there is really nothing in the lakeland area...although I did read a story about a camp site at the north shore of lake Hollingsworth(but the college there has the properety now)

 

[RelicRick]

Hey...

My wife attended Florida Southern and lost a gold charm necklace while sunbathing on the dock at the lake ( I assume Lk. Hollingsworth)...this was in 1981-82. If you can find it...that would be awesome!

Thanks,

Goaldigger @ the Goalrush

 

[neo2868]

Since I replied to this post Mr. Tanner has passed away...That is a real shame he was a very nice guy from the few times I talked with him...I have since joined the metal detecting club that he was a member of and enjoy the time I spend with them...they are a great group of people... One day whenI take scuba lessons I will try to get to lake Hollingsworth and dive with my detector under that docK ( a lot of young ladies sunbathe on that dock as well as young men go skiing off of it) if you would like to send me a description of that charm goalrush I will try to find it and if I do I will return it to you and your wife...I imagine there is more than just that one charm down there as there are thousands of young ladies that attend that school every year...I do know that in the year of 2000 they did dredge the lake to get the sludge off of the bottom so it might still be there and it might not but I plan on taking scuba lessons in april or may of '08 and will enjoy looking for it as it will give me some experience using my tigershark under water for a change.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

One treasure, though, has a pretty specific location - the old Wilmary Motel in Lakeland, Florida. Bill Sneed used to operate that motel, and he's said to have hidden some $625,000 in gold bullion somewhere on the property.


Sharpen your shovels and prepare to kick down some drywall - hecklerspray's sending you treasure hunting. And literally too - for $625,000 in gold bullion. The glittering-take was discovered by treasure hunter Bill Sneed, who also operated the Wilmary Motel in Lakeland, Florida during the 1950s.

Sneed claimed he found the loot in the mouth of the Suwannee River, and the small bit he stumbled-upon was only a portion of a lost $5,000,000 jackpot. Coin World says:

"F.L. Coffman reported that "an old treasure hunter, Bill Sneed," found $625,000 in gold bullion and coins at the mouth of the Suwanee River, a part of a treasure of gold coins valued at $5,000,000. The present writer knew Bill Sneed, who in the 1950s operated the Wilmary Motel in Lakeland, Florida."

Word on the street is Sneed didn't spend a dime of that bullion. He kept it all, showing people samples only occasionally. Further word on the street is the treasure hunter hid his find either in the Wilmary Motel, or on its premise somewhere. Seems like a quick investment in a metal detector should pay off pretty easily then, right?

Well not quite. A quick Switchboard.com search for a Wilmary Motel address resulted in zero returns - meaning the motel must have switched names, traded hands or been demolished altogether. As if that's not discouraging enough, Coin World also says of the old treasure hunter who found the bullion:

"[Sneed] enjoyed regaling his acquaintances with tall tales, but had relatively few rare coins as evidence to verify his finds."

On the bright side, 'relatively few' is a far cry from none. Of course this doesn't mean the treasure verifiably exists. But if you do manage to track down the Wilmary Motel, and you do happen to find bucketloads of gold bullion, just remember which website pointed you in that direction - eh?

http://www.hecklerspray.com/awesome-or-off-putting-bill-sneeds-hidden-treasure/20077600.php

 

[neo2868]

gypsy, thanx for the reply ... the motel changed names (I forget the name right off hand but I do know where it is) the problem is the new owner is a tight wad and would have you arrested if you even sneezed wrong on his property...(and it would be a quick arrest... the police dept. is only one block away) but anywho I had read somewhere Mr. sneeds moved up north after his find and the other story said he was a bit of a story teller and led you to believe that what he told was nothing but a tall tale...only real research will turn up the truth and it may well be worth it to look into as the new owner is on the ill side and may not live much longer (not that I wish any harm to anyone) and his son is a much nicer guy and he sort of has a crush on my wife so I may be able to get in there one day to search...on the other hand the north side of lake hollingsworth was a camp (they even have a bronze plaque out there) and if you can obtain permission from Florida Southern College to detect it, you might find something there. the other things in this area was two indian towns on the south side of lake hancock (one name tolopchockto and I dont know the other name) and near polk city there is a ghost town named green pond on (guess what name) greenpond rd. there are plenty of old houses in this area that the owners may let you detect if you respect their property and there are the two forts of fort meade (the lakeland library has a book that gives the approximate location of where both forts are (the second fort is built up with houses now but the first fort is an open field...since I first bought my tigershark I have learned alot about my area and the local metal detecting club may give some insight to areas that we as newbies might not think about (the local club fees are $20.00 per year and for the info you obtain it is worth it to join) oh and by the way gypsy I just saw your pics from halloween and I just have to say Damn!!!!!!! (just dont tell my wife...lol) seriously you and your family are beautiful people and i treasure your advice on these boards (no pun intended)

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Thank You ...I appreciate your compliment!