The 'Old Spanish Treasure Cave' is located on Hwy 59 between Sulphur Springs and Gravette, Arkansas in the northwest corner of the state.
The 'Old Spanish Treasure Cave' is located on Hwy 59 between Sulphur Springs and Gravette, Arkansas in the northwest corner of the state.
Over 350 years ago, Spanish Conquistadors traveled north through the wilderness to find the Seven Cities of Cibola, a treasure of gold. Though Coronado went back to Mexico empty-handed, it is believed that some of the Spaniards found treasure, and hid it in the cave before Natives killed them.
The cavern was rediscovered in 1885 by an old man from Madrid, Spain. The legend apparently led him to two maps: one carved on a tree and another carved on a limestone rock. The treasure has been estimated today at well over 40 million dollars and has not been found to date. There have been artifacts found in the cavern, such as helmets, pieces of armor and weapons dating back to the time of the Conquistadors. A few gold coins have also been reported found. The Spaniard did not stay long due to ill health.
The legend was kept alive by George Dunbar, who continued searching for the treasure for many years. He, too, had to give up the search due to ill health. The cave was finally opened to the public in the 1930s after several other failed attempts to find the treasure. The hunt still goes on today. The cave has never been fully explored, and new territories are charted every year.
The Old Spanish Treasure Cave is still open to the public, offering guided tours throughout the year. Panning for gem stones, crystals and fossils is another activity offered at this attraction. The cave stays at a constant 56 degrees year round.
The cave formation is known as a karst cave. This formation is still a topic of geological research. Basically, it is formed from water containing carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolving limestone.
The Old Spanish Treasure Cave is different then most tour caves. It is what is called a maze cavern. There are passageway all throughout the cavern leading into different rooms and even more tunnels.
It is a tour attraction in Northwest Arkansas located on highway 59 between Gravette and Sulphur Springs Arkansas. The website is: https://www.spanish-treasure-cave.com/
36°28′56″N94°27′37″W / 36.48222°N 94.46028°W
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