Winnfield Spanish Treasure

Winnfield is located in the red clay hills of north-central Louisiana. The area remained unsettled by white men until about 1840. According to a local story obtained from several sources a Spanish treasure of five-mule-loads of gold and silver is hidden in man-made caves dug into the North side of Coochie Brake, about 12 miles southwest of Winnfield.

In the late 1700’s there was a small tribe of Indians living at this spot. A caravan of Spaniards came upon the Indians and, fearful they would become suspicious of the cargo they were carrying, massacred all but three. These three Indians escaped and headed for Catahoula Parish, where the Catahoula Indian tribe lived. Since this tribe was warlike, the Spaniards decided they would split up into two groups — each taking a different route to Natchez, Mississippi, and thence on to the East coast where they would eventually ship their treasure to Spain.

However, in the skirmish with the Indians, several of their mules were killed, thus creating a shortage of animals to carry their heavy cargo which was stored in heavy earthen vases, two to the mule. According to the story, ten vases had to be left behind and were buried on the spot.

Considerable searching has been done for the lost Spanish gold and silver, but geologists of the Louisiana Mineral Board say there is quicksand in the area, about 30 feet underground, so it is possible the earthen vases have moved due to the shifting quicksand. This is a good spot for a deep-seeking metal detector.