Forrest Fenn’s legendary treasure hunt ignites a nationwide obsession. The thrill of adventure, the promise of gold, and the call of the wild entice many seekers into the quest. Over time, excitement gives way to conspiracy and resentment, as treasure hunters stray into increasingly dangerous or aggressive interpretations of the clues. As the body count climbs, even Forrest begins to fear for his safety.
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Further Reading
These episodes drew on a range of articles, books, websites and documentaries. The key sources were:
Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death and Glory in America’s Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt (2021) by Daniel Barbarisi
“A Deadly Hunt for Hidden Treasure Spawns an Online Mystery” by David Kushner, Wired (July 26th 2018). Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/forrest-fenn-treasure-online-mystery/
Here’s the full list:
Articles
“The Man Who Found Forrest Fenn’s Treasure” by Daniel Barbarisi, Outside (December 7th 2020). Available at: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/forrest-fenn-treasure-jack-stuef/?mode=fullscreen&scope=initial
“Colorado man dies during hunt for Forrest Fenn’s treasure in Dinosaur National Monument” by Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post (July 5th 2021). Available at: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/24/forrest-fenns-treasure-dinosaur-national-monument-death/
“US Confidence in Instiutions Mostly Flat, but Police Up” by Megan Brenan, Gallup (July 15th 2024). Available at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/647303/confidence-institutions-mostly-flat-police.aspx
“The Everlasting Forrest Fenn” by Taylor Clark, The California Sunday Magazine. Available at: https://story.californiasunday.com/the-everlasting-forrest-fenn/
“In search of Forrest Fenn’s treasure” by Zachary Crockett, Vox (June 30th 2017). Available at: https://www.vox.com/a/fenn-treasure-hunt-map
“Forrest Fenn Wants You To Find His Treasure — and His Bones.” by Tony Doukoupil, Newsweek (August 20th 2012). Available at: https://www.newsweek.com/forrest-fenn-wants-you-find-his-treasure-and-his-bones-64427
“Rivals Scorn His Santa Fé Gallery, but Forrest Fenn Baskets the Cash” by Brenda Eady, People (June 9th 1986). Available at: https://people.com/archive/rivals-scorn-his-santa-fe-gallery-but-forrest-fenn-baskets-the-cash-vol-25-no-23/
“Forrest Fenn: a trader and collector who succeeds” by John Hamilton, The Santa Fé New Mexican (February 1st 1976).
“Forrest Fenn treasure hunter sentenced for illegal digs at Yellowstone” by Phil Helsel, NBC News (April 1st 2021). Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/forrest-fenn-treasure-hunter-sentenced-illegal-digs-yellowstone-n1262694
“The Big — and Illegal — Business of Indian Artifacts” by Sid Kane, The New York Times (September 7th 1986).
“A Deadly Hunt for Hidden Treasure Spawns an Online Mystery” by David Kushner, Wired (July 26th 2018). Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/forrest-fenn-treasure-online-mystery/
“Jet Crashes and Hidden Treasure” by Chris LaFrieda, PhD. Available at: https://exploreindochina.com/jet-crashes-and-hidden-treasure/
“He buried a treasure in the mountains, and someone found it. Or did they?” by Rachel Mabe, The Guardian (September 16th 2020). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/16/buried-treasure-forrest-fenn-rockies
“Elmy de Hory — Story of the Most Famous Forger in Art History” by Jelena Martinovic, Artsper (June 17th 2025). Available at: https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/elmyr-de-hory-art-forger/
“X marks the bitcoin: the treasure hunt book is back — and it’s bigger than ever” by Stefano Montali, The Guardian (November 26th 2024). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/26/bitcoin-treasure-hunt-book-picasso-jon-collins-black
“Case Closed: Fate Of Treasure Hunter Remains Mystery”, by Susan Montoya Bryan, CBS News (February 28th 2017). Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/case-closed-fate-of-treasure-hunter-remains-mystery/
“At Home With Forrest Fenn” by Chase Reynolds Ewald, Western Art and Architecture (October – November 2018). Available at: https://westernartandarchitecture.com/october-november-2018/at-home-with-forrest-fenn
“How One Colorado Man Disappeared While Hunting For Hidden Treasure” by Robert Sanchez, 5280 (August 2016). Available at: https://5280.com/how-one-colorado-man-disappeared-while-hunting-for-hidden-treasure/
“A remembrance of Forrest Fenn” by Jack Stuef, Medium (September 23rd 2020). Available at: https://thefinder.medium.com/a-remembrance-of-forrest-fenn-1be2a8646ff2
“A Statement on the Disclosure of My Identity” by Jack Stuef, Medium (December 7th 2020). Available at: https://thefinder.medium.com/a-statement-on-the-disclosure-of-my-identity-602d95f04b9f
“A note on the sale of the treasure” by Jack Stuef, Medium (November 11th 2022). Available at: https://thefinder.medium.com/a-note-on-the-sale-of-the-treasure-bf22d305803a
“A Second Chance at Finding Fenn’s Treasure” by Jack Stuef, Medium (November 11th 2024). Available at: https://thefinder.medium.com/a-second-chance-at-finding-fenns-treasure-cd12ecb66c2c
“Seeking an author’s legendary treasure, thief steals a chest of linens, N.M. police say”, by Don Sweeney, The Sacramento Bee (October 16th 2018). Available at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article220102095.html
“Missing treasure hunter’s remains found in New Mexico”, BBC News (July 27th 2016). Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36900767.
“Man who hid $2m treasure leads search to find missing treasure hunter”, The Guardian (January 30th 2016). Available here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/30/forrest-fenn-randy-bilyeu-missing-treasure-hunter
“Treasure hunter who went looking for $2m in gold found dead in New Mexico”, The Guardian (July 27th 2016). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/26/randy-bilyeu-dead-new-mexico-treasure-hunter
“Santa Fé Texans”, The Houston Post (May 19th 1985).
“Forrest Fenn Treasure Hunter Digs Himself Into Federal Sentence”, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming (March 31st 2021). Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wy/pr/forrest-fenn-treasure-hunter-digs-himself-federal-sentence
Books
Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death and Glory in America’s Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt (2021) by Daniel Barbarisi
Who Can You Trust?: How Technology Brought Us Together — and Why It Could Drive Us Apart (2017) by Rachel Botsman.
Phantom Over Vietnam (1984) by John Trotti.
Websites
www.destinationyellowstone.com
Documentaries & Videos
“Cognitive Bias in Forrest Fenn Treasure Hunters” by Jack Stuef, YouTube (2019). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFzM7Nn7_AY
“Gold and Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure” (2025), Netflix. Available at: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81636832
