Finding the Real Gold of Palo Duro Canyon

A good treasure hunt is always fun, right? That’s why I began my Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series with a hunt for the fictional Spanish galleon, the San Mañuel. So, when I discovered that Palo Duro Canyon—my next stop along Route 66—had lured Spanish explorers and treasure hunters looking for lost gold, I was hooked. That’s right, lost gold, in the form of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. Yep, talk about irresistible.

Cibola — A Legend of Palo Duro Canyon Gold

The Seven Cities of Gold, also called the Seven Golden Cities or Cibola, have been a famous legend for centuries. According to the story, these cities were said to be somewhere in the Southwest region of the United States.

In 1540, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an expedition to Palo Duro Canyon. His goal was to find these mythical cities of gold. Coronado believed it was a risk worth taking. But was it?

A Failed Treasure Hunt that Reshaped History

Coronado failed in spectacular fashion. Despite years of searching, he never found the Seven Cities of Gold. But his quest had a lasting impact on history.

The search for the Seven Cities of Gold fueled the Spanish colonization of the American Southwest. It eventually led to the establishment of settlements such as Santa Fe, New Mexico and San Antonio, Texas.

These expeditions opened trade routes between Spain and the newly discovered lands. They led to new influences on Native American tribes, which were sometimes accompanied by tragedy.

The Legacy Lives On

Even though the Seven Cities of Gold might be just a myth, the story lives on in popular culture. Featured in literature, films, and video games, the stories capture our imaginations with tales of untold riches and lost cities. They’ve served as inspiration for novels like the sci-fi classic novel “Cibola Burn” by James S.A. Corey, and for films like Disney’s animated movie “The Road to El Dorado,” which tells the tale of two Spanish con artists who accidentally find themselves in the legendary city of gold.

A Different Kind of Gold

In 1876, Charles Goodnight drove 1,600 longhorn cattle from Pueblo, Colorado to the Palo Duro Canyon. After returning to Colorado to retrieve his wife, Goodnight met an English aristocrat, John Adair. Adair also wanted to get into the cattle business, making their meeting fortuitous for both. Adair had the money and Goodnight had the expertise to create JA Ranch, which is the oldest privately owned cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle.

Goodnight and the ranch played a crucial role in the development of the cattle industry. Goodnight, who is called the “Father of the Texas Panhandle,” developed innovative ranching methods in the region, including the introduction of the chuckwagon and rotational grazing.

At its peak, the ranch covered 1,335,000 acres of land, spanning six counties. Goodnight and Adair eventually ended their partnership, but today, Goodnight’s descendants still run a smaller version of the JA Ranch.

Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead

The Spanish exploration of Palo Duro Canyon is a story of contradictions. It’s a tale of ambition and loss, discovery and destruction, beauty and brutality. Coronado’s quest eventually resulted in his own financial ruin when he failed to find the treasure he sought, but it paved the way for another type of treasure – the vast cattle ranches of the Texas Panhandle.

Today, Palo Duro Canyon State Park stands as a testament to both the resilience and fragility of nature. It is home to diverse wildlife, breathtaking views, and evidence of human history dating back thousands of years. Sadly, it also faces threats from the presence of invasive Barbary sheep, which were introduced for exotic hunting in the 1950s and have since spread to the region.

Next week, we’ll continue along the Mother Road continues as we head to Tucumcari Mountain in New Mexico. This striking mesa is steeped in history, offering yet another captivating stop on the legendary Route 66. Stay tuned for an exploration you won’t want to miss!

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