Yankee Jim's Hidden Gold

In 1849, a notorious horse thief named James 'Yankee Jim' Robinson accidentally discovered a highly lucrative placer gold deposit in Placer County while hiding from law enforcement. To conceal his massive find, Jim constructed a horse corral directly on top of his diggings, but his subsequent displays of large nuggets at nearby mining camps drew intense suspicion. When a mob discovered his horse-stealing operations in 1852, Jim narrowly escaped hanging by fleeing to Southern California, leaving behind his amassed gold fortune. He was eventually captured and executed in San Diego, and his legendary hidden hoard has never been recovered from the ridge.

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Record typeburied cache

LocationPlacer County, situated on a ridge between the North and Middle forks of the American River, near the ghost town of Yankee Jims.

Probability indexMedium

Land statusAuburn State Recreation Area / Bureau of Land Management (Restricted)

Research coordinates39.0294, -120.8617

SourceCalexplornia - Yankee Jim Robinson: The Outlaw Behind a Gold Rush Town

Field Research Notes

The townsite of Yankee Jims is designated as California Historical Landmark No. 398 and is surrounded by a mixture of private properties and lands managed under the Auburn State Recreation Area. Seekers must obtain permission to cross private parcels and strictly adhere to California State Parks regulations regarding metal detecting and mineral collection.

Recommended Gear

VLF Metal Detector, Hand Shovel, Pinpointer, Historical Maps

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