The Secret Died With Him

The Secret Died With Him. Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway. , “Over 100 years ago my uncle, Alejandro Garcia, a rancher, gathered cows near here. He always carried his geologist pick with him on his horse, and given the opportunity, he would stop to investigate the land looking for gold, silver, or other valuable minerals. One fall day, he stopped to drink water from a nearby spring. Much to his surprise he discovered gold ore.” , “Fellow cattlemen said Alejandro would leave camp and return in the amount of time it took to cook flapjacks with his saddlebags full of gold ore.” , “In the spring of the following year, Alejandro was crossing Little Wolf Creek, which is west of here, and was swept away by the water and drowned. Family members had a strong suspicion that he was killed because he would not disclose the location of the mine. Many people looked for his secret gold mine but were unsuccessful.” , “To this day the location of the mine is unknown.” , Castelar Garcia , Lawyer/Stockman-Fifth Generation , San Luis Valley , “This land was, and remains, a focal point of the Garcia family. It provides a deep sense of history and self-worth. For each new generation it is a reminder that if ancestors could achieve great things, so can we.” , Castelar Garcia , Stockman-Fourth Generation , San Luis Valley