The famous collector and treasure hunt creator passed away just months after his storied treasure was finally found.
Forrest Fenn, an antiquities dealer and creator of a massive, decade-long treasure hunt, died from natural causes Monday at his New Mexico home, authorities told the Los Angeles Times.
Most knew Fenn for his “The Thrill of the Chase” memoir. That memoir contained a 24-line poem with hidden clues he said led to a treasure he buried.
The treasure, which was finally found in June, is estimated to contain over $2 million worth of goods, hidden deep in the Rocky Mountains.
“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago. I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot,” Fenn wrote on his website, confirming the treasure had been found.
“I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search [and] hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries.” You can read more about the treasure here.
Over the years, scores of people meticulously analyzed Fenn’s poem. Hundreds embarked on a search for the Forrest Fenn treasure — five people even died in the hunt.
Fenn was raised in Temple, Texas, and served for nearly 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.
