#21 - The Curse of the Lost Lemmon Mine

Unsolved Canadian Mysteries

The Curse of the Lost Lemmon Mine is one of Alberta’s most enduring mysteries—a tale of gold, murder, and misfortune that has captivated treasure hunters for over a century. It began in 1870 when two prospectors, Joe Lemmon and his companion, known only as Blackjack, ventured into the wilderness near the North Saskatchewan River, not far from present-day Calgary. Their goal was simple: to strike it rich. What they found, however, was far more than they bargained for.

As they scoured the riverbanks, Lemmon and Blackjack discovered placer gold deposits glinting in the sun. They followed the trail upstream until they uncovered what appeared to be a rich gold vein. Excited by their find, they quickly mined what they could, filling their bags with gold and ore. Exhausted but triumphant, the pair settled in for the night.

When Joe Lemmon awoke the next morning, he was met with a gruesome sight. Blackjack lay dead beside the fire, his body bearing no signs of struggle or injury. Terrified, Lemmon grabbed the gold and fled the camp, running blindly through the wilderness until he reached civilization. Once back in Calgary, the gold was assessed, revealing that Lemmon had brought back an astonishing $27,000 worth of gold ore—a fortune in 1870, equivalent to nearly $700,000 today.

Shaken but eager to retrieve more of the treasure, Lemmon organized a second expedition. Yet, despite his best efforts, he was unable to relocate the site. Dense forests, shifting landscapes, and a growing sense of dread seemed to conspire against him. Each new attempt to find the lost mine ended in frustration or disaster. Some search parties were turned back by unexplained illnesses, accidents, and even violent encounters with others who had heard rumors of the gold. Thus, the legend of The Curse of the Lost Lemmon Mine was born.

Over the decades, numerous treasure hunters have tried their luck, scouring the forests and hills around the North Saskatchewan River. Some claim to have found traces of gold; others tell tales of ghostly figures that guard the supposed location. Indigenous legends speak of a cursed land, warning outsiders to stay away. In 2005, a massive flood unearthed new deposits of quartz and gold in the region, reigniting interest in the mine's potential whereabouts.

Did Lemmon stumble upon a lost motherlode of gold that remains hidden to this day? Was Blackjack’s death a tragic accident, or was it something more sinister? And is the mine truly cursed, or simply a story born from fear and greed?

Join us as we dig into the mystery of The Curse of the Lost Lemmon Mine in our latest episode of Unsolved Canadian Mysteries, available now on Spotify and YouTube.