Years ago when my family moved to Coarsegold my parents bought a home on Thornberry Mountain in the Mudge Ranch area.  I remember being told that some where on that mountain was a gold mine that was believed to be rich in gold.  The only problem was nobody had been able to find it. 

The legend goes like this:  During the California Gold Rush and father and his two sons came out west to strike it rich.  After much hard work in the gold mine they finally struck gold.  Before they were able to make a profit the father and one of the sons was sent off to war.  The son who was left behind vowed to remain at the mine until the return of his family.  The son who was sent to fight was killed during battle.  After many years, the father finally returned to find his son he had left behind.  However, he was never able to locate the mine and it is believed that somewhere on Thornberry Mountain remains a mine full of gold.

 Fact or Fiction?  Who knows.  All I do know is that it provided many hours of fun and adventure for my brother and I growing up.  Who knows, someday maybe we will find the mine and stike it rich!!!