The Enduring Mystery of Victorio Peak: Alamogordo’s Billion-Dollar Legend – Fact, Fiction, or Presidential Heist?

December 22, 2025

Deep in the heart of the San Andres Mountains, within the heavily restricted boundaries of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) just northwest of Alamogordo, rises Victorio Peak—a seemingly ordinary limestone outcropping that has haunted treasure hunters, historians, and conspiracy theorists for nearly nine decades.

This 500-foot hill in the remote Hembrillo Basin, named after the legendary Mescalero Apache Chief Victorio who used it as a stronghold during his 1870s-1880s resistance against U.S. forces, is the epicenter of one of America’s most enduring and controversial treasure legends: a vast underground cavern allegedly packed with thousands of gold bars, ancient artifacts, jewels, coins, and even human skeletons—potentially valued at over $13 Billion in today’s market.

For residents of Alamogordo and Otero County, this isn’t just a distant myth. It’s part of our shared history, intertwined with the atomic birthplace at nearby Trinity Site, Apache cultural heritage, and the ever-present shadow of White Sands Missile Range and Holloman AFB military secrecy. 

The saga involves murder, failed expeditions, government restrictions top secret access, sealed documents and explosive allegations linking three U.S. presidents to a possible theft or covert black ops and CIA use of the hoard . But after generations of searches and a government maintaining restricted and limited access  questions remain: 

Is Victorio Peak near Alamogordo home to the greatest lost treasure in American history, a hoax, or does evidence exist of a massive government cover-up with ties to at least 3 presidents and the CIA?

The Fateful Discovery: Doc and Babe Noss Unearth a Fortune

The story explodes into life in November 1937, amid the Great Depression. Milton Ernest “Doc” Noss—a charismatic, self-taught chiropodist (foot doctor), astrologer, and healer from Alamogordo roamed Southern New Mexico and Texas. He claimed he and his determined wife, Ova “Babe” Noss, were deer hunting in the Hembrillo Basin when fate intervened that changed their life forever.

Milton Ernest “Doc” Noss from Alamogordo and wife, Ova “Babe” Noss allegedly discovered gold near Alamogordo AlamogordoTownNews.org - via state archives

Seeking respite from a sudden storm, Doc noticed an unusual draft and dislodged a rock, revealing a hidden shaft equipped with an old ladder on the peak’s western slope.

Armed with rope and flashlight on return visits, Doc descended into an extensive network of caverns. What he described was breathtaking: bags of gold coins, gold bars stacked like cordwood (estimates from 16,000 to over 100 tons (valued at over $13 Billion in 2025 dollars), glittering jewels, ancient coins, sealed Wells Fargo chests, Spanish swords and armor, historical documents, packsaddles, and macabre chambers with dozens of human skeletons—some chained, suggesting tragic guardians or captives. 

Near Alamogordo alleged gold find 1937 - AlamogordoTownNews.org

The Nosses extracted samples, assaying them as genuine, but federal gold ownership bans post-1933 Gold Reserve Act barred legal sales. In spring 1938, they filed leases and claims with New Mexico for the land around the peak. Doc grew paranoid, hiding bars secretly across the desert. Disaster struck in 1939 when dynamite to widen the shaft caused a collapse, sealing access.

Alleged gold extracted in secret by government near Alamogordo- AlamogordoTownNews.org

Personal turmoil followed: Doc’s partnerships dissolved amid fraud accusations, culminating in his 1949 shooting death by associate Charley Ryan in Hatch (Ryan was acquitted). Babe soldiered on, fighting for access until her 1979 death, passing the claim to heirs like grandson Terry Delonas.

Alleged gold found near Alamogordo- AlamogordoTownNews.org

Origins of the Hoard: Historical Speculation Runs Wild

The treasure’s source is a historical puzzle, spawning theories rooted in New Mexico’s violent past:

 Emperor Maximilian’s Imperial Evacuation: Loyalists allegedly smuggled the French-backed Mexican emperor’s vast treasury north of the Rio Grand in the 1860s before his 1867 execution, hiding it for a restoration that never came in the mountains near what would eventually be Alamogodo. 

Padre Felipe LaRue’s Clandestine Jesuit Mines: In the late 1790s, missionary LaRue reportedly mined and refined gold near the peak (or Organ Mountains), stockpiling stamped bars before Spanish crackdowns thus why many settlers began mining turquoise in the area and near Ora Grande.

Chief Victorio’s Apache Raid Plunder: The peak’s namesake looted stagecoaches, Wells Fargo shipments, and settlements in the 1870s-1880s, caching eclectic spoils in his mountain bastion—explaining mixed artifacts with the gold bars.

Pancho Villa’s Revolutionary Funds: 1910s gold, possibly German-supplied for arms, hidden to dodge U.S. forces. Pancho Villa's raiders were said to have hung out in present day Otero County to replenish arms stockpiles via the cashe located north of the Rio Grande.

 Deeper Spanish Conquistador or Aztec Links: Ties to Juan de Oñate and his party ancient treasures fleeing conquests during Spanish occupation of New Mexico. 

Skeptics insist Doc found sone gold and  relocated some bars amid desperation thus the ultimate fraud charges.

Military Seizure of Family Land Sparks Cover-Up Allegations

White Sands Missile Range and the city of Alamogordo's postwar boom—from the 1945 atomic trinity test, Alamogordo's ties to project parperclip for rocket research which engulfed the peak by 1955, displacing Babe and enforcing restrictions. This ignited claims of intentional takeover for secret removals. Witnesses described 1950s-1970s convoys, helicopters, and crews loading crates; searches abruptly halted; claimants threatened.

Expeditions (1961 Army halt; 1963 limited access; 1977 and 1990s Noss efforts) found hints like inscriptions and areas believed to have been caved areas that have since been sealed but no gold. Officials maintain bans for security as the area is restricted and a classified high security sector of the base.

Classified off limits area ( one of many) on WSMR - photo courtesy of Pentagon for AlamogordoTownNews.org

Alleged Ties of JFK, LBJ, and Nixon to the Victorio Peak Gold Treasure

The Victorio Peak Alamogordo Gold treasure legend has spawned numerous theories involving U.S. presidents, particularly John F. Kennedy (JFK), Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), and Richard Nixon. These claims largely stem from books like The Gold House trilogy by John Clarence and Tom Whittle, articles in outlets such as CovertAction Magazine, and fringe accounts. Mainstream sources (e.g., Wikipedia, the New York Times archives and AlamogordoTownNews.org research) treat the story as unproven, noting no official recovery of gold has been released to the public record, much involving WSMR and ties to Holloman AFB and this area of the range is classified. The CIA has refused to release any documents claiming national security concerns and the military denies any theft yet refuses to release most documents- as classified. The Army has consistently stated that authorized private family searches found nothing, and the site remains restricted and classified on White Sands Missile Range. Nixons Watergate files may accidentally have told another story.

President Kennedy in Alamogordo landed at Holloman then by helicopter to WSMR

John F. Kennedy’s 1963 Visit: Catalyst for a Conspiracy Theory 

President Kennedy and VP Johnson at White Sands Missile Range 1963 - AlamogordoTowmNews.org presidential archives

JFK landing near Alamogordo at WSMR - AlamogordoTownNews.org - White House Archives

 JFK’s alleged involvement with the Alamogordo gold.

On June 5, 1963, JFK visited Alamogordo via White Sands Missile Range with Vice President LBJ for missile demonstrations and top secret meetings. Sources claim they secretly detoured to Victorio Peak to inspect the area, possibly under the cover of checking a “proposed spacecraft landing site.”

 A CIA officer allegedly scouted the site beforehand, and some theories link the Alamogordo gold treasure’s and CIA operations in 1963 to JFK’s assassination later that year (e.g., suggesting it motivated the killing and that a planned meeting with Ova Noss was canceled due to his death notcto be rescheduled with LBJ).

Other claims: Robert F. Kennedy (Attorney General) also reportedly visited New Mexico to discuss the peak and how to move the gold legally and that JFK was in contact with Ova Noss about military encroachment on her claim.

Evidence Level:  indeterminate as based on eyewitness accounts in The Gold House books and press releases but no official records release as classified. No documented proof of theft or direct involvement by JFK due to few government documents released. Some Alamogordo locals  speculated his visit led to gold removal, tying it to his death is pure conjecture but does tie to a CIA led narrative. 

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)

 Strongest Allegations are tied LBJ as he is most frequently accused in conspiracy narratives. Claims suggest he learned of the treasure from a Texas friend, Dick Richardson and it was confirmed upon his visit to WSMR in 1963 with President Kennedy. The allegations are with a nod from RFK he orchestrated partial removals of gold during his presidency.

Specifics: Secret Service or associates allegedly extracted ~19,000 gold bars, shipping some to LBJ’s Texas ranch (with underground bunkers and an airstrip) and to a ranch in Mexico. Witnesses claimed LBJ personally visited the peak a second time with Governor John Connally. Lady Bird Johnson reportedly sought information as well. 

Post-death claims: In 1989, a LBJ associate (Billy Carr) allegedly tried selling 6 million ounces of Victorio Peak gold stored on the Johnson ranch.

CIA links: Some accounts involve CIA couriers like Lloyd Tucker moving gold for LBJ.

Evidence Level: Relies on interviews, affidavits, and recordings cited in The Gold House and CovertAction Magazine. No verified documents or official admissions have been released by the government claiming information specific to the area is classified; skeptics note LBJ’s reported wealth at death wasn’t extraordinarily high.

Richard Nixon

Direct Conspiracy Claims: Nixon allegedly authorized a major heist in November 1973 (Thanksgiving weekend) amid Watergate, removing ~36-37 tons of gold via associates like Fred Drolte provided a back-gate key to the base and wirh the assistance of covert CIA and Black Program Military Operatives along with geologist Keith Alexander.

The gold was reportedly melted to hide its source, repoured and laundered overseas, via CIA channels. Involves figures like Bill Shriver (murdered) and CREEP (Nixon’s re-election committee) members are implicated per reports.

Watergate Connection: The Alamogordo gold treasure surfaced publicly in 1973 Senate Watergate hearings. John Dean testified that Attorney General John Mitchell discussed F. Lee Bailey’s clients (anonymous former military men) wanting to surrender gold bars without prosecution (illegal private ownership post-1934 Gold Act). Bailey represented claimants and submitted sample gold bars (60% gold) and coins to Treasury.

The factual reference to the Victorio Peak treasure (often called the “Alamogordo gold” due to its proximity on White Sands Missile Range near Alamogordo, NM) in the Watergate investigation stems from John Dean’s testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (the Ervin Committee) on June 25, 1973.

Key Details from Dean’s Testimony

During questioning about potential “White House horrors” or irregularities unrelated to the core Watergate break-in and cover-up, Dean recounted a discussion involving former Attorney General John Mitchell. He stated that Mitchell had informed him that attorney F. Lee Bailey represented clients affiliated with Nixon (reportedly  former military personnel) who possessed “an enormous amount of gold” allegedly from Victorio Peak on White Sands Missile Range.

Bailey sought government assistance: permission  to surrender or sell the gold bars without prosecution, as private ownership of gold was illegal until the Gold Reserve Act restrictions were lifted in 1974–1975 (post-1933 Gold Act).

This was not an allegation of theft by the government or Nixon administration. It was a tangential mention of legal concerns over illegal possession of gold and requests for immunity or access—essentially, Bailey’s clients wanting to “legalize” their holdings without facing charges.

Primary Sources and Citations

• Senate Watergate Hearings (Day 29, June 25, 1973): Dean’s live testimony brought the story national attention. 

The Alamogordo Gold was referenced in contemporaneous reporting (e.g., New York Times articles from 1973–1977) and later analyses.

New York Times (October 13, 1973): “The Legendary Treasure of the White Sands Missile Range” – Explicitly links Dean’s testimony to Bailey approaching Mitchell for help retrieving “292 bars containing 60 per cent gold and 40 per cent copper from the White Sands range.”

Los Angeles Times (June 16, 1991): Quotes Dean directly on the Mitchell-Bailey discussion regarding prosecution immunity for holding gold from WSMR.

Mental Floss (2023 summary): “John Dean… said that he had heard from Attorney General John Mitchell that Mitchell had been told about someone who wanted to turn over the gold without facing legal repercussions.”

No official Senate transcript snippet directly quoting “Victorio Peak” or “gold bars” appears in easily accessible government archives, much is still marked "classified," but the connection is undisputed in journalistic and historical accounts. The mentions continue to fuel public interest. The Watergate hearings did not result in any criminal charges related to the Alamogordo Gold treasure— it was unrelated and not central or core to the burglary/cover-up probe. Thus its an unresolved matter. 

This supports the assessment: The Watergate link is factual but limited to discussions of legal possession issues, not evidence of a confirmed government theft by military personnel, the CIA or a president from White Sands Missile Range. But it does raise more questions pointing to the legitimacy and probability that there was something there at some point. 

FBI reports noted illegal dynamite use at the peak around the time in question related to the Watergate probed and there are reports of used explosive devices being found in the area. 

Evidence Level: Money-laundering documents from Tucker’s widow and interviews in The Gold House. Ties to known figures (Drolte’s criminal history) add intrigue, many documents remain classified but no hard proof of presidential theft has ever been released to the public. 

Overall Assessment

These presidential ties are central to “government heist” theories, portraying the treasure as funding black ops and for personal gain of Nixon and CIA operatives. Sources like The Gold House trilogy compile affidavits, interviews, and documents alleging billions stolen under LBJ and Nixon. However, exhaustive searches (1960s-1990s) found no gold, and the military denies removals. If a melting of the gold actually occurred, as had been alleged, then traces of origin could be difficult to detect.

Other sources suggest caravans of military vehicles left WSMR and were tracked to Ft Knox Gold Reserve Storage Facility in Kentucky. Witness accounts suggest that occured on multiple occasions during the 60s and 70s.

The Watergate investigation mention is factual leans heavily that something was there at some point. 

As of 2025, the peak remains inaccessible, and much remains classified under national security protocols. The Alamogordo Gold story originating from WSMR endures with a mix tantalizing clues and intrigue—facts supported by the Watergate Hearings but many questions remain unanswered

With classified documents and inaccessible military lands, with sealed presidential records and possible CIA involvement, with those possibly involved aging and dying off; citizens may never know the facts of the Alamogordo Gold Treasure of Victorio Peak. This story is one of many that whispers of intrigue from the White Sands and area mountain peaks near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

Note:  Article published by 2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org researched by Chris Edwards - all rights reserved. May be republished with attribution to Journalist Chris Edwards, 2nd Life Media. 

Sourced:

2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org research - Tularosa Basin Historic Society,  New Mexico State Museum Archives, Pentagon Archives, Presidential Library Archives, National Archives 

The New York Times (October 13, 1973): “The Legendary Treasure of the White Sands Missile Range”
Discusses the Watergate mention and F. Lee Bailey’s involvement.
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/13/archives/the-legendary-treasure-of-the-white-sands-missile-range-gold-bars.html

• The New York Times (March 18, 1977): “Search to Begin for Legendary New Mexican Treasure”
Covers planned 1977 expedition and Watergate reference.
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/18/archives/search-to-begin-for-legendary-new-mexican-treasure.html

• The New York Times (July 29, 1992): “Following 1937 Story of Buried Gold, Family Searches New Mexico’s Sands”
Details family searches and Watergate fueling claims.
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/29/us/following-1937-story-of-buried-gold-family-searches-new-mexico-s-sands.html

• Los Angeles Times (May 3, 1987): “Victorio Peak’s Gold May Never Pan Out but the Saga’s One to Treasure”
Historical saga including Watergate lore and F. Lee Bailey.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-03-mn-8435-story.html

• Los Angeles Times (June 16, 1991): “Treasure or Treachery?”
Examines hoax possibilities and government involvement claims.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-16-vw-1352-story.html

• Mental Floss (August 9, 2023): “The Enduring Enigma of the Victorio Peak Treasure”
Modern summary including Watergate testimony.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/mystery/victorio-peak-treasure-mystery

Books 

• The Gold House Trilogy by John Clarence (and Tom Whittle)
Detailed allegations of presidential involvement (LBJ and Nixon). Available on author’s site and retailers.
Official site: https://www.john-clarence.com/product/the-gold-house-trilogy/
Book 1 (The Discovery): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gold-house-the-discovery-book-one-of-the-gold-house-trilogy-john-clarence/1115181300
Book 2 (The Lies, The Thefts): https://www.amazon.com/Gold-House-Thefts-Story-Victoria/dp/0983402523

Documentary and Media

• Gold, Lies & Videotape (Discovery Channel, 2023 Mini-Series)
Six-part series following the Noss family’s quest, including government allegations.
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26342053/
Streaming: Discovery+ / Prime Video
Official companion site: https://goldliesandvideotape.com/

Articles

• CovertAction Magazine (November 3, 2022): “Did Richard Nixon Secretly Steal 36.5 Tons of Gold Bullion…?”
Alleges Nixon and LBJ thefts, citing The Gold House sources.
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/11/03/did-richard-nixon-secretly-steal-36-5-tons-of-gold-bullion-from-u-s-army-base-at-the-same-time-he-was-telling-america-i-am-not-a-crook/

• Orange County Register (January 18, 2013): “Mickadeit: Did LBJ, Nixon steal gold?”
Reviews The Gold House allegations.
https://www.ocregister.com/2013/01/18/mickadeit-did-lbj-nixon-steal-gold/

Other Notable References

• Unsolved Mysteries Wiki: Victorio Peak Treasure
Episode summary and case details.
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Victorio_Peak_Treasure

• Legends of America: Victorio Peak, New Mexico Mystery Treasure
Detailed retelling of the Noss story.
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/victorio-peak-treasure/

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