Franklin Mountain Mysteries

Published by Aaron Perez

Published 11/5/2025

Image Credit: KFOX

    The Franklin Mountains, towering over El Paso, Texas, are more than just a dramatic backdrop to the city—they're a realm steeped in enigma. As the southernmost tip of the Rocky Mountains, this range spans 23 miles, forming Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest urban park in the U.S. at over 26,000 acres. Home to diverse wildlife, ancient petroglyphs, and rugged trails, the mountains have witnessed centuries of human history, from Native American tribes to Spanish explorers and modern urban sprawl. Yet, beneath the sun-baked rocks and Chihuahuan Desert flora lie tales of hidden gold, shadowy creatures, and restless spirits. Drawing heavily from Ken Hudnall's seminal work, Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of El Paso del Norte (co-authored with Connie Wang), this blog delves into these mysteries. Hudnall's book, part of a series exploring the supernatural along the U.S.-Mexico border, positions El Paso as one of America's most haunted cities, blending historical accounts with eyewitness reports of the inexplicable.

    Hudnall's research uncovers layers of folklore, many tied to the Franklins, where "monsters, lost treasures, and ghostly monks that guard long forgotten mines" intertwine with unsolved mysteries and hauntings. Whether you're a local hiker or a paranormal enthusiast, these stories challenge the boundary between fact and legend.

The Lost Padre Mine: Guarded by Ghostly Monks and Cursed Gold

    Central to Franklin Mountains lore is the Lost Padre Mine, a fabled repository of Spanish gold hidden in the late 1700s. According to legend, Padre LaRue, a priest from Chihuahua, Mexico, led villagers northward after a dying soldier revealed a rich gold vein in the mountains north of El Paso del Norte (modern El Paso). They mined the ore in secret, but upon discovery by Mexican authorities demanding the "Royal Fifth" tax, they sealed the entrance to evade capture. The padre and his followers were executed, but the mine's location died with them—or so the story goes.

    Hudnall's Spirits of the Border amplifies this tale, describing "ghostly monks that guard long forgotten mines," suggesting spectral sentinels protect the treasure. Eyewitness accounts in the book and local folklore report apparitions of a monk and donkey wandering Trans-Mountain Road (Loop 375), possibly remnants of the padre's era, causing eerie encounters or even accidents. The mine is often linked to sites like Bear Canyon or near Cottonwood Springs, marked by unusual rock formations—bean-shaped holes, contrasting stones—as clues left by the miners.

    Historical mining in the Franklins supports the plausibility: the area yielded copper, tin, tungsten, and iron, unique in Texas. Yet, treasure hunters, inspired by Hudnall's narratives, have searched in vain, fueling curse theories. A 2017 film, Lost Padre Mine, dramatizes the hunt, portraying cartel interference and church cover-ups, echoing Hudnall's themes of mystery and peril. As Hudnall notes, these stories are "revealed here for the very first time by those who witnessed the impossible."

Lizardmen and Other Cryptids: Monsters Lurking in the Peaks

    Hudnall poses a chilling question in Spirits of the Border: "Do monsters live in the Franklin Mountains?" While not explicitly naming Lizardmen, the book's reference to "monsters" aligns with cryptid reports in the region. Lizardmen—bipedal, scaly humanoids with glowing eyes—are a global phenomenon, but in El Paso, sightings are rare and anecdotal, often shared on forums like Reddit. Local wildlife, including Eastern Collared Lizards and Texas Horned Lizards, might explain some encounters, yet the mountains' caves and isolation suggest hidden habitats.

    Hudnall's series expands on cryptids in nearby volumes, mentioning the Chupacabra—throat-ripping creatures on El Paso's outskirts—and the Horizon City Monster. These could parallel Lizardmen lore, especially near Aztec Cave, a hike evoking ancient reptilian myths. Proximity to Fort Bliss fuels UFO-conspiracy ties, with Hudnall documenting "UFOs fill[ing] the night sky of El Paso." While evidence is slim, hikers report rustlings and shadows, blending Hudnall's "monsters" with modern sightings.

Ghost Natives and Spectral Echoes: Ancestral Spirits and Thunderbird Legends

    Hudnall's book richly details El Paso's hauntings, including "ghost Natives"—apparitions linked to indigenous tribes like the Manso and Suma, who left petroglyphs depicting rituals and sacred symbols. A standout legend is Thunderbird Mountain, a natural formation resembling the mythical bird of power in Native lore. In Spirits of the Border, Hudnall recounts how Natives attacked a Thunderbird, imprisoning it in a cave with a warning for future generations: the bird, a supernatural being of strength, remains sealed, its silhouette a eternal reminder.

    Broader spectral tales include the Ghostly Monk on Trans-Mountain, tied to the Lost Padre, and apparitions at sites like the "Witch's House" ruins or Gravity Hill, where supposed phantom kids push cars to safety. Hudnall describes spirits as echoes of history, not always malevolent, roaming haunted schools and houses. Native ghosts often manifest as shape-shifters or warnings, blending with colonial phantoms like Pancho Villa's echoes. These stories, per Hudnall, stem from firsthand witnesses, underscoring El Paso's haunted status.

Additional Enigmas: Caves, Crashes, and Urban Legends

    Hudnall's series reveals more: Aztec Cave's disorienting echoes, hidden springs defying the desert, and the 1953 B-36 crash wreckage. Cryptid-like tales include "Bob the Goat," a real feral icon until 2024. The man-made star on the mountain, lit since 1940, adds a beacon of mystery. Hudnall's podcast and books tie these to broader conspiracies, like UFOs and abductions.

Why Hudnall's Book is Essential Reading

    Spirits of the Border transforms the Franklin Mountains from mere scenery into a portal of the unknown. Hudnall, a veteran author, compiles stories from locals, emphasizing El Paso's supernatural underbelly. As the city expands, these legends persist, inviting exploration. Venture into the Franklins, but heed the warnings—ghosts, monsters, and treasures await those who listen.

Sources:

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"Franklin Mountains State Park Check List." iNaturalist, www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/604939-Franklin-Mountains-State-Park-Check-List. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

"Franklin Mountains State Park Nature." Texas Parks and Wildlife, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/franklin-mountains/nature. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

"Franklin Mountains 'Bob the Goat' Dies after Capture." El Paso Matters, 10 Sept. 2024, elpasomatters.org/2024/09/10/bob-franklin-mountains-goat-el-paso-dies-relocation/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

Hudnall, Ken, and Connie Wang. Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of El Paso del Norte. Omega Press, 2003.

"Horizon City Monster Sparks Fascination in Some Borderland Residents." El Paso Times, 3 Mar. 2023, www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/history/2023/03/03/horizon-city-monster-sparks-fascination-in-some-borderland-residents/69963710007/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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"Legends and Mysteries of El Paso." El Paso Inc., 6 June 2016, www.elpasoinc.com/lifestyle/local_features/legends-and-mysteries-of-el-paso/article_a3412d72-2c0d-11e6-b4a6-4bb24658f5ff.html. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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"Sinister Settings for Horror Authors in El Paso, Texas." STINAESC, www.stinaesc.com/horror-locations/el-paso-texas. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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