Is it a mining reality show? Does it expose paranormal experiences within the Uinta Basin? And what about that reported buried treasure? Each one of these storylines are explored as a new property owner searches for the truth, while constantly being on the verge of finding something else.
Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch is a new series airing on Discovery that chases down the origins of multiple urban legends. Recently retired oil contractor Duane Ollinger bought the property. His son, Chad, sold his crop-dusting business in order to assist his father’s pursuits. Charlie Snider joins the father-son team as the head of security, along with geologist Eric Drummond.
Long-running rumors connect the property to Montezuma’s gold, which may be buried deep within a cave on the property. Reports of unusual occurrences have tied the land to a cursed history, as the corpses of mutilated cattle and deer have appeared. And then there’s the whole skinwalker situation. In addition to all of that, what about an unearthed meteorite and iridium space debris, scattered about the land affecting instrumental interference?
I hadn’t heard of Blind Frog Ranch until yesterday, when I randomly caught a mini marathon of the show. While I missed the first episode, it wasn’t difficult to figure out what was happening. The Ollingers initially sought naturally occurring precious metals underground, only to discover significant buried treasures tied to the land. Sounds intriguing, right? What would you think if the team uncovered both Spanish bullion, as well as Mormon gold coins? Too good to be true? Some people think so.
Trying to find some background information on the show, I ran across a few random articles. Some viewers accused the show of staging planted treasures. Others called out the crew as being actors. Even more screamed the on-screen incidents really happened. The most damning of all? Supposedly the four principals were so shocked by a supernatural incident, they threatened to quit the show. Maybe those incidents actually happened, maybe they didn’t. But it all seems like a bunch of drama for a series that only aired five episodes.
In the true spirit of an unsolved mystery, as one question is answered, many more are asked. Decades of strange occurrences have led these good ole Texas prospectors to seek a big payday. But not all treasure is buried in underground caverns.
“It’s always a crapshoot when you’re drilling. You never know what you’re going to find…”
Did Thomas Rhoades really hide caches of gold on the property? I have no idea. Is this the “most famous treasure hunt that’s never been solved?” It could be. What about the rumors of a buried spaceship? Probably not, but I am intrigued by the overall storyline. It’s one that follows the structure of similarly themed shows: The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch (Season Finale Peels Back Skinwalker Ranch‘s Secrets), The Curse of Oak Island(Oak Island‘s Eighth Season Off to a Rocky Start), The Curse of Civil War Gold (Civil War Gold Dives to New Depths) and Lost Gold of World War II (Mapping Success for Lost Gold of WWII).
For a show that’s trying to figure out an unsolved mystery, I found it odd that the characters are not too secretive about what they’re up to, when discussing their business with others. Are there really random energy fields on the property allowing these people to smelt dirt into silver, as a form of alchemy? Will Aztec treasures ever get uncovered? Released by the same production company as Believers, Hunting Hitler, Booze Travelers and How Booze Built America, the bigger picture is the story, not the end results.