Mayucha was a town in Oconee County, South Carolina, from 1850 to the early 1900s. Many unknowns exist about this mysterious town, including its exact location and the everyday life of the people who called it home. In many ways, it has slipped into the abyss of South Carolina folklore. Rumors have swirled for generations of Hernando De Soto’s track across Georgia into the Carolinas in April 1540. His mission was to search for gold, even if that meant killing to obtain it. Legend says he and his team encountered a tribe of Native Americans who used gold every day and made a secret deal with a female scout for the tribe. In exchange for their lives, she would show De Soto and his men the location of the gold. The Spanish agreed to the terms, and both parties set off toward the North to an unknown location where the gold mine was. After several days, the scout left the group and returned home. De Soto and his men carried on through the rugged terrain and eventually reached the site, but could not find the mine. Could this unforgotten up-country civilization and Wolf Pit Cemetery hold the keys to unlocking the lost gold mine?
De Soto continued to move west, eventually reaching Louisiana. The tale of the lost gold mine grew into a haunted legend. During the 1800s, the area became a gold mining town with a post office, attracting many unsavory characters looking to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, the only treasure found was after someone knocked dollar signs in their eyes at the local saloon. After 1911, the town vanished from local maps. Some believe the lost mine is on private property. While we have a general idea of where to look, no one has been able to crack the mystery.
Does Wolf Pit Cemetery hold the key to this mystery? The cemetery is a ghostly place located in Tamassee, South Carolina. A lot of weird happenings occur after dark in this place, and it’s the final resting spot of the Lay family. Jessie Lay was a prominent miner in the area, and his name has been associated with Mayucha. Some believe the old cemetery and the deceased hold the lock and key.
The legend and mystery live on, etched into the fabric of the South Carolina mountains. The only people who know aren’t talking. Next time you venture through the upcountry looking for Mayucha and encounter a cold wind blowing through the trees, it could be restless spirits telling you to stay away. Finding the missing gold mine would be heaven, but selling your soul to obtain it, could damn it for eternity.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr
