Danger at the Old Pancho Villa Lounge..............

[Kelley (Texas)]

Back in the middle of March 2010, I took a picture of an old beer joint located just outside of San Antonio, the old Pancho Villa Lounge. I was told that this old ice house had a bad reputation, fights and killings, a hang out for a gang, and other bad things. There was even a rumor that buried treasure was located on the property. You can imagine my disappointment when I finally located it and took the picture. it was a little dump of a ice house and had been out of business for years. It was not what I expected to find, but I sucked it up and took a few pictures of it.

[attachment 163032 PanchoVillaLounge_4.jpg]

I cannot explain why, but these past few weeks I started thinking about the old Pancho Villa Lounge and thought that maybe I should take a metal detector out there and see if I could find a few coins, or better yet the buried treasure. After much thinking about it and not wanting to waste the day cutting the yard, I loaded my MXT metal detector in the pickup truck and drove out to the old ice house. This was going to be fun.

After hunting a few minutes, a car pulled up across the road, there were two Hispanic men drinking beer and were watching me. I was somewhat uneasy at first, but after a few minutes they left, never said a word to me.

There were lots of trash, you name it

 

[Nancy-IL]

My goodness Kelley, you had me scared while reading your post. You must have nerves of steel or else I'm just a little wimp. Maybe a bit of both? When I saw that little building and it's told to have been a hang out for gangs, etc. That's a mighty small looking building. I guess it doesn't take much for a hideout or a place to hide something. Makes me wonder if the boys had something hidden in there for their own purposes.

The coins are cool and what a great idea for your study. Thanks for the story and the pictures and most of all............BE CAREFUL!

HH,
Nancy

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

to hunt...told me all those stories and I took the bait. Needless to say, I was highly disappointed when I found the old ice house and saw it was a small dump...I had been had to a certain degree. Nerves of steel, not the case at all because there was enough distance from their car to my pickup truck that I could have probably escaped if they had actually come after me. While I boldly gave them a long stare while holding the oak ax handle where they could see it, I must confess that my other hand was on the door handle to the pickup truck. It was mostly a fun day, but I do wish that those young men had not showed up. Nancy, please have a great day and I hope you continue finding good things! Kelley (Texas)

 

[BARGuy]

Kinda fits that these creeps, regardless of national origin, find security in numbers. That's the reason I usually have a 20 ga, sawed of to 18.5", not too far away. I've had some touchy situations, years ago, on the south side of Atlanta. Makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, even if you are "prepared".

Neat idea on the pic/coins!

Happy Trails, DR

 

[coloradocav]

I've been in some hairy situations myself, whoever said metal detecting doesn't have a little danger and adventure hasn't been getting out much. I've had stalkers, gangsters, rattlesnakes, badgers, tarantulas, ticks, etc all give me a bad time. Your situation sounds like it was very dangerous, in a place like that I'd go armed for sure. Carefull and Happy hunting!

 

[Topo]

what a story! that's one of the reasons why I like to detect when there is no people around

you are right Kelley, there is bad folks on every nationalities, on every origins. cool finds!, when I read the first lines I thought you had found a gun

 

[Larry (IL)]

I have always enjoyed your stories over the years Fred and thanks for posting here on the MXT forum with interesting finds, a little bit of history and and some metal detecting adventure. For any of you MXT'ers who also enjoys his style of writing, Fred is a regular on the 20th Century tales forum along with many other talented detectorists who are full of stories, B.S., humor or themselves. Check it out, everyday living from the wilds of Canada to the beaches of the Caribbean.

For the axe handle Fred............I don't know if I would feel safe with just that or not...........I think I would be tempted to carry something that would reach out and touch someone for at least 30 yards..... We are fortunate to use the hunting buddy system here and even so, still watch where we go, some neighborhoods are not safe..........period. You did get some nice finds there.....

 

[srf2112]

Glad you made it out in one piece Kelley. The axe handle is good but I'm with BARGuy and Larry on this one. Great story.
HH
Scott

 

[Boydman]

n/t

 

[1230@$TREE]

I liked your story, It's not like it was years ago when you could go any where and detect with no incidents, I live in the mountains in calif. never any problems up here,
lot of Hispanics come up to the pick nick grounds mostly families, good people, but down in the city, I have to be aware of my surroundings, I have had to leave
a couple of areas to be on the safe side. I was really disappointed at one location, I had researched and found it in some books a swimming hole that went back to
the late 1800's It was quite aways from my house, when I got there, there were some people exchanging drugs, out in the middle of no where, I carry a 357 when I
go out like that, but I don't look for trouble so I lift and went back to town while detecting close to town I ran into a local, who told me that it was a hang out for drug dealers, If he knew that how come the local police didn't, oh well, Maybe some other time, I will wait for bad weather and take a friend with me, In the mean time
I will just have fun in the areas I know, the snow has melted, lots of good places here. good luck, on your coin hunting., retired 1230@$tree

 

[HuntinDog]

1230@$tree,
I'm in No.Cal. (Auburn)
What part you in?
Maybe we can meet up and do a little huntin...

HH

 

[1230@$TREE]

Hi hunting dog, Auburn is a nice place lots of history, I live up in the Sandblasting mountains, not far from Big Bear lake, new to this web site
not sure how to get in touch if your ever this way, but would enjoy hunting with you.