‘Expedition Unknown’ Season 16 Episode 5 Preview: A Goonies-Inspired Treasure Hunt
Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 5: Josh Gates Embarks on a Goonies-Inspired Treasure Hunt on the Oregon Coast
Josh Gates is returning to one of his favorite childhood inspirations — The Goonies — in a new episode of Discovery Channel’s hit series Expedition Unknown. Season 16, episode 5 sends the explorer to the rugged Oregon coastline, where a new discovery may validate a long-standing local legend and shed light on events that took place more than three centuries ago.
The episode is scheduled to air Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.
A Landmark Season of Global Expeditions
Discovery Channel describes season 16 as one of the most wide-ranging and ambitious chapters in the show’s history. Josh Gates travels across continents to uncover lost artifacts, forgotten histories, and mysterious legends that have captured imaginations for generations.
The network highlights several key expeditions featured this season:
- A Gold Rush crossover: Gates joins Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel in pursuit of a multi-million-dollar treasure connected to a notorious stagecoach heist.
- A Nazi submarine mystery: He dives into the ice-cold waters of the Baltic Sea in search of a missing World War II U-boat.
- A journey into Nicaraguan wilderness: Gates ventures through crocodile-infested waters while hunting for Cornelius Vanderbilt’s long-lost steamship.
These globe-spanning missions set the stage for one of the season’s most nostalgic and personal adventures.
Celebrating 40 Years of The Goonies
In honor of the iconic film’s 40th anniversary, Gates travels to the real setting of the beloved 1985 classic. Described by the host as “the greatest movie ever,” The Goonies has inspired generations of treasure hunters — Gates included.
On the Oregon coast, he investigates the real-life pirate lore that helped shape the movie’s legendary story of hidden riches and daring adventure. And this time, the historical mystery isn’t just cinematic nostalgia. According to Discovery Channel, Gates uncovers fragments of a Spanish galleon that wrecked in 1694 along the Pacific shoreline.
A Discovery That Rewrites Local Legend
The episode centers around a recent find that may authenticate a long-circulated Oregon legend. Local lore has long suggested that remnants of a centuries-old Spanish ship — and possibly its treasure — may have washed ashore on the state’s rugged coastline.
Gates’ discovery of galleon artifacts could serve as rare physical evidence of that 17th-century wreck, offering new insights into early maritime activity along the Pacific Northwest.
