They are encircled by U.S Route 60 on the south Arizona State 88 on the northwest, and Arizona 188 on the northeast. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. The mine is named after German immigrant Jakob Waltz (c. 18101891), who purportedly discovered it in the 19th century and kept its location a secret. In December of 1949 a man named James Kidd vanished without a trace in the area as well. In an act of kindness, Throne treats an ailing Apache chieftain. Beautiful gift shop with tons of great things to buy. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Director Tara Anase Writers Tara Anase (story) Tamara Blaich (story) Stars Ron Eagle D'Andre II Adam Haley Sage Howard The Native Apache people of the area had already long held this as a rather sinister scared place even before outsiders came in to settle the land. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. "Dutchman's Gold" was a chart hit in 1960 for, "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" episode of the, "The Peralta Map" episode of the CBS Radio series, The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at, The Lost Dutchman's Mine features prominently in the, The Lost Dutchmans Mine is the subject of Season 6, Episode 10 of podcast Unexplained. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. October through April Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. Waltz would claim to have been out prospecting when he had come across an unimaginably vast vein of gold out in the mountains, curiously supposedly near Weavers Needle. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The only thing slightly off the cuff, is that three of them do ride their Harleys from central Ohio to Sturgis and back on a regular basis, but more about them later. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: The headless remains of prospector James A. Cravey were discovered in the mid-1940s. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. Generally speaking, this mine is claimed to be situated in the Superstition Mountains, described by one source as "a collection of rough terrain that has gained the name of a single mountain" which lies to the east of Phoenix, the Arizonan capital. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. On our may trip in 2016 one day it reached 108 degrees, that same day up on the mountain, climbing on a surface of Granite and sandstone ours guys Trek watches read what they were breathing at an actual 119 degrees. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. Wednesday Sunday Waltzs caregiver, a Julia Thomas, apparently listened to all of this but had no idea what to think of any of it. Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the "Superstition Mountains.". [26], Blair wrote that "the national wire services picked up the story [of Ruth's death] and ran it for more than it was worth", possibly seeing the mysterious story as a welcome reprieve from the bleak news that was otherwise typical of the Great Depression. As to why his head had been carried off no one knows. Fact Analysis: The men must deal with a lack of water and the fact that the map leads him into lands held sacred by the Apaches. 4087 East Apache Trail How he knew all of this no one knows, but one rumor has it that he learned the secret location of this massive stash of gold from the sole surviving Peralta family member. He was remembered as having been obsessed with finding the mine for several years. The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. If you get it hurt you better have your own team. The search, nevertheless, still continues. Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. At the time he had ventured out into the Tonto National Forest in search of the legendary treasure, having looked for it on several occasions in the past and accumulating hundreds of books and hundreds of pages of research on the matter. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. Arizona. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. Superstition Mountain hasan elevation of 5,024 feet. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. Then his body would finally be found wedged into a remote and inaccessible crevice, with the official cause of death a mystery. Youve come to the ideal place. Hiking and camping are popular activities. This is only speculation, what I do know is that, people who have dismissed the information on the stones, no matter who carved the stones, those non believers have been badly mistaken. There are many stories about hidden gold in the Superstition Mountains, and these usually mention the Peralta Family. The museum itself is clean and well organized for the small space it is currently occupying and boasts loads in local history. The breathable air on some surfaces actually gets even hotter; this is the biggest killer in the Superstition Mountains and dont forget the rattle snakes, scorpions, tarantula spiders, Gila monsters plus huge mountain lions and dozens of other things that will take your life. Cute fun stop for anyone visiting the area to learn more about the history of the area. The man is barely alive. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. Arcadia Publishing. They are mysterious, they are cool as ice, and for all those Dark Tourism enthusiasts, they are full of legends and weird happenings. Trust at your own peril if you dare to tread into HISTORYs Legend of the Superstition Mountains. The promise of a $200 million mother . Find a wide array of distinctive and unique items including books, apparel, local Native American arts and crafts and seasonal gift selections. Adults $7.00 In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. The legend of the lost gold continued to attract people, and, in 1932, a veterinarian in the Park Service, Adolph Ruth, decided to go treasure hunting. A note in a bottle found floating down the Salt River said that he needed help on account of his leg and that he had found the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Since James Reavis, "the Baron of Arizona", was convicted of fraud when the Peralta family genealogy and other documents to support the land grant (and a barony associated with that land) were determined to be forgeries it also raises questions about the original purchase of the land grant by Dr. George M. Willing Jr. (the transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation; instead of a notarized deed, the conveyance was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses). One of the most prominent such tales is that of an affluent mining family from Mexico, the Peraltas, although some versions of the story say they were ranchers. After he had spent many years in their midst, the Apache Elders decided to reward his selfless service with gold. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. These cookies do not store any personal information. On 8 June 2019, a fire broke out in the Superstitions Wilderness area and soon spread across 26,000 acres. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and never gets old. Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. Who killed him and then separated his head from his body remains unknown. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. By what name was Legend of the Superstition Mountains (2015) officially released in Canada in English? [21], Were it not for the death of amateur explorer and treasure hunter Adolph Ruth, the story of the Lost Dutchman's mine would probably have been little more than a footnote in Arizona history as one of hundreds of "lost mines" rumored to be in the American West. Superstition Mountain (Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa, O'odham: Gakok) is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon.It anchors the west end of the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area and is a popular outdoor recreation destination, home to numerous trails for hiking and . This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). Also in that year was the disappearance of two young boys, Ross Bley and Charles Harshbarger, whose bodies were never found. From the Press Release Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. In gratitude, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains, and gave him some antique maps of the site (Gonzales claimed to be descended from the Peralta family on his mother's side). His body would later be found with a bullet hole to the head. Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. Years later, a man called Dr. Thorne treats an ailing or wounded Apache (often alleged to be a chieftain) and is rewarded with a trip to a rich gold mine. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. A TwinTygr Film. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. Mine records show that one possibly two Peralta family members with possible links connecting them to the 1848 massacre, also worked at the Vulture mine during the same time period as Waltz. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. Be sure to have a hat and water because it gets hot when youre walking around the grounds. FREE with paid Adult As with most of the terrain encompassing the Phoenix metropolitan area, and the Superstition Mountains, have a desert environment, with scorching summer temperatures and sparse sources of water. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. Hunting for the Lost Dutchman is typically a one-man journey, but lifelong Dutch Hunter Wayne Tuttle is breaking with tradition and partnering with a team of experts to follow a newly revealed clue that could finally solve the 500-year-old mystery of Americas most famous and deadliest buried treasure. They didnt find it because its not in the superstitions Too bad i cant post pictures, because i know exactly where it is, Did you ever think the Dutchman might have used another mine location to through There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. We are a non-profit corporation under Section 501 (c) 3, organized to collect and preserve the history and legends of Arizonas Superstition Mountains, and to support research, education and publications involving the region. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. This is trails end; this is the domain of the Dutch Hunters. To determine if the skull was Ruth's, it was examined by Dr. Ale Hrdlika, a well-respected anthropologist who was given several photos of Ruth, along with Ruth's dental records. The Apache warriors who had massacred them are then said to have reburied the entrance to this enormous trove of gold, and to this day the area where this is believed to have happened has been labeled the Massacre Grounds, and there are other places names that denote this grim history such as Massacre Falls and others. We provide an historical context that includes the region's Native American people, the life of early western settlers, local geology and industry as well as the legends promoted through film and media. They never made it out of the Superstitions. each. As a sort of reward for this generosity, he was apparently one day asked to put on a blindfold, after which he was told he would be led to the mythical lost cavern of gold. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. This would become a common theme in the Superstition Mountains, the presence of decapitated corpses, and indeed this has happened to quite a few people who have dared look for the Lost Dutchmans mine throughout the decades. Let may say this; it is not important who engraved the stones, and if itwas Tomlinson and he being the maker or someone else being the engraver of the stones while historically interesting it is not the most important thing. Since Ruths death, there have been numerous other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. In 1952 there was a man named Joseph Kelley, who went out into the mountains to find the treasure and proceeded to vanish from the face of the earth. Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! He died of pneumonia in 1891 and, according to the three neighbours who cared for him, he left them the box of gold under his bed and directions to the gold mine. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby Stehlin. An alternate view which better fits the lost mine legend is that he periodically appeared with large amounts of gold, The Sterling Legend by Estee Conatser reports that a Jacob Walzer sold $250,000 in gold to the U.S. Mint during the 1880s and had $1500 when he died in 1891. The Lost Gold Mine At Superstition Mountain. Ruth vanished while hunting for the mine in the summer of 1931. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. In-Season In later years, in 1945, a would-be treasure hunter named Barry Storm would claim that as he had been out looking for the treasure he had been fired upon by a mysterious sniper who he called Mr. The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. German? Yes, the deserts of Arizona carry a spooky secret. In yet another version of the tale, two (or more) U.S. Army soldiers are said to have discovered a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. In later years there is the story of the adventurous Spanish born Doctor Abraham Thorne, who was at the time living among the Natives of the region and studying their medical practices. 9 May 2022. Because of what we have discovered at the site, Arcana Exploration believes we have proof for the first time that there is a common link between Waltz and the Peraltas. Arcana has had the luxury of having had the site location for over three years, and for this reason we have been able to reverse engineer, historical information and put many of the pieces together. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. After one hundred and twenty- five plus years incredibly, the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself No miner will ever find my mine. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. Finally did a little digging and it sounded interesting. This isn't another nauseating, shaky-cam mess. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". The stories differ from here onward. While this theory did not ignore the two holes in the skull, it did fail to explain how Ruth had managed to remove and bury the empty shell, then reload his gun, after shooting himself through the head". We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. First you drive to the outskirts of Phoenix and find Apache Junction, then pick up the old Apache Trail (route88) and go about 35 miles to Tortilla Flat, site of the old stage coach Pony express stop, along the Apache Trail. Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman Mine The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. You'll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. Fake AF. Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. Arcana Exploration is made up of a group of five friends and supporters, from central Ohio, who until five years ago knew very little if anything about the LDM. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. [32] Some carved stones in the area are referred to as "Peralta Stones" and Spanish text and crude maps on them are considered by some to be clues to the location of a Peralta family gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, although others believe the stones to be modern fakes. If you loved watching old westerns you will love this place. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. It does not matter if Tomlinson engraved them or someone else did, exactly when they were made is not important, what matters is what is on them. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). The Peralta family would go on to be suspected of having left some evidence behind of their discovery in the form of a series of odd stones mysteriously etched with codes, pictograms, and cryptic messages written out in imperfect Latin, which are said to hold the key to finding the treasure and which have been dubbed the Peralta Stones. These stones were allegedly written up by the family shortly before their massacre and left behind by Apaches who did not know their true meaning and so left them to rot away in the sun. They are bound on three sides by U.S. Route 60, Arizona State Route 88, and Arizona State Route 188, and are visible from miles away. Intrigue Journal. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. John D. Wilburn in his book Dutchman's Lost Ledge of Gold (1990), wrote that the Bulldog Gold Mine near Goldfield, Arizona, fits very well the description Jacob Waltz gave as the location of his 'lost mine'. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. There have been other mysterious and ominous disappearances as well, including an abandoned campsite found in the mountains in 1958 complete with blood-soaked blankets, but no bodies and no suspect. The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180km (110mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz locates a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. A corpse is later found and IDed as Weiser; coroners unable to state whether the wounds were caused by Apache weapons or American-made knives. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. And the answer is absolutely yes! Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. For the next 20 years, he falls in and out of consciousness, whenever he wakes its just garbled speak and horrific tales; hes enveloped in kaleidoscopic delirium, Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. For more macabre tales check out our Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. The Village exhibit includes two brush structures, some call Wickiups (the Apache people call them Gowah --our home); a cooking area and hide drying rack. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. He further stated, after examining the two holes [in the skull], that it appeared that a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at almost point-blank range, making the small hole when the bullet entered and the large hole when it exited".[23]. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. According to the Apaches (North American Indians), the entryway to hell is in the Superstition Mountains. He would vanish into thin air for his efforts. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona Superstition Mountain, Arizona by Kathy Weiser-Alexander One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. To this end he lived for years among their ranks, learning their ways and tending to their sick and wounded. The haunted state? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Out in the remote badlands of the U.S. state of Arizona, just to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area lies a sun scorched, dried up, arid moonscape of twisted peaks and sprawling expanse of badlands called the Superstition Mountains, at one time called the Sierra de la Espuma by Spanish settlers. DARK MOUNTAIN is the chilling reconstruction from their footage of their last days. In the year 1870, with his consent, they blindfolded him and took him on a 20-mile trip to an unknown location piled with gold ore. I Often Hear That: I'll Share Some With You, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, Shamans, Psychedelics, and One Man's mystical Journey in the Amazon to Find a Miracle Cure. See production, box office & company info. They trek into the mountains. The Superstition Mountains, with a name like that you might as well give away fancy proton-backs, of the Ghostbuster variety, at the visitors center, is a series of jagger tooth mountains in Arizona just the east of Phoenix. January 7, 2023 12:00 pm - April 29, 2023 3:00 pm, Desert Safety and Survival (March Sold Out), Weaving Class with Nanabah Aragon (March Sold Out). In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. Everyplace had a lost mine. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. Then the Apaches killed Jacob Weiser,or according to some, Waltz himself did it. T Just a few miles south of Tucson lies Colossal Cave, an often overlooked natural landmark with well over a thousand years of history. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. In 2012 his vehicle, wallet, cellphone, and backpack were located but there had been no sign of the missing man. Members of the Apache tribe were said to have a truly valuable gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. Dont expect High Street class; do expect old West charm, plenty of local history and lore, and the beautiful backdrop of the Superstition Mountains, not to mention a surprisingly good gift shop. There is a $7 day use fee to enter the park, which is waived if you're camping ($15/night).

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