The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. In the weeks and months to come we will use much of the historical information, and show how it ties directly to what we have found. The multi-acre museum site soon saw the addition of a historic Cossack 20-Stamp . Want to reenact that James Franco film with the rusted and dull pocket knife? He would vanish into thin air for his efforts. , on the northeast side, includes a favorite trail that heads up to Fremont Saddle; picturesque panoramic views of most of the locale. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel across Superstition Mountain at night. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. We miss it. There have been tales ofU.S. Armysoldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Mystic Arizona: Discover the Mysterious Supersition Mountains Where The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. Some of you reading this may know a lot, about the Lost Dutchman Goldmine, others may be new to the story of the Lost Dutchman Mine, so before going much further, I will do a very quick overview. Up on the mountain, if someone breaks a leg; it will take at least two on the team to get you down; it is dangerous for three healthy climbers, much less one with broken body parts. More please. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. On 8 June 2019, a fire broke out in the Superstitions Wilderness area and soon spread across 26,000 acres. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. ZERO ZIP NADA!! 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 Something, a doctor once told his family, having chewed at his sanity and left nothing but brittle bones. He dies, screaming from a nightmare in 1891. But Blair suggested that this core story was distorted in subsequent retellings, comparing the many variants of the Lost Dutchman's story to the game of Chinese whispers, where the original account is distorted in multiple retellings of the tale.[15]. Found Footage Uncovered in a Dark Mountain - Dread Central 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. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. 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. Today along route 88 is a pull off gravel road, that leads out behind the Lost Dutchman Museum, you follow it to a designated area, here you will find marked trail signs with trails simply marked as the Massacre Grounds.. The Dutchman " was a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz. Famed Apache warrior, Most stories go like this, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta struck gold by accident they were just passing by and started drilling the mine. Most likely because Pedro de Peralta had been the Spanish Governor of New Mexico (in the 1600s) his family name of "Peralta" was the inspiration for a number of legends in the American Southwest. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. As to why his head had been carried off no one knows. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. 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. Director Tara Anase Writers Tara Anase (story) Tamara Blaich (story) Stars Ron Eagle D'Andre II Adam Haley Sage Howard Ruths son Erwin C. Ruth heard of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales. The weather in the Superstition Mountains is notoriously unpredictable, with storms seeming to come out of nowhere and accompanied by abrupt drops in temperatures. Others, sure that more vile deadly creatures guard the mines. The area is filled with ghost tales, monster encounters, and, yes you cant have spooky mountains without an alien highway UFOs. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Web. There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. Children 10 and under Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? Kino is believed to have had a rich goldmine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. Dr. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. This isn't another nauseating, shaky-cam mess. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). Take a cinematic tour to the Superstition Mountains, home of the Lost Dutchman Mine. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. Famed Apache warrior Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story; because its always good to shoehorn a celebrity into an urban legend. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. The Lost Dutchmans Mine is featured in Season 1, Episode 21 of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. The episode first aired on April 12, 1989. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. This is your spot. Seniors $6.00 (65 and older) Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. Unexplained Deaths, Disappearances, and a Cursed Treasure in Arizona The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. We will share as much as we can for now, but as I stated earlier we are preparing for a return trip, and the location has to remain secret. Up until Ruths disastrous expedition, the mines were little more than a footnote in the history of Arizona; one of a thousand so-called lost mines that peppered teh state. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. 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. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially man. Somewhere deep within Arizonas Superstition Mountains lies the most famous lost gold mine in the worldthe Lost Dutchman Mine. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Superstition Mountain Museum has a large collection of props, sets, posters and memorabilia connected to Western movie and television history. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). Theyre filled to the brim with ghosts and spirits. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. Travis Tumlinson, a policeman, discovered the Peralta Stones on a roadside near the Superstition Mountains in the 1940s. Come on down! Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. Director Earl Bellamy Writer Sam Peckinpah (teleplay and story) Stars Dale Robertson John Litel Myron Healey July 3, 1947 James A Cravey, age 62, a retired photographer, was reported missing after he had chartered a helicopter June 19, 1947 to drop him off in the Superstition Mountains to look for the Lost Dutchmans Mine. She was oblivious, baffled, and would apparently later sell the map of the now dead treasure hunter to parties unknown. Come on. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Intrigue Journal. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. Superstition Mountain hasan elevation of 5,024 feet. Interestingly it was found that he had amassed a small fortune in a short amount of time after starting his forays into the mountains, urging suspicions that he had found the lost mine. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! [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. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. 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. Members of the Apache tribe were said to have a truly valuable gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. These are rectangular, cross-shaped, and heart-shaped stones with etchings of a horse, a priest, a dagger, a trail, topographic features, and Spanish inscriptions. A beautiful site just below the western edge of the Superstition Mountains was found and obtained. Like all great legends and Indiana Jones-like ventures, the search for the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine is littered with betrayal, spirits, backstabbing desperados, unexplained disappearances, and death. So let me say it again, the documentation found ON the stones is the most important thing not so much who carved them. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. The museum does not disappoint! The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. In most variants of the story, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta discovered the mine and began mining the gold there, only to be attacked or massacred by Apaches in about 1850 in the supposed Peralta massacre. The Top Ten Most Haunted Places in Arizona. Originally an important feature of the Apacheland Movie Ranch, the Elvis Chapel is an amazing location to hold your special event. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Granger wrote that "fact and fiction blend in the tales",[3] but that there are three main elements to the story: In 1977, Granger identified 62 variants of the Lost Dutchman's story some of the variations are minor, but others are substantial, casting the story in a very different light from the other versions. In an act of kindness, Throne treats an ailing Apache chieftain. Lost Dutchman State Park - Check out the Superstition Mountain and Museum plus the Lost Dutchman State Park.Goldfield Mine Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere. It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. Ahh, heres the chronological faux-pass. [42] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130ha) in 1983. Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman, a mischievous canard if ever there was one, becomes obsessed with the mine. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Wasnt it Dutch? [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. Many people have died trying to find it over the years, and, even with all the modern technology at our disposal today, the exact location of the mine in the vast wilderness still remains an enigma. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - Discovery Dr. Thorne starts to investigate. So, there, thats the skinny in case you want to pack a lunch and have a picnic. The haunted state? I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. [8] The mine was quite profitable, earning about $35,000 in less than one year; Blair described this as "an unusually good return" for such a small gold mine to earn in such a relatively brief period. 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. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: The headless remains of prospector James A. Cravey were discovered in the mid-1940s. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. 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]. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. The Copper State. Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. Mysterious bodies turned up in the Superstition Mountains all through the 1960s and 70s, with at least five people found dead with bullet holes to the skulls, and with other bodies found minus the heads, which were never found. Going on a year now. Finally - The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. X., who seemed to be guarding the area. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. The curse of the treasure would continue in the 1940s, when a 62-year-old treasure hunter by the name of James A. Carvey journeyed into the Superstition Mountains and also ended up dead and with his head separated from his shoulders. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. [volume], October 11, 1933, Page NINE, Image 9, "Arizona desert searched for missing Denver man seeking gold mine", "Mother of missing treasure hunter holds onto hope", "Body of man who hunted legendary 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine believed found in Arizona mountains", "3 Utah men still missing on Arizona treasure hunt", "3 Search for men looking for Lost Dutchman's gold suspended", "More remains found in Superstitions; may be hiker's", "Escape - When The Man Comes, Follow Him", "The Lost Dutchman's Mine History and Bibliography", Arizona Mining Scams and Unassayable Ore Projects of the Late 20th Century, "Skeptoid #347: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine&oldid=1137505190. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. There have been tales of, soldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. But what they actually found has been a hidden secret that people have been trying to piece together for last 125 years. [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. [4], Robert Blair wrote "[t]here have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz". The gift store was absolutely fantastic and was filled with high-quality books about Arizona and southwest history, folklore, Native Americans, and the Wild West. Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains 30.3K subscribers 251K views 2 years ago Ever heard of the Hermit of the Superstition Mountains or wondered what the legend was behind calling Elisha. 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). is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. But they're even better known for something else: the legendary Lost Dutchman's Mine, a much-ballyhooed secret stash of wealth sought by daring adventurers known as "Dutch hunters." "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. Ruth ignored Barkelys help and set out for a two-week stint into cliffs. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. Searching for The Gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Superstition Mountain Blair insisted that the Peralta portion of the story is unreliable, writing: "The operation of a gold mine in the Superstitions by a Peralta family is a contrivance of 20th century writers". Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. There is a $7 day use fee to enter the park, which is waived if you're camping ($15/night). There were also strange stories among the Apache of a magnificent, hidden cavern full of gold, said to be a vast treasure long buried within the mountains and protected by spirits, troll-like beasts called Tuar-Tums, and even their Thunder God himself. They are encircled by U.S Route 60 on the south Arizona State 88 on the northwest, and Arizona 188 on the northeast. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old".