X while searching for the mines. Arcana Exploration. 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. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. The Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. They believed that the entrance to the underworld itself lay somewhere in among these peaks, and that powerful spirits roamed the withered landscape. 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. 9 May 2022. The man is barely alive. 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. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. And is that information relevant? Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. The Superstitions Mountains lie within the Tonto National wildlife refuge and consist of 242 square miles not counting other designated and preserved areas that boarder the Tonto National Forest and wildlife refuge. The stones are named for an obscure "Peralta family", said to be an old and powerful Mexican family. 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. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. Waltzs caregiver, a Julia Thomas, apparently listened to all of this but had no idea what to think of any of it. Bands of roaming cannibals are said to hunt the area and the curse of the Lost Mine to many isnt a tall tale but a stark reality. The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. 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. During Kinos time other Missionaries in California and Mexico were jealous and suspicious of Kino because, while they were poor and struggled his missions were rich and flourished, they said he had a secret gold mine from which he took rich gold and funded his missions and rancheros amassing 50 thousand head of cattle making him the Southwests first mega rancher. The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. They are mysterious, they are cool as ice, and for all those Dark Tourism enthusiasts, they are full of legends and weird happenings. 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The 66-year-old Ruth, who was by all accounts absolutely and hopelessly obsessed with the location of the Lost Dutchmans Mine, ventured out into those badlands despite warnings against it, and shortly after vanished without a trace. Peralta Stones - Wikipedia What is the Story Behind the Superstition Mountains - YouTube See production, box office & company info. Fake AF. To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. "Most. [28], One fact against the existence of "Lost Dutchman Mine" is that Waltz was a "placer miner"; while the gold pieces he had were in quartz, the Superstition Mountains are in fact volcanic. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. In late November or early December 2009, Denver, Colorado citizen Jesse Capen disappeared in the Tonto National Forest. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Bands of roaming cannibals are said to hunt the area and the curse of the Lost Mine to many isnt a tall tale but a stark reality. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. They either mined or found enormous gold deposits in the Superstition Mountains. Is this all just a spooky legend or id there something more to it? We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. For more macabre tales check out our Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. 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. There are several paths that go through the brush and cacti. 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. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. The Superstition Mountains - YouTube Don Miguel Peralta was the head of a powerful and wealthy Mexican family from Sonora, and they were either ranchers or operated mines or did both. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. Their bodies were never found, but their camera was." 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. Daughter Actor Vivien Ng On The New Cult Horror Film, Every Frightening New Title Coming to Paramount+ in March, The Number One Horror Show on Netflix For The Month Is A great adaptation of a fantastic series, The Most-Viewed Horror Movie Trailer On YouTube This Week Has Fans All-In, Seeing Red: Enter To Win A Blu-Ray of Joe Begos Christmas Bloody Christmas, Subscribers Find The Latest Shocking Netflix True Crime Documentary Series Unbelievable, July 29th Mesa, AZ (one night only) AMC Mesa Grand 14, 7pm, July 30th Austin, TX (one night only) Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane, 9pm, July 31st = New York, NY (one night only) AMC Loews Village 7, 8:30pm. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. Weiser was the mans best friend and confidant. Ahh, heres the chronological faux-pass. ZERO ZIP NADA!! Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. 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. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. While it is small, it is packed with information and visual stimulation if you enjoy history. Ruths response? 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. [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. In an act of kindness, Throne treats an ailing Apache chieftain. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. In March of 2011 three filmmakers set out to find the mine and document their entire process. SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS GHOST, LOST MINES, MURDER AND MAYHEM, Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story. The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-called, Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. The story of the Peralta Stones is that they lead you to a small almost invisible ledge, 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. There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. So, there, thats the skinny in case you want to pack a lunch and have a picnic. Dark Mountain (2013) directed by Tara Anase - Letterboxd Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. Eight months later their camera and cell phones were recovered along the western edge of LaBarge Canyon. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. The story of the Lost Dutchmans Mine would go on to become a persistent legend and obsession for many would-be treasure hunters over the years. Others that it was the ghost of the Peraltas. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. 6 episodes that go absolutely nowhere. At the low elevations, you will encounter tall saguaro cactusand Ponderosa pines at higher levels, and these are generally near the streams. The museum itself is clean and well organized for the small space it is currently occupying and boasts loads in local history. , The Waterbury Democrat. Legend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains. The promise of a $200 million mother lode has lured thousands of treasure hunters and continues to claim the lives of those eager to decipher the legends clues and riddles. More please. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. His campsite and vehicle were recovered shortly afterward. After an intensive search, Ruths skull was was found at the bottom of a remote ravine, sitting out there all alone in the unforgiving desert. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. Take a cinematic tour to the Superstition Mountains, home of the Lost Dutchman Mine. In the 1800's, a german goldhunter named Jacob Waitz discovered a huge goldmine within the mountains that has since been named the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (German <- > The Netherlands; let . Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. 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. George Johnston, who first tried to find the treasure in the 1950s, was still working for the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum up until his August 30, 2017, death at age 97. [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). 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. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! The Dutchman Project | Indiegogo [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. See production, box office & company info, The Investigation: A Haunting in Sherwood, The Harrisville Haunting: The Real Conjuring House. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Web. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. 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. The record high temperature is 128 degrees. Searching for The Gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Superstition Mountain Everyone else? Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. We at Arcana Exploration believe we can show that this was later worked by Jacob Waltz, and after his death came to be known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. 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. By what name was Dark Mountain (2013) officially released in Canada in English? Barkely repeatedly urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine, because the terrain of the Superstition Mountains was treacherous even for experienced outdoorsmen, let alone for the 66-year-old Ruth in the heat of the Arizona summer. Many other mysterious deaths in the Superstition Mountains followed that of Ruths in the subsequent years, including two soldiers from the U.S. Army. The soldiers have stalked back to town, fistfuls of gold but their sanity shot, only to die a day later or in one case, murdered while rambling on and on about the, Adolph Ruth is really the amateur explorer and treasure hunter that made the mines into a national phenomenon. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. Two Pennsylvania Dutchmen, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser, were prospecting for gold in the area, when, one night, they happened to save a mans life in a bar brawl. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. Much of the truth has laid obscured in old Spanish, Jesuit and Catholic Church documentation, including maps, expedition journals, and diaries and in many cases with those buried in long ago lost and forgotten graves. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. Going on a year now. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. 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. each. Everything is well-maintained, and the staff are without exception friendly and helpful. Their bodies were never found. 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. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. Richman, Irwin. On Valentines Day Elvis was available at the church for weddings. Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. DARK MOUNTAIN is the chilling reconstruction from their footage of their last days. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. 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. There are a few walking trails that are great for beginners and still enjoyable for more experienced walkers as well. Visitors are treated to a working display of historic large scale model trains and learn about the prominent role they took in the settlement of the West. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. Early on during the Spanish Conquest, Conquistadors such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1535) came to the American southwest (New Spain) in search of gold trying to locate, Montezumas Seven Cities of Cibola. https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/superstition-mountains/index.html, They were once known in Spanish as Sierra de la Espuma . About this campaign You may also be interested in Gogopicks Funding The MOST PROFESSIONAL Smart Toothpaste Dispenser Adults $7.00 A must see if you are by the Superstition Mountains. Youve come to the ideal place. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. 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. 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. 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. Yet there are still all of these mysterious disappearances and death, these enigmatic decapitated corpses and their bullet-ridden heads. Kino is believed to have had a rich goldmine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains.