October through April The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. Youll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. In a few scenes the characters are shown wearing their packs while walking one moment, and not wearing them the next. See production, box office & company info, The Investigation: A Haunting in Sherwood, The Harrisville Haunting: The Real Conjuring House. 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. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. 2023 Copyright Phoenix Ghosts. The Legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine - C&I Magazine This was our first stop for the day. According to some storytellers, in September 1848, a band of Apaches slaughtered the entire Peralta Family, except one (someone had to live to tell the tale). Intrigue Journal. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. 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. Their bodies were never found. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. Want to climb a perilous cliff? ZERO ZIP NADA!! The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-calledPeralta massacre. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. Treasure hunting at Superstition Mountains Arizona - The Lost Dutchman's Mine. The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? Very similiar to big foot hunters. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. One of these was a veterinarian and treasure hunter named Adolf Ruth, who in 1931 made his way to these wind-swept wilds, armed with what he at the time claimed to be the actual original map to it. 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. Three documentary filmmakers set out on a journey into Arizona's Superstition Mountains to uncover the truth about the most famous lost gold mine in the world - the Lost Dutchman Mine, purportedly the home to a treasure worth 200 million dollars. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, A Boat-Swallowing Sea Monster of Norse Legends Still Lives Today, Ghosts, Fairies, and a Spectral Hag on Canada's Most Haunted Island, More on the Matter of the Most Dangerous Creature of the Mind: The Slenderman, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, "What's the Creepiest Thing You've Ever Seen or Heard?" There are several paths that go through the brush and cacti. You'll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. The main thing is that they supposedly accidentally found this ancient Apache treasure somewhere in the mountains, but it was to spell their doom. Trust at your own peril if you dare to tread into HISTORYs Legend of the Superstition Mountains. 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. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. Yes, the deserts of Arizona carry a spooky secret. 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. The stories differ from here onward. 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Summer Hours They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. 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. Non one really knows, but the answers just may lie out there in the desolate reaches of those desert badlands. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. For the first time ever, Arcana Exploration has undeniable physical proof that the mine exists, proof that is to say, photographic physical documentation that many of the generally excepted clues, are in fact real and do exist and are physically present in one location. Ruths son Erwin C. Ruth heard of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales. Hiking and camping are popular activities. Since the turn of the twentieth century, thousands of people have scoured the mountains in search of it, hundreds have lost their lives in the process, but not one has returned with an ounce of gold. In December, 1931, The Arizona Republic reported on the recent discovery of a human skull in the Superstition Mountains. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Richman, Irwin. According to their folklore, the mountain guards an ancient storehouse of precious metals and treasures, and anyone who ventures forth to get the treasure is likely to die. , on the northeast side, includes a favorite trail that heads up to Fremont Saddle; picturesque panoramic views of most of the locale. They believed that the entrance to the underworld itself lay somewhere in among these peaks, and that powerful spirits roamed the withered landscape. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. 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. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. German? In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. This account is usually dated to about 1870. They are encircled by U.S Route 60 on the south Arizona State 88 on the northwest, and Arizona 188 on the northeast. His campsite and vehicle were recovered shortly afterward. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. 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. 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. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. While it is small, it is packed with information and visual stimulation if you enjoy history. They even had the old rock crusher up and working. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. 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. The Lost Dutchman's Mine has gone on to become a pop cultural legend, written of in countless books and appearing on numerous TV shows. Waltzs caregiver, a Julia Thomas, apparently listened to all of this but had no idea what to think of any of it. The Museum Gallery offers a detailed exploration of the history of this region with artifacts, multi-media, testimonials and docent-led tours. The Superstition Mountains - YouTube As early as September 1, 1892, The Arizona Enterprise was reporting on the efforts of Thomas and several others to locate the lost mine whose location was told to her by Waltz. Its now the 1870s. 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. 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. Museum Members are FREE. 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). There have been countless such deaths and disappearances in the region over the years, many of them with missing heads or gunshot wounds to the head. , The Waterbury Democrat. Legend of the Superstition Mountains - The HISTORY Channel Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. Unexplained Deaths, Disappearances, and a Cursed Treasure in Arizona It started out as an exciting day for us all on February 25th, 2016. Wednesday Sunday If you get it hurt you better have your own team. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel across Superstition Mountain at night. See production, box office & company info. 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 Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. 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. Walking along tyre tracks saying they are in the middle of nowhere at a treasure location. A found footage thriller inspired on actual events, DARK MOUNTAIN is directed by Tara Anase and written by Tamara Blaich and Tara Anase. 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. With cursed mountains said to drive men mad and a hidden fortune of gold worth killing for, the treasure hunters greatest danger may be the man at his side. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS GHOST, LOST MINES, MURDER AND MAYHEM, Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story. We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America It is truly magnificent at twilight., The Apacheland barn figured prominently in dozens of western films and TV western episodes shot at the original Gold Canyon movie ranch. 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. Superstition Mountain hasan elevation of 5,024 feet. Superstition Mountain at night. Producers included Tamara Blaich, Jennifer Harrington, and Megan Peterson with cinematography by Pyongson Yim and editing by Jennifer Harrington. 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. 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. Beautiful gift shop with tons of great things to buy. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). The chieftain, overtaken by the act, blindfolds the doctor and takes him on a trip to the mines. 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. [5] One Lost Dutchman's mine is said to be in Colorado, another in California; two are said to be located in Arizona. 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. His body has never been found. 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. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. Adults $7.00 There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - Discovery [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. There were other weird clues found about the body, such as the presence of two bullet holes to the skull from shots fired at point blank range, and it was speculated that he had perhaps been killed for his secret knowledge or committed suicide, but there was no weapon found. Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. [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. There are numerous hiking trails that hikers can access from multiple points, one of the more well-known ones being the Peralta Trailhead. 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. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the . The Dutchman " was a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz. 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. According to Blair, the story may have its roots in the efforts of three U.S. soldiers to locate gold in an area of New Mexico, based on an allegedly true story related to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico; see above. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. Arizona. The museum with its indoor and outdoor exhibits is a pleasant surprise and definitely worth your time if youre going on the Apache Trail or to the nearby Lost Dutchman State Park. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. each. According to the story, the Apaches quickly descended upon the family to ruthlessly slaughter all of them but one, left alive solely to tell the tale not to mess with the lost mine to anyone who would listen. 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. Awesome place to visit. This is your spot. Blair cited evidence of the historical Jacob Waltz and suggested that additional evidence supports the core elements of the story that Waltz claimed to have discovered (or at least heard the story of) a rich gold vein or cache. DARK MOUNTAIN is the chilling reconstruction from their footage of their last days. Anyway, the great west after Grant decided to Manifest Destiny and promote those great plains maybe theyll forget all that Civil War squabble if they start to settle into lands without so much emotional baggage tended to promote El Dorado like tales. In-Season Eric "the real deal" Deleel is original from a little town in northern New York called Massena. The roofs of the cave are blackened from centuries of Native Ameri Go Wildcats! People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel acrossSuperstition Mountain at night. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. About Lost Dutchman State Park. X., who seemed to be guarding the area. The men must deal with a lack of water and the fact that the map leads him into lands held sacred by the Apaches. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. The Supers are east - northeast of Phoenix. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. The park offers 134 campsites, each with a picnic table, barbeque grill, and fire pit, and 68 equipped with electric hook-ups and water. (Chris J / Flickr). Others, sure that more vile deadly creatures guard the mines. "Tales of Wells Fargo" Apache Gold (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Lots to see on site from a barn, trains, petting zoo on Saturdays, little gift shop, and a labyrinth and even a chapel dedicated to Elvis. Dr. George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for the mining rights for an enormous swath of land about 3,000,000 acres (12,000km2) in southern Arizona and New Mexico based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century. Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine - Wikipedia 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. Dark Mountain (2013) directed by Tara Anase - Letterboxd 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. 4087 East Apache Trail Apache Junction, AZ 85119-8409, Phone options: 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. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. 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]. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Over the next few weeks and months I will share some photos that will not give away the location but will show things that until now have never been shown before. I will make a statement in the near future that will surprise a lot of Dutch Hunters it surprised me.